The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-14
THE PRINCES QUEST.
q Nodera Allesory.
Al the Year Round.

Once upon time therelived a Prince
who ought to have been happy, but
wasn't. He rejgned in u gorgeous
palace, and was rich, and powerful,
and great, and had everything he
wantcd-that is, at least, he had
everything he wanted. except the one
thing he wanted more than any
thing else ON earth, and to have OBJ
taincd which he would have given half
his Kingdom. He would have given
the whole, tor the matter of that, on
ly lie had promised the other half to
any one who would tell him what it
was he wanted.
! Everybody had n guess at it, but
nobody seemed able to hit upon it.
Everything that was suggested he
had; everything that wealth could
buy, or skill procure, was his al
ready. So at last he appealed to the
wise men of the city, and they put
their heads together, and found out
the wrong thing, and the Prince bc-
came more despondent than ever.
In the palace his jovinl compan-
ions made laugh and jest, and kept
the walls forever echoing to the tune
of their noisy merrimcnt. All day
long they hunted the deer through
the forest glades, or rode a-hawking
in gay cavalcade; and at night there
were feasting, and dancing ndsong,
and the wine ran free, and the mirth
ram high, and happiness bcamed up
nn every face except the Princes. In
tn" midst of all the revelry he sat 81
lent and apart. or stunned the chase
TO muse alone on what this thing
could he: he want of which, with all
his wealth. made life seem SO unfin-
ished.
"Oh, is there nothing that will fill
this aching void within me-" sighed
the Prince aloud. one day, Ms lie
threw himself down on the ground
,c>illc n fallen tree. "Oh. is there no
one who can tell me what want"
Il can"
1t WAS IL little old man that spoke;
a little, bent. withcrcd man, with
wrinklrd face and snow white hair:
but his eyes were brighter than IL
\ "A, 1,
a sw"ct-toned bell: and. as he looked
down nj the Prince, from his seat on
the tree. lie laughed a merry. child
i>h laugh
The Prince looked up nt him and
wondered how tn get there, hut WAS
too surprised tn speak. and only
stared in silence ut the merry. twink
linz eyes.
"Well," said the little old fellow.
! after awhile. shall tell you? Would
You like to know what ii is you
WANT or have YOU come to the sell
sible conclusion that after all il ism
worth tn" knowing" think YOU Il
better not know he said, changing
from gay to grave. 1t may make
You only more unhappy 1t will
bring You pain and trouble. You
are Young and weak-whv seek to
know Rest with the happiness you
have. child. Joy is only reached
through sorrow.
But the Prince needed not the
warning. All cagerness and hope, he
started up and caught the old man
hv tl" hand and would not let him
go.
Tell mo, you who are wise. and
who know. cried he: tell ne what
will c,sr this gnawing pain, or
shall die. Tell me and shall seek
for il through fire and water. am
strong. not wrak-stronyto dare. to
suffer. to win. will find it ifit fake
III" all my life, and COS, me all my
treasure.
The old man gently laid his hand
upon the Princes head, and IL look
of pity was in the bright, quick eyes.
Lad" said he. and his voire was
grave and tender. thou shalt seek
thy wish. Thou shal, toll for il,
aud thy brain shall ache Thou
shalt wait for it and thy heart shall
pant. Thou shalt pass through sor-
row and suffering on thy search, but
when thou art weary and tootsorc
the thought of it shall strengthen
thee, when thy heart is heaviest the
thought of it shall raise up. and in
thy darkest hours it shall come to
thee as the touch OF Il mi ighty hand.
Prince. it is Love thou lackcst Go
seek it,"
So the scales fell from the Prince $
eyes, and he stood as one that has
suddenly emerged from the darkness
into light. half bcwildcrcd before he
understood. Then stretching out
his arms he called to Love. as
though he would call her down from
heaven and clasp her to his heart.
"Oh, Love- he cried. "why have
! been SO blind as not tn know thy
messenger, who spoke within me-. |
might have wandered lonely all
my lif. uncnring and unrarcd
for. and never dreamed of thy
dear presence, nor ever have known
that twas for need ofthy sweet voice
| that all the world seemed drear.
Full of gratitade, he turned to
thank his mysterious guide. but the
the little old man was gone.
The Princes own sentiIlrls scarce
| ly knew their lord when he returned
to the palace. and even the old por-
ter who, twenty years ago. had
rocked him on his knee. looked hard
ut him and seemed inclined TO hal
lcnge his brcathlcss entrance. Never
was II man so changed in half an
hour before. Out into the woods
had gone II moody, sorrowfuI youth.
with wavcrnw steps aud dreamy.
dnwncnst eyes. Will" back had come
n gallant Prince. with quick, firm
tread, and head thrown back, and
eyes that flashed with high resolve.
Small wonder il the porter wns in
doubt.
In the banquet hall his guests nl-
ready invited had arrived and hnr-
ryinY tllithrr straight, without n
word lr passed uptl" crowded room
until he reached the dais ut the end.
and there he turned and spoke:
"Irirnds." said the Prince. ''rc-
ioirc with me, for to-day have
learned the thing that want. To
day have found out what is he on
" thing on earth that can make me
h,nnv-tl,ponly iliIrou earth have