The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-15
WHY KURENT GOVERNS.
MANS STRUGGLE WITH THE SlA-
vONIC DIVINITY.
The Human Overcome Not by Proves
But by rla,tery-sinsular story Of tho
ri, -, ,,,c I.ce-Nan Becomes n Prey
10 hi. Appetite and IL Dwarfed'

t.u of tf,c gace-Nan becomes Frey
TO III. Appetite and Il Dwarfed.
Krrcnt and man contended which should
l.thc earth Neither Kurent would yield
IN ,nan nor man to Kurcnt, for he IMAM
,yos 40 pi,antic-he wouldn't even have
noticed 70 4 nine Of the people OF the present
day ba.. danced up and down his nostrils
Come" said Kurcnt, "let us see which
10 the stronger: whether 1t IS or you that
ia "a ru,e the earth. Yonder is n broad sea;
the one that springs across IL best shall
have both the earth and all that II on the
otlor side Of the sea, and that Is, in faith,
, bncLr.d times more valuable than this
wildernesi.'
No, agreed. Kurent took of his coat
and nlrDcd across the sea, 50 that just ono
foo. ", ,.sttcd when he sprang on TO dry
land. Now lac began 10 jeer AZ the man,
Int the ;,aa held his tongue, didn't get out
Of temper, neither did he ta..e OIL his coat
but stepped without effort and quite easily
over tho sea, as over brook, ana came on
IN dry land without even wetting foot.
"i'm the stronger said man 10 hurent,
.'sce how my foot is dry and yours u wet.
"The first time you have overcome me,
answered Kurent. Yours are the plains
yours is the sea and what il beyond the
sea but that isn't all the earth. There Is
also some beneath us and above US. Come,
then. let Us see a second time which IS the
stronger"
Kurent stood on hollow rock ana
stamped on il with his foot 50 that IL burst
with noise like thunder and split IN
pieces. The rock broke up and cavern
was seen where dragons were Oroodihg
Now the man also stamped, and the earth
auaked and broke up right to the bottom,
lust where pure gold flowed like broad
river. and the dragons fell down.
This trial, too, il yours" said Kurent
"but don't acknowledge you emperor till
you overpower me in third fierce contest
Yonder is very lofty mountain. 1t rises
above the clouds; it reaches to the celestial
table. where the cock sits and watches
Gods provisions Now then take you an
arrow and shoot and so will l. The one
which shoots highest is the stronger, and
his is the earth and all that is beneath and
above 1t"
Kureut shot, and his arrow wasn't back
for eight days; then the man shot, and his
arrow few for nine days; and when on the
tenth day it fell the celestial cock that
guarded Gods provisions fell also, spitted
upon it.
''You are emperor" said cunning Kurent.
II make obeisance to you a. BELTS a sub
ject"
But the man was good ratured, and made
n covenant Of adaptive brotherhood with
Kurent, and went off to enjoy his imperial
dignity. kurent, too, went off, but he was
ANNOYED that the man had put him to
shame: where he could noo prevail 10y
strength he determined to succeed by craft.
"You are a hero, man" he would say i
am witness thereto; but beware OF me II
YOU are a hero also in simplicity; | 90 TO
bring you a gift that have devised entirely
by myself" "
lie squeezed the vine, his stick, and
pure red wine burst out Of it. Here's a
gift for you Now, then, where are you;'
He found the man on the earth the other
side of the sea, where he was enjoying a
bowl Of sweet strabout.
"What are you doing, my lord;' said
Kurent.
white wheat and red fruit, and, see, here
am eating it and drinking water"
"My poor lord, you are emperor Of the
world and drinking water! Hand me a
cup that may present you with better
drink, which |, your humble servant, have
prepared for you myself"
The man was deceived, took the cup with
red wine and drank some OF il. Thank
you, adopted brother, you are very KIND,
but your drink Is naught."
Kurent was Disguised, went off again
and thought and thought how to cheat the
man. Again he squeezed his stick, again
red wine burst forth from it. But kurent
did not allow ii 20 remain pure; the rascal
mixed helleborc with 1t, which Villas
and prophetesscs pluck by moonlight to
nourish themselves with. y second time
he went in search Of the man, and found
him at the bottom of the earth, where pure
gold was flowing like broad river.
"What are you doing, my lord!" asked
Kurent,
II rm getting myself a golden shirt, and
am tired and very thirsty, but there's No
water here and it's longway TO the world
seven years journey
II am nj your service" said kurent.
"Here's cup Of wine for you; better never
saw the red sun"
The man was deceived, took II and drank
it up Thank you, Kurent. You are good
and your drink is good, too"
Kurent was going to pour him out
fresh cupful, but the man would not allow
il. for his nature was still sober and sensl-
BILE Kurent was Disguised, and went of
to see whether he could not devise some
thing better. For the third time he squeez-
ed his stick. Wine burst out more strong
ly. but this time it did not remain pure
nor without SIN. The rascal applied an
arrow, opened a vein and let some black
blood flow into the wine. Again he went
in search of the man, and found him on
the high mountain at Gods table, where
he was feasting on roast meat which had
not been roasted for him. but for God him
self
What are you doing, my lordy" asked
Kureat in amazement and JOY when be
saw that the man was SHINING abomlnably.
Here | am, sitting and eating roast
meat; but take yourself on, for am afraid
of God, lest he should come up and smite
me-"
"Never fear" was Kurents advice.
''How do you like Gods roast meat"
cts nice, but it's heavy. can scarce. y
swallow it,"
Il am at your service" said Kurent.
Here is wine for you, the like OF which
isn't on earth or in heaven, but only with
me"
The third time the man was deceived,
but cruelty. Thank you, Kurent," he
said. "You are good, but your drink is
better. Draw me some more, as becomes a
faithful servant.
Kurent did 50, and the mans eyes be
came dim, and he thought no more Of
God, but remained at table. Suddenly
God returned, and seeing the man doing
and eating roast meat at his table became
angry, and smote him down the mountain
with his mighty hand, where he lay half
dead for many years, all bruised and hurt.
When he got well again his strength had
diminished lie could neither step across
the sea, nor go down to the bottom of the