The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-10
THE GOOD FLEA AND THE WICK


THE GOOD FLEA AND THE WICK
ED KING.
Zone Of Victor Hugo's tales to his grandchildren
with gestures.l
Once upon time there was Wicked
King who made his people very unhap-
Ply. Everybody detested him, and those
whom he had put in prison and behead-
ed would have liked to whip him. But
how? He was the strongest; he was
master; he did not have to give account
to any one; and when he was told that
his subjects were not content he re-
piled:
Well, what oft? don't care a rap!
which was an ugly answer.
AS he continued to act like king, and
as he became every day little more
wicked than the day before, this set a
little Flea to thinking over the matter.
1t was little bit of Flea who was of
no consequence at all, but full of good
sentiments. This is not the nature of
tleas in general, but this one had been
very well brought ups it bit people with
moderation, and only when it was very
hungry.
What if were to bring the King to
reason? it said to itself. 1t is not
without danger-but no matter! | will
try!
That night the Wicked King after
having done all sorts of naughty things
during the day, was calmly going to
sleep, when he felt what seemed to be
the prick ola pin.
He growled and turned over on the
other side.
Bite! Bite! Bite!
Here it was that the gestures came
in. A sharp slap of the hand indicated
where the Flea had attacked the King,
and the story teller bounded about on
his chair, the better to express the agon-
els of the monarch
Who is it that bites me so? cried the
King in terrible voice.
1t is l, replied little voice.
You? Who are you?
A little Flea who wishes to correct
you.
A Flea! Just you wait! Just you
wait and you shall see.
And the King sprang from his bed,
twisted his coverings and shook the
sheets, all of which was quite useless,
for the Good Flea had hidden itself in
the royal beard.
All, said the King, it has gone now
and | shall be able to get soond sleep.
But scarcely had he laid his head on
the pillow when
Bite!
How? What? Again?
Bite! Bite!
You dare to return, you abominable
little Flea? But think for moment
what you are doing! You are no bigger
than grain Of sand, and you dare to
bite one of the greatest kings on the
earth.
Well, what of 1t? l don't care rap!
answered the Flea in the very words of
the King,
All, if only had you!
Yes, but you haven't got me!
The Wicked King did not sleep at all
that night, and he arose the next morn
ing in killing i'll humor. He resolv ed
to destroy his enemy. BY his orders,
they cleaned the palace from top to bot
tom and particularly his bedroom; his
bed was made by ten old women very
skillful in the art of catching fleas, But
they caught nothing for the Good Flea
had hidden itself under the collar of the
Kings coat.
That night this frightful tyrant, who
was dying for want of sleep, lay back
on bo'h his ears, although this is said
to be very difficult. But he wished to
sleep double and he knew no better
way. | wish you may find n better.
Scarcely had he put out his light when
he felt the Flea on his neck.
Bite Bite!
An, POUNDS, What is this?
1t is 1.-THE Flea of yesterday.
But what do you want, you rascal
you tiny pest?
| wish you to obey me and to make
your people happy.
Ho, there, my soldiers, my captains
of the guard, my ministers, my generals |!
Everybody! The whole lot of you.
The whole lot of them came in. The
King was in a rage which made every
body tremble. He found fault with all
the servants of the palace. Everybody
was in CONSERVATION, During this time
the Flea, qnite calm, kept itself hid in
the Kings night-cap.
The guards were doubled: laws and
DEGREES were made; ordinances were
published against all fleas there were
professions and puclic prayers to ask of
Heaven the determination of the Flea,
and sound sleep for the King. 1t was
all of no avail, The wretched King
could not lie down, even on the grass,
without being attacked by his obstinate
enemy, the Good Flea, who did not let
him sleep single minute.
Bite! Bite!
1t would take too long to tell the
many hard knocks the King gave him
self in trying to crush the Flea; he was
covered with bruises and Commissions. As
he could not sleep, he wandered aboul
like an uneasy spirit He grew thinner.
He would certainly have died, If, at last,
he bad not made up his mind to obey
the Good Flea.
surrender, he said at last, when it
began again to bite him. l ask for quar-
ter. / will do what you ask.
So much the better On this condi-
ton only shall you sleep, replied the
Flea.
Thank you. What must do?
Make your people happy
/ have never learned how. | do not
know how -
Nothing more easy; you have only to
go away,
Taking my treasures with me ?
Without taking anything!
But shalt die il have no money
Well, what of it? don't care replied
the Flea.
But the Flea was not hard. hearted and
il let the King fill his pockets with
money before he went away. And the
people were able to be very happy by
setting up a republic. Il BranderMathews
in st. Nicholas.
INGALLS, VS.. VOORHEES,.
In the verbal duel between Mr.. Ingalls,
and Mr.. Voorhees, in the Senate on Tues
day, the Kansas Senator got the better
of his antagonist, partly because it was
his good fortune to champion the better
side, and partly because he kept his