The Wilmingtonian., 1888-06-30
A Legend,


And that she was angry, could plainly b.
; Twas, darkness, that could distinctly be
felt,
darkness, the sun, had no power to melt
The king had securely, himself hid away,
Determined that he in sec c'usion would stay
Ii needs be year; till the clouds should
dspel,
And he in the Palace in quiet oonld dwell.
For he who had faced the Cannon and Spear,
La many conflict, now gave way to fear
And had not the courage to grapple with
grace,
The frowns that spread over the beautiful
face.
The vexatious trouble came on in this wise,
| And proved IN the end, friend In dispuise
| a estate Bal" had been set for time two
days hence,
| And cards had been issued and freely dis
pensed,
To the Ladies and Lords of rank and / en- ,wn
| To attend and display their new clothes to the
crown.
Now the Queen had proposed to out-shine
them all,
And had ordered an outfit alone for this ball,
That would cost a small fortune; and now
she was told
| 1t could not be ready, for love, or for gold.
''The ball two days off, and no clothing to
wear !''
Cried the Queen, as she stood wringing her
hands in dispair;
Leave She exclaimed to the maids who stood
by,
1t makes me more angry to have any one
They all quickly dispersed save one timid
maid,
Who waited, and trembled, as If half afraid
To utter the thought that had come to her
mind,
Half regretting that she had dared stay be,
hind.
stil' here here Leave y, my presence How dare
Cried the Queen; Gas she looked in angry
disdain,
On the beautiful maiden, who knelt on the
floor),
Aud pointed her finger to the halfopen 9oor.
"Your Highness My Queen p the maid
trembling said
(Stll kneeling and bowling her. beautiful
head),
I've friend, who this work m,st deftly
performs,
And who all Of her patrons, succes sfully
charms;
Should you grant your permission, there Ia
yet time l am sure
Your outfit to make, and yet to insure,
The thing that you wish for, and make you
ont-shine,
ANY lady of near, or far distant cline;
Speak but the word, this friend shalt dis
place,
The frowns, and bring back the smiles to
your face;
Grant my request, when the work has been
done
Inspect with great care, each piece one BY
And if one piece is found, not finished in
style,
Then let me be b.nished to some distant
Isle;
And never again to behold your fair face,
But languish in exile, a life of disgrace.
AS thus she had spoken, the Queen looked
her DER
In surprise, as she knelt on the velvety floor,
Thus It shall be, {she said to the maidl,
In every particular, all thou hast said;
leave thee and give the of days only one,
Before | return, when the work must be
done,
Thus saying she proudly quilted the room,
Aud left the fair maiden, to work cut her
doom.
The maiden drew smiling, curtain one
side,
And her Friend thus addressed with warmth
and with pride.
Dear Friend, thou hast been my companion
for years,
Thou hast been with me In sunshine, in
darkness, and tears
And not once hast thou failed to accom-
plsh the task,
That an exacting, or whimsical companion
might ask;
Thou'lt not fail me now, for my life is the
stake,
And the forfeit, for any mistake thou
should'st make.
Thus saying, she was seated calm and ts-
rene,
CHINE.
The task was commenced, wh"n wonderous
The stitcbs like rain on the soft fabric fell,
Tucks, Rdffl s, and Sherring did in beauty
unfold,
Embroidery, Braid a1d Tinsel work fine
Were in rich beauty, all nicely combined.
Perfection, its self, was left out of sight,
AS onward it moved, swift, noisiess, and light,
The machine seemed to know, that the maid.
en- who pressed
Her foot on its treadle, would be wonder
fully blessed
With happiness, liberty, fame and renown,
If rightly performed, was this work for the
Crown.
That banishment, exile, disgrace, and shame,
Forever and ever, would follow her name,
If It fa'l led in the task now given to do,
So it ran on, and ou, and put tbs work
through.
So swift did it work, that long ere the day
Had ended; the garments all perfectly lay,
Ia readiness for the Right Royal One,
Who was call to inspect the work that was
done.
She came, and was struck with wonderous
amaze,
AS piece after piece was exposed to her gaze.
So beautiful did it all look to the Queen,
That she turned with a smile to the Sewing
Machine,
And said, I've the best at my beck and
call"
But this is the '<star M4t Leads them AH,"
Surely tbs ''iStar' who's light must be seen,
And can not be hid from even the Queen,
| "DoMEsTIC's" the name by which thou'rt
| But this is Title conferred by the Throne,
Henceforth thou'rt be known by both great
and small
| AS these Beautiful Star INT Leads them AH
| And you, my Fair Maiden the best in the land
Shall do the homage, and surely thy hand
Shall be placed in the hand Of the one thou
/ shalt name,
No difference how honored, how rich, OF
how famed.
And this Sewing Mechine in the Palace must
| stay,
And woe unt) Kim, who shall take it away,
Henoeforth, so called ARTISTS of Fame and
Ren0ton'
Will receive no employment or help from the
Crown,
For the ewing for Prince, King, Princess,
AID Queen,
Can be dcne without them, on the DOMESTIC
MACHINE. .....