The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-28
FOR THE LITTLE PEOPLE.
THEsToRY OF THE KINGS eoLoFlNcH
How It Saved Rhoud's Life, or the Nearest
Duty First-Quaint Sayings of the
Kids-some Knotty Problems
For solution.

One afternoon, the good King Rhoud
went to take his customary walk in the
wood of Ledre with his friend Earl Rel
gin, who felt very much alarmed about
the dangerous enemies that were daily
multiplying themselves in the-king's own
palace. He urged the king to consider
some means to prevent it. and to send
Immediately away from his household any
whom he suspected of being treacherous
or ,uutrIstworthy.
Jas they were walking and talking thus
earnestly through the beautiful wood,
they heard something scream piteously in
tree.
ut is only a little bird, said Reign.
cit does not sing. it screams" said the
king. 'The poor thing is in trouble"
LET it scream" said Reign. Gust
now we have more important affairs to
think of than a little bird in tree"
THE nearest duty first" said the king.
There is nothing more important just
now" And he looked up into the tree.
1T is impossible to rescue it" said
Reign; cit sits too high up"
I'm the isle OF Wits | have learned 10
have forgotten il.
But there are no branches down below
on the trunk" urged the earl.
Then yOu must lift me. am only
small man, not heavy to raise"
But. ii you fall and get killed, it would
Be an eternal shame to have it said that
our k'ug lost his life for the sake OF
bird"
''Many have lost it for less" said the
king, as he prepared TO climb the tree.
So the strong, square shoulders of the
earl helped to lift the slender, agile king
up the trunk and from thence he climbed
and ventured himself out on the upper
most branch. He came down safely with
a.little goldfnch in his hand. Il had
caught its little leg in a narrow crevice of
( e wood and could not fly away.
1t shall be my adopted child" said the
k nc. tenderly stroking the feathers, land
{ ie playmate of my little son."
He took the bird home, and had beau
tiful cage made for it. How childish the
king Is" said one of his most faithful war
riors, who disapproved OF his giving any
time or thought to so small thing as a
bird. AT the moment when war is at the
door, ne finds time to save little bird,
and takes care of il himself Does he not
carelessly run into his own misfortune?"
Meanwhile their desire for vengeance
never slept The death of Rhoud was de-
cided upon. He had discovered the
secret OF the conspirators; he had their
destiny in his hands. and no must soon
die. They had sec.etly sworn his death,
and by promises and threatening had
bribed the two sla res that waited on the
kings bed-cnamber, promisi1g them
liberty and grea5 wealth il they helped in
the kings destruction.
One day, when tho king was hunting
with his men, an oaken plank was loOs-
ened in the ceiling of the kings bed
chamber over his head and, by some in
genious contrivance, they had made it
keep in its place until some one could
lower it down from the second story with
q rope and let it fall The king could thus
be crushed on his couch, and the whole
be thought a terrible accident
The king returned at night late and
weary, and went TO bed. He soon was
sound asleep and would probably never
have risen again had not little bird by
Its screaming suddenly awakened him. He
sat up IN bed and collecting his thoughts
perceived Immediately that he had for
gotten that day to give the little creature
water and food and at evening was so
overcome by fatigue that he had not
thought of it then. He sprang from his
couch saying:
"Oh. thou poor little creaturel did
save thy life to let thee perish?" With
these words he poured water into the
little glass and put gram in the little cup
Just then the plank fell from the cell
ing with tremendo IS noise, and, striki Q
the bed, crushed l. fiat to TIN floor. There
was great commot.'l in the palace yard
the warriors awoke and seized their
swords, the frightened servants rushed
in with torches shaking in their trembling
hands.
The king is killed, is killed." they
cried. king Rhoud is crushed to pieces"
But there stood the king unhurt and
smiling, with thu bird-cage in his hand
and he cred out to them:
'Do not fear, my friends; God has kept
His hand over me.
When Earl Reign heard how every
thing had happened, how the plank had
fallen, and what had saved the king, he
stood long speechless. Then, fixing his
fearful eyes Oh the king, he said
81 shall never again doubt a divine
providence"
Rhoud, smiling, answered:
Then you can see, Reign, one should
not scorn little folks. Can king save
bird? Then the bird caB also save the
king"