The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-11-01
Youths Department.
LITTLE CHRISTEL.

LITTLE CHRISTEL.
Fraulcin, the young schoolmistress, to her
-. pups SAID one day.
" Next week at Phngster holiday King Ludwig
rides this way;
And you will be wise, my little ones, to WORK
with will at your tasks.
That so you may answer iearlessly whatever
question he asks.
1t would be shame too dreadful IL the King
should have It 20 tell
That Hansel missed in his figures, and Pc
lerkin could not spell!'
"ohol that never shall happen" cried Han
"wcll show King Ludwig when he comes,
what the boys in this school can do"
And We said Gretchen aud Bertha. and all
the fair little maids
Who stood in row before her, with their
hair in iiaxen braids,
" we will pay such good attention TO every
word you say
That you shall not be ashamed of us when
King Ludwig rides this way"
She,smiled. the young schoolmistress. to see
that they loved her so,
And with patient care she taught them the
things II was good to know.
Day after day she drilled them till the great
day came at last.
when the heralds going before him blew out
their sounding blast:
And with music and flying banners, and the
olatter of horses feet.
The KING and his troops of soldiers rode
down the village street.
Oh the hearts of the eager children beat fast
with Joy and fear.
And Fraulein trembled and grew pale. as
the cavalcade drew near;
But she blushed with pride and pleasure
when the lessons came to be heard,
For in all the flock of her boys and girls not
one OF them missed a word.
And King Ludwig turned to the teacher
with smile and gracious looks
Ii is plain, said he, that your scholars have
carefully conned their book.
But now let us ask some ques ions to see II
they understands;
And he showed 10 ono of the little maids an
orange in his hand.
1t was thristel. the youngest sister OF the
mistress fair and kind
A child with a face like a lily, and as lovely
and pure mind.
I" What kingdom does this belong to-" as he
called her TO his knee;
And ut once-'"Ihe vegetable" she answered
quietly,
Good, said the monarch, kindly: and showed
her piece of gold;
Now tell me what this belongs to- the pretty
coin that holdT'
She touched it with careful finger for golt
was a metal rare.
And them" The mineral kindom!" she an
swered with confident air.
Well done for the little madchen" Ant
good King Ludwig smiled
AT Fraulein and her sister, the teacher an
the child.
snow answer me one more question:" with
twinkle of fun in his ego
"What Kingdom do belong to-" For b.
thought she would make reply:
The ANIMAL" and be meant 10 ask with
frown, If that was the thing
For little child like her to say to her lor,
and master, the King?
He knew not the artlesS wisdom that wou'
set his wit at naught,
And the little Christel guessed nothing a
all of what was in his thought
But her glance shot up at the question, an
the brightness in her face,
Like a sunbeam on a lily, seemed to shin
all over the place.
"What kingdom do ,nu boiong TOP her innC
cent lips repeat;
"Why surely, the Kingdom of Heaven!" ring
out the answer sweet.
| And then for q GREATNESS moment a sue
| den silence fell.
| And you might have heard the fall of lea
as they looked ut little Christel
| But it only lasted moment, then rose o
| sudden a shout
"well done, well done for little Chrlstel!" an
| the braves rang about.
For the King in his arms had caught her. I
| her wondering, shy surprise.
| And over and over he kissed her. with
mist of tears In his eyes.
"May the blessing of God" he murmuret
| forever rest on thy head.
| Henceforth, by His grace, my life shall prov
| the truth of what thou hast said"
He gave her the yellow orange, and til
golden coin for her own.
And the school had Il royal feast that da
| whose like they had never known.
To Fraulein, the gentle mistress. he spok
| such words of cheer
That they lightencd her anxious labor IL
many end many year.
| And because in his heart was hidden IL
memory of this thing,
The Lord had better servant, the Lord hG
wiser King!
MRS. Navy Il. Bradley, in Vide Alraise.