Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-08-16
Cedric the Nimble-Witted.
BY HORACE TOWNSEND

BY HORACE TOWNSEND
In that town of England in which
was born and grew up to manhood the
folk are wont to tell many tales .nent the
good King Alfred. Albeit those who
dwelt at the same time as that good King
have had sons and daughters, and these.
IN their turn, children, and these again
vet other children, and so on till the
years be many that lie betwixt our time
and his, yet does the renown of King
Alfred last among us, and is spoken of
even now. He it was who fought the
wicked Danes and beat them, driving
them out of our country to their own,
save only those whom he slew, so that
they could work no more woe.
Now, my father has often told to me
how that when King Alfred had driven
out the Danes, he ruled so wisely and SO
well that men could hang chains of gold
aud jewels by the roadside, and there
they would stay untouched save by him
who owned them. And this was so not
because there were no evil men in the
land, but because doomsmen were set up
by the King, before whom none hailed all
who did not rlghteously, and according to
their faults they were doomed It fol-
lowed IN its course that among these
doomsmen some were wiser than others
and more even handed; but among them
all was none to be found more righteous
and more blameless in his findings than
Cedric, the son of Hend.
In Reading was his dwelling, and over
the men OF that borough he sat in the
doomsman's chair every day in the
church yard, setting straight that that
was crooked and upholding the small
against the great, the feeble folk against
the strong. Now the talk of his right
eousness spread, as when stone drops in
mere the ripples of it spread until they
touch the shore, so that even to the King.
ears came the name of Doomsman Cedric,
the son of Hend
And the King said to himself: "Per.
chance these be but fond tidings which
are told to me, and yet again there may
be truth in them; but strange it is that a
man should be not only so righteous, but
SO wise that none make plant touching
any of the dooms lie gives forth and he
SO pondered over this thing that in the
end he habited himself like unto a simple
knight at arms, and rode forth from Lon
don, taking the high road to Reading, 10
see for himself what manner Of nan this
Cedrlc might be. Ditton he passed and
Windsor, also. Aud wherever be tarried
tor the night as folk ate their supper he
heard them talk as they quaffed their ale
or mead Of Cedric, the Doomsman, and
the wonder. of his wisdom and his right
tulness, until the King began t. grow
hot within him at the endless babble, a
i seemed to him, concerning the worth.
ness of this one man
30 he rode until he came to Staines
SnQ as he was about to pass over the
pAdse he saw, lying in the dust at the
waySide. beggar, habi,ed in rags, anG
begging aims from the psssers by
'ielp me, Oh, stranger said th,
beggar
with all my heart, answered IN
King, and took from his pouch ,bra
pennies which he gave to the beeear.
Help me, oh stranger!"y quo,h oDc
more the beggar.
Thou art o greedy varle.l' said n
King; what more dost thou wantir
~ am old and weak answered II
beggar. "Wit thou not set me benin
thee on thy horse and carry me 70 Reae
Ing town2n
with all my heart!" replied on,
more the King, and straightway Sc, hi
ioa! as he was upon his horse, and !
Shat wise rode over the bridge and slou