Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-12-19
THE LESSON OF THE CAKES.
Pioneer Press.

SIDE, talking about the war winch
was then going on between their
countrymen and the Danes. Ken
ric their son, was out in the fields
tending the cattle. and the wife said,
81 hope he and the cows have not
fallen into the hands Of those plum
dering Danes
II don't believe you'll ever see
cattle or Kenric again, that / don't"
At that moment they heard voices,
and in u short time Kenric, accom-
panied by stranger, entered the
cottage. Tie strangers name was
Egbert, and he told the cottagers he
had been fighting against the Danes
for some years. Ulrica, finding that
the stranger disliked the invaders Of
her country as much as she did her
self, made no objection to her hus-
band hiring him to help tend the cat
l3t. DHS tiDNCNci told hlil uio hu-
ties and that il wonid be well for
him If he were not found negligent.
~ watt well for some time, when
one evening Ulrica set down before
the fire some oaten cakes, she had
made for supper She desired Eg-
bert, who was trimming his bow and
arrow, 60 watch them that they did
MOI uurn, and be sure to turn them
often, while she went to fetch the
milN. The herlsman promised to
do so, Init so busted was he in his
gloomy reflections that he entirely
forgot the cakes, and never once
looked ct them. In little time u
rica and her husband came III to-
gethef. She set DOWN the milk and
weat to take up the cakes. when to
her astonisnmcnt, she found that
they were burned quite black
Why. YOU good-for-nothng, lazy
fellow she exclaimed, "only see
how you have burned my cakes
you are always ready enough to eat
them, and yet it is too much trouble
to turn them as you sit there doing
nothing. If ever | saw such sight"
Poor Eghert said he was very sorry
it had happened, but that really he
had not thought about them.
s'Thoneht about them! no, but I'll
warrant YOU would think about eat
ing them.' And the old woman
would have scolded much longer
had not her husband at last begged
that She would hold her tongue.
Eghert did not remain very long at
the cottage after this, but parted
kindly from the old man, his wife
and kenric. One morning as Ulrica
Fas in the cottage busy as usual, the
old herdsman came in, looking some
what agitated.
"Wife," said he, II have often told
fhee thy tongue ran too fast, and
now | think you will confess it does"
swell, what is the matter now?"
"You remember our man Egbert
&nd the scolding you gave him for
burning the cakes2"
TO be sure do, lazy fellow
Well be deserved it What of him? 2"
al vas no less a person, Ulrica,
than King Alfred himselfl"
akin Alfred !" screamed out u.
sics; "Oa husband what do you
SAY p
! ~ that the man | hired to
ten he cattle, who had such rare
scol'it' from you about your burnt
eaA a4 Alfred, King of England"
@Ua ulAsterl What will become
Of f cried the old woman in de.
spa will surely punish me
Pei will make law that /
ar neY. 10 speak again, and then
vi Il do ~
80 you will be in bad way
&bep rica," said the old man smil
IN I do not think the king
VII such law as that, for
ill., ne is thankful for the shell
&r and in our cottage, and has
AZ 49,. N rood lounh NTH he