Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-08-28

WSS> Albeit tn ose
xho dwelt at the same time as that
good king have had sons and daugh'
ters, and these in their turn children,
and these again yet other children,
md 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 ofeven now.
He it was who fought the wicked
Danes and beat them, driving them
all out Of our country to their own,
save only those whom he slew so
that they could work no more"wo;
and this, indeed, is the only sure way
to forelend against a Dane doing i'll,
for they are of II truth bad men and
given to all manner of knavery and
sin.
Now my father has often told me
how that when King Alfred had driv-
en-, out the Danes he ruled so wisely
and so we'll that men could hang
chains OF gold and 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
for these are everywhere to be found
save in the kingdom OF our Lord
alonc-but because doomsmen were
set up by the king, before whom were
hailed all who did not righteously.
and according to their faults they
were doomed. 1t followed in it's
course that among these doomsmen
some We're wiser than others and
more even handed; but among them
all was none to be found more rightc-
Gus and more blameless in his find
ings 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. tho church yard, setting straight
that which was crooked and uplifting
thesmall against the great, the feeble
folkagainst the strong. Now the talk
OF his righteousness spread, as when
Il stone drops in mere the ripples
of it spread until they touch the
shore, so that even to the kings ears
came the name of Doolnsman Cedric,
the son OF Hend.
And the king said unto himself:
o1,o, Ia Il IL,
which are told to me, and yet again
there may be truth in them; but
strange it is that man should be
not only so righteous but so wise that
none make plant touching any of the
dooms he gave FORTH" and he Sc
pondered over this thing that in the
end he habited himself like unto a
simple knight at arms, and rode forth
from London, taking the high road
to Reading to see for himself what
manner Of man this Cedric might be
Ditton he passed and Windsor also
and whenever he tarried for the night
asfolk ate their supper he heard then
talk as they quaffed their ale or meaC
OF Credric the Doomsman and the
wonder of his wisdom and his right
fulness, until the king began to grow
hot within him at the endless babble
as it seemed to him, concerning thu
worthiness of this one man.
Sohe rode until he came to Staines
and as he was about to pass Owe
the bridge he saw, lying in the dus
at the wayside, n beggar, habited il
rags, and begging aims from tn
passers by.
Help me, oh, stranger" said tn
begger.
with all my heart" answered TIL
king, and took from his pouch tire
pennies, which he gave to the beggal
"Help me, oh, stranger quot
once more the beggar.
''Thou art a greedy varlet" sal
the king; "what more dost tho
want?'
II am old and weak" answere
the beggar. "Wilt thou not set NJ
behind thee on thy horse and carr
me to Reading town."
with, all my heart!" replied ont
more the king, and straightway 81
him foul as he was upon his hors
andin that wise rode over the bride
and along the high road into tt
town ofReading. As they went dow
the High street the king said to II
beggar, "Where witt thou that s.
thee DOWN."
To which made answer the othe
Nay, but rather where wilt tho
that set thee DOWN."
Thou art a saucy varlet," quo
the king; "and it would be using tn
hoo insecurity were / to pitch tn
of my horse into the ruppel there
the side of u.s."
Hast tIou the face to call It Il
h0rsef 4uoth the beggarma
Ihou shameless thingl tn
knowsst well the horse belongs
THY horse?" shouted the king.
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