Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-07
DIAMOND AND PEARL.

T., a., ,;. ~. -. ,..... ...,.. 1900,
~
WIZ" '''" '"''"i 'i'i "U' ''''o 10 u'ei
and when wise and good nonarchs we're few
there resned kim who, by his kind md
Just administration, had gained for his sub
tcts happu-ss aud success and for the whole
kingdom peace and prosperity This king,
who was called Inc Wise. reisned over a
vast dominion, winch, ON account OF it, great
size, and, therefore, diversity If people, had
ever been IN a trout lesonie condition..
So constantly in trouble and at war was
this rountrv-whic,i with peace would have
been a most reolue' I've uue-that even the
gods and fliri.- ser ,.,ncerne for it,
There had been many le-en,is handed down
from parent 10 cilld tellint Of contracts
nsiie between the gods aud different kings OF
the country whereby. N IA specified future
time, the welcome and long delny"d peace
and prosper ty were To come. But tue peace
came rot an tine people still looked in vain
for it. Fir all. ali tae ly-eAd, vanished and
gave place To one universal tradition, doubted
by many yet believed in by more.
This tradition said that a good fairy had
once appeared TO one of the kings and told
him that the country would continue in its
deporable condition until a king succeeded
who could by kindness and justice command
the love and admiration OF his subjects to
such an extent that his word would rule as
supreme law among them, even in the most
distant portions of his domain. When he
had kept his kingdom free from war and
discussion for ten years. it said, fairy
would visit him in the night and give him q
present, the possession Of which would per-
petuRte his race of kings in happiness and
fame, and SO. by rulers Ike himself, make
the kingdom paradise forever
The kim called The Wise was a master
whose rod never fell, and whose simple word
OF command bore with it a feehlng Of love
that went to the hearts of even the most de
graded
He was truly wise XII x and plainly saw
the effect he had upou his subjects. so when
his father had been dead "A sufficient time to
allow it with respect, he gave orders that all
his palaces be opened upon certain days of
each week, md that his people be invited to
come OH those lays ard receive the hospi.
taiity mud blessing of their new king. DIFF
ferent pro, noes were called on different
days until every person in the land Rad seen
his king md had been elevated by his bene-
dction and his love. Such good effect had
this wise action of Tie monarch TINT there
after not "A soul would quarrel with another
or do any wrong action lest 1t should offend
bis majesty the beloved King
So 1t went IN this country for nearly ten
years-peace bringing pro-reriee ~ the peo-
pie and praise TO the good kiu9 The king
seldom thought u,uu tho trad non Of what
cuntnuel peace WAS 70 bring him, aud his
people rarely spoke vi !, uni. i finally the
st ry WIS forgotten Ly nearly all The L ny.
however never remembered it so fOrcibly as
when nine years of his peaceful reign bad
gone and the tenth almost past. Then,
lyn. upon his royal bed, he would often say
to himself
so many nights must pass in this couch
ere the good fairy breaks my slnmiers with
the priceless gift But what could this gift
he, even should It comet The tradition goes
that my line Of kings snail descend in pros
Ny precious daughter. although she soon will
be OF an age to marry. declares that she will
never do So because she can love no one as
she does her sire Her mother is dead. and
there can be no son to succeed me- unless
these mysterious fairies can make it so.
At last the final night OF the tenth year
came and the king retired to bis rest. He
Immediately fell asleep and slept soundly
until the midnight had come, when he softly
awoke and saw standing beside his bed, clad
in radiance, and With halo of pleasiu, light
about her. fairy of greater beauty than be
had ever before seen. Even his daughter,
the princess, whose spotiess beauty was world
renowned, could in no way lie compared with
the loveliness OF this vision When the king