St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-14
w. G.. kENTZEL, Edito

''What brought you to this degree of
poverty?" asked the sympathetic officer.
rs they rode on together. ''You appear
to be strong and willing to labor
misfortune, your honor. has brought
me into this Decline" answered the
laborcr. Il have always been unfor-
tunate. This little farm belonged to
my wife; her parents. who were both
old. died on the same day, after a long
and tedious illness. Then my two chill
drcn dicd-they were both sick long
time--and having to care for them. !
was unable to work and SO could earn
no money. We gave up the farm to a
rich ncighbor. who promised to let us
have it back again for the same sum
when we were able to do it. But the
crops have been poor two seasons fol-
lowing. and my wife was sick all last
year, 50 that we had to borrow more
money. He now hires me. and allows
me SO much for every days work.
Last Lammas-tide (AugusD my wife
was sick again, aud misfortune seems
determined to follow me all my life. :"
''Yours is sad story. my friend. :"
said the officer. wiping tear from his
stern eye. but why have you not pc
titioned the King for aid?"
1.-The King! what does he care for a
poor peasant like me?"
He cares . great deal. Have yOn
never heard that his greatest desire is
to have his peasantry happy? have
heard him say that he hoped to reign
SO that every poor man might have a
fowl in his pot on Sundays
mo. have never heard Of it. That
speaks of good heart in His Alajesty's
bosom. But l should never dare to
ride to Blois to tell him my story"
Go with me; will bear You COM
pany. know the King well; he will
not turn away from YOU"
'But don't know his Majesty. and
among SO many courticrs l might make
a mistake" urged the peasant still
hcsitating.
"Pshaw. you will have no trouble on
that score. You will know the King
because he will have his hat on; all the
others will have theirs Of.
I'm remember that" said poor
Jacques. humbly.
BY and by as they rode on they saw
a troop of mounted officers coming to.
ward them ut . gallop. Their plumes
and mantles and scarfs fiuttered on the
breeze, and their ric1 caparisons and
accoutermcnts glittere6aa the sun.
..Yonder fellows belong to the court;
perhsps the ling is with Them" said
the mysterious ridcf. NOV IS me
time to make your request, and don't
forget that he will be the only one who
is not barc-headed.
The company came up, and at sight
Of the little man with the grizzled
beard and pointed mustache, dressed
in the black velvet suit. every one Of
the brilliantly dressed horscmen spran:
to the ground and pulled their hats of.
The peasants wind-tanned face turned
. gha>tly hue. and he stared at his
companion with eyes that grew as big
Is saucers.
"Well, my friend. do you know the
King now?" asked the little man, with
a queer smile.
II faith. your honor" answered the
clown. with a bewildcred air, ''eithcr
you or must be the King. for we are
the only ones who have our hats on"
True" laughed Henry the Fourth.
'eithcr you or must be the King, and
your troubles are at an end. Rosny."
to one of the dismounted cour.
tiers, '.give this man purse Of gold;
he deserves it." Then addressing the
peasant once more he con-
Go home and be happy. and
may your fortune hereafter be equal 10
your deserts, SO that you may have .
fowl in your pot every day in the week
and two for Sundays."-FrcdM H. Colby,
in Congregationaliss.