The Portland daily press., 1885-09-18
Almerie wished to say for her consolation

as She could not see, that the emeralds were
very beautiful, but the beggar spoke first.
Your eyes are very ugly indeed" said he,
shortly.
Impossible, they must be very brilliant"
| answered the cat.
"They are not at ALL" he answered
Nothing is brilliant out of its proper place.
Believe me, you had better hide them, wear
| glasses if you can and if ever again you have
| emeralds make them into rings not eyes"
| And the young man could not help laugh
| ing at this remark.
Leaving the dining hall they entered SUI
perb court, paved in m0saics and surrounded
| with elegant pillars. Here they saw bird
| whose plumage was that of a vulture, but
| whose timid air gave him nothing of the APP
| peaTance of a bird of prey.
THAT looks to me like a scared yulture y
said the beggar. "Well, friend, what are
you?"
| Il am now a vulture, but used to be do
/ nestle turkey cock. | wanted to rise higher
| in the world and quit the fowl yard. where
| all are despised; but am very sorry for the
| change now, and cannot accustom myself
| eating them"
| Eating what?" asked Almerie.
"Alas, the good hen turkeys who were al
| ways very fond of me-"
"Fool!' said the beggar, why did you
choose to be a vulture? It's much better
to be loved turkey cock than acowardly
| yulture."
And the young stranger could not help
| Laughing at LnlS remark.
| In one corner of the court they saw bear
| seated on bench, his head bent down on his
breast, and he seemingly plunged in
thought.
There is a lively creature who does not
| Ook as if he knew bears ways. How did
! he get into the palace? What vanity led
| him to choose the profession of bear? |
| bet he had much better place before
The beggar drew near the melancholy ami
| NAL.
hat l44E .a., u
what were you before you were bear?'S
| II was an apothecary'S boy"
"Apothecary's boy!' said the beggar and
| Almerie at once.
Eyes, apothecary's boy, but they are
and theatres men make fun of them; and
| wishing to get rid of all the ridicule wished
myself a bear, but am sorry now, for | am
very tired of being alone"
"You silly foo" cried the beggar, very an
| CRY. what on earth did you leave your
| place for? You could have revenged your
| self on the men you dislike by poisoning
them with your drugs through mistake"
The beggar was still speaking when
| gigantic elephant in a neighboring corner at
tracted my attention.
IAN ELEPHANT said he Who could have
wished to be changed to an elephant? An
ant, perhaps"
And the young man could not help laugh
| ing at this remark
The beggar was mistaken, it was not an
ant that had desired to become an elephant,
but rabbit. He had just obtained tthe de-
sired honor, and was still swollen with pride.
He moved heavily round with an important
air, and received with condescensfon the
compliments paid him. The beggar went up
to him and said Familiarity:
GOOD day. my little bunny; how do you
like your larger skinY'
| tone, but was so unaccustomed to his trunk
that he could not use it to revenge the in
suit.
81 am very WE'LL as you can see" and the
elephant strutted around.
did you desire this change long time
ago."
bit had certain rights. have only changed
my height; my color is the same; my ears
instead OF standing upright, now fall down
"Idioti' said the beggar, ''he does not even
| know he is changed"
''Tell me, friend" asked Almerie, will
| not this change embarrasS you sometimes in
| your accustomed ways p
"You just make me Think he answered.
that perhaps l shall find it difficult this
evening to go into the hutch"
This was too, absurd, and the young man
could not help laughing at this remark.
''Would you like to see the beautiful
lady?" asked the servant who showed the
strangers about.
yes, yes, by all means, show us the beau
tlful lady; where is she? said Almerie
"Just here, sirs have the goodness to en-
ter this room.'
They entered splendid room, all of glass;
the ceiling and all the panels in the walls
were mirrors, SO that anyone could see HIM
self at pleasure in profile, full face or in quar-
ter The beautiful lady was reclining on a
| couch. AT sight of her both the beggar and
| Almerie uttered cry of horror This beau
| tiful woman was a monstrosity. She had
hnaO hpantifll hnt aaaordinO IN f,Ira
and was not satisfied; she wished to be beau
| tiful as beauty is described. She wanted
| silken hair and she had long silk hair with
| out life or color; she wanted teeth of pearls,
| and they were dreadful to look at; she want
| ed the waist of a wasp and her slender form
| was without grace, and looked as though it
| would break in two at every movement; she
wanted alabaster hands, and they were wan
and cold; she wanted tiny feet like child'S,
and these deformed feet could not bear the
weight of her body, and she could not walk.
There had never been anybody more hide
Gus it was ideal ugliness
'sMy stars! This beautiful lady is horri-
BILE! She really makes me admire my wife,,
said the beggar.
And the young man could not help laugh
ing at this remark.
1t being now night the strangers were Of
| fered bed. Il had rather stay here than at
| the inn," thought Almerie, and he followed
| the servant into a splendid room where,
| worn out, he hurried to get into bed
| He had no sooner touched the bed than he
uttered cry
"This is horrible! am in torture! Ny
| skin is being torn off NE! What is the mat
| ter?" and many other complaints; but it
was really of more than usual care he COM
| planned.
The bedclothes were of fine Indian muslin,
embroidered with gold spangles. They were
| beautiful | assure you; but one accustomed
| to sleep on Holland linen cannot appreciate
them Poor Almerie had his feet all
| scratched, every movement he made to get
out of the horrible bed tore his skin afresh,
| and his arm was all bloody.
"Old man beggar,"' cried he, "let us hurry
away from here! We cannot sleep here, and
| want my rest"
| 81 was waiting to know what you would
| think of spangled Sheets" said he laughing.
''Well, what do you think, is not the bed SUI
| perb?"
am tired of such jokes; let us 60 away.
| | will not stay here any longer. The men
| are stupid, the women hideous; one can nei-
| Their eat nor sleep here, SO come along.''
| Having put on his clothes again Almerie
| brushed by the beggar still laughing; and
| they both left the palace and went to the old
mans hut
| bedclotheS will not keep you awake, for |
neither have .spangles nor clothes, but that
| is no matter, it is sleep which makes bed
| good, and appetite which makes meal good"
Almerie threw himself down, and soon
| slept, but the beggar heard him mutter in his
| dreams:
81 have had enough. WANTED to have the
| embassy to Constantinople, but shall re-
| main satisfied as notary in ST. Quentin"
And in his turn, the beggar could not help
| laughing at this remark.
|