The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-08

.o ,,ttter stuck 10 ms tai-, nor ni'ric' ~
iot Then quoth the doomsman, Leave
80 ,bo silver with me and come again on
a., morrow And they went their own
ways. -, , .ho
bcggnr. and the king said;
~ ,-as riding toward this town, ana
,-aer came 70 the bridge Of Staines saw
,h;s man seated by the roadside, and when
ho ,,sked me 10 lit him on my horse ],
SEEING that he was old and feeble sald yes
with good heart and'carried him INTO TINS
town Of yours. in the which he was no
.ooper come than he claimed my horse 10
nv own facc saying that 1t was his ana
not mine. This on the word OF one VINO
tries 10 be- a righteous man is the ruth' on
doomsmen."
And the bcgf,ar:
81 ,vos ridinQ toward ,hc town on this
,,,, bor.e when / met this young man,
,yL,. savine he was nigh dead from nara
,.ot,O asked me To help him on his way.
with a GOOD heart | did 80, putting INN
before me on the horse hut when we were
come into the High street he ro9uishly
claimed NJ INC mv horse. and when would
not give il NJ he had me hailed before thee.
This on the word Of an old and righteous
man is the truth on. doomsman.'
Said Cedric. Leave the horse here with
me and come again ON the morrow
So the king and the beggar went their
own WAYS. and on the morrow were III the
church ward. a. were the others also, TO
hear the doom that Cedric would give.
The scrivener and the hedgcr were called.
"Take thy wife. scriyener.' said Cedric,
"and let the ears be cut from off the
hedger"
So the hedcer lost his ears and the scriv-
ener gained bis wife and yet some sad
their lots were equal.
Then were called the hesher and the
miller.
"ond let the right hand bee cut from of the
! fcsher.'
So the miller got his silver and the
ncsher lost his hand.
Then the king and the begear were
called
"Come with me-" said Cedric to the king,
and he took him To stable hard by where
were score OF horses. "Pick out thine
own horse. said Cedric; and the king did So.
Then Cedric sent for the beg9ar and SAID
To him: "pick ont thine own horse from
among a score Of horscs;' and the beggar,
whose ewes were keen and whose arts were
nimblc picked ont the kings horse.
"Now." said Cedric, come both Of you
to the doomsman'- seat. " and when they
were gathered there once more Cedric SAID
to The king
"Take thy horse and let the old man be
hanged"
And the king maryccd at the wisdom Of
the doomsmau. and said 10 him.
"Now / know that all | have heard is
truth. Thou art a- full of wisdom az Is an
fgg of meat Know then that ! am King
Alfred" and when Cedric had bowed his
knee before him the king said:
Tell me. pray thee, how thou gayest
such rightful doom, FOR dare swear that
thou dealt ms righteously with the scrive'
Ter and the miller as with me-
All three were but small matters, oh,
king" said Cedric "huf this was the
manner I'm WHICH ! settled them. Thou
.awe-t how that kept AN night the three
things ancutwhich there was pickering"
81 did. " said tho king
well" said Cedric, "in the morning
turned llf~IlAN IT'D lllE WilllNAi f'it't ''tA'+
Smooth mc down a skin. for need 90
write. and she took % skin aud rubbed 1t
after the fashion of n scriyoner's helper
and then knew that she belonged 20 the
scriycner and not % the hedger. for how
would a hedger' wife knowaught of writ
ing or Of making ready skins wherein to
Nritc.'
IT'S well" said the king
"Tha silver" said Cedric. II put in "a pot
of water and left g. over night In the
morning there hoatcd ON the top of tho
water "a fine white dust Then 1 knew II
belonged to the miller whose hands and
clothe, were covered with ground wheat,
and not 10 the fc.hcr. who's, hands were
greasy will his meats Had il been his
oil and not dust would have been on the
waters top.
"'Ti- very we'll" said the king And
my horse
Truly therein had pains to find tho
truth 3rthough OF course thou kncwcst
tiny beast among the score. anl doubtless
voult,. have known him amid AN hun-
deed. yet when called the le0gar IN Sc
did he. too. and was puzzled.
Then didst thou bat guess the truth|'
j said the king
NAY" replied Cedric "ro guess is not
teue wisdom. saw that while the heegm
sncw the horse. yet did the horse NOT know
him. Yet thee 10 knew. and whinnied
when thou earnest aui-h % il. and so
gave thee aud hanged the bcg.ar'
The king pond'red awhile, and then
spoke
"Tuy. Cedric" quoth Doc, thou art
D.. o { q. f... ia r 81