The Somerset reporter., 1889-09-19
Tho Kings Coldhnch.

| One afternoon the good King RhouC
went To take his customary walk 10 TIN
woods Of Lcdre, with his friend Earl kei
gin, who felt very much alarmed abou
the dangerous enemies that were DAILY
multiplying themselves In the kings owr
palace. He urged the king to consldel
some means " prevent 1t, and 10 send i'm
mediately away from his household any
whom he suspected Of being treacherou.
or uutrustworthy.
As they were walking and talking thus
earnestly through the beautiful wood
they heard something scream piteously 10
a tree.
at is only little bird" said Reign.
ut does not sing, 1t screams" said the
king. 1.-THE poor thing is In trouble"
Let 1t scream" said Reign. Just
now we have more important affairs u
think OF than little bird In a tree
THE nearest duty first" said the king
"There is nothing more important just
now" And he looked up into the tree
ut is impossible to rescue It," said
Reign; at sits too high up"
"In the Isle Of Viflls, have learned u
climb a tree and am not yet so old that
have forgotten 1t.
But there are no branches down below
on the trunk, urged the earl.
"Then you must lift me. | am only a
small man, not heavy to raise
but II you fall and get killed 1t will be
an eternal shame to have it said that our
king lost his life for the sake of bird.
MANY have lost 1t for less" said the
King, as he prepared to climb the tree
So the strong, square shoulders Of the
earl helped to lif; the slender agile king
up the trunk and from thence he climbed
and ventured himself ont on the upper.
most branch. He came down safely with
little goldfnch in his hand. 1t had
caught its little leg in narrow crevice OF
the wood, and could not fly away.
at shall be my adopted child" said the
king, tenderly stroking the feathers, land
the playmate Of my little SON."
| He took the bird home, and had beau
tiful cage made for it. How childish
the king is u" said one Of his most faith
full warriors. who disapproved OF his Civ
Ing any time or thought to SO small {
thing as bird. "At the moment wher
war is at the door he finds time to save
little bird, and takes care of it himself
Does he not carelessly run into his owl
m.sfortune?'
Meanwhile their desire for vengeance
never slept. The death of Rhoud was de
cided upon. He had discovered the secre,
of the consprators he had their destin,
in his hands, and he must soon die. They
had secretly sworn his death, and by
promises and threatening had bribed the
two slaves that waited on the kings bed
chamber, promising them liberty and
great wealth If they helped in the kings
destruction.
One day, when the 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 il
keep in its place until some one could
lower It dawn from the secand story u it'll
rope and let it fall. The king could
thus be crushed on his couch, and the
whole be thought terrible accident.
The king returned at night late aud
weary, and went to bed. He soon was
sound asleep, and would probably never
have risen again had not the little bird by
its screaming suddenly awakened him
He sat up in bed, aud collecting his
thoughts perceived Immediately that he
had forgotten 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 creature, did |
save thy life To let thee perish?" With
these words, he poured water into the lit
tie glass and put grain in the little cup.
just then, the plank fell from the cell
ing with a tremendous noise, and striking
the bed, crushed it fiat to the foor.
There was great commotion in the pal
ace 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. liking Rhoui is crushed to pieces -
But there stood the king, unhurt and
smiling, with the bird cage in his hand,
and he cried 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 planks had
fallen, and what had saved the king, he
stood long speechless. Then. fixing his
fearful eyes on the king. he said
II shall never again doubt Divine
Providence"
Rhoud, smiling, answered:
"Then you can see, Reign, one should
not scorn little folks. Can king save a
bird2 Then the bird can also save the
Irt II