Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-11-05
Macmillan and the Geese.


in plain civil costume in the garden of
his palace at Tegernsee. The heat
was indeed great, and it was SO very
quiet in the garden that the king fell
asleep over the book he was reading.
He laid it down beside him on the
bench and continued to slumber.
When he awoke, he thought he would
drive away his drowsiness by taking
walk. The road which took him
farther and farther away from the
garden, brought him at last to the
meadow which extended on both sides
from the shores of the beautiful lake
near which the palace stood.
Here the king remembered his book
which he had left lying on the bench
in the park. If any one passed by he
might take the volume, which, being
a rather rare one, the king did not
wish to lose. AS he was unwilling to
return the same way, he looked about
for some one who would fetch the
book for him, but far and wide he did
not see a single human being, except
boy who was watching a flock Of
geese. The king went up to him and
said, "Listen, my boy, you can go and
fetch me book which [ have left ly-
ing on bench in the park, and you
shall have form for your trouble"
The lad, who did not know the king,
looked at the gentleman with much
mistrust. A form for SO small ser
vice seemed to him to be SO large an
offer as to be a hoax.
s'I am not the simpleton you take
me for" said he, turning away.
"What makes you think that [ take
you for simpleton?" asked the king,
smiling, pleased with the open man
ner of the lad.
because you offer me a form for
such trifing SERVICE" replied the
boy; "money is not earned SO easily.
The people down there" he added,
pointing his finger to the distant pa
| lace, "take us for fools, and [ know
you are one of them"
"Well, what if 1 amp said the king.
"Come, here's half form in advance!
Now go and fetch me the book"
The boys eyes sparkled when he
held the money in his hand, for he
did not get much more than that for
looking after the geese for the whole
year; but still he hesitated.
"Well," asked the king, "why don't
you go?''
The boy pushed his cap on one side
and scratched himself behind the ear.
eyes," said he, 81 will-but-I dare
not. If the farmers heard that I left
I should lose my daily bread"
"I'n watch them till you come back
again."
"You," replied the boy, measuring
the stranger from top to toe; "you
don't look to me like one that could
take care Of geese. If they were to
run away and get lost in these mea-
dows, might have to pay more than
I should earn in year. Look at that
fellow with black head, who belongs
to the court gardener; he is an awful
old bird, a deserter, a good-for- moth
ing, like all people who have to do
with court; he would play you fine
tricks while I was away. No, no! that
would never do"
"But why should not I be able to
keep these geese in order as we'll as
succeed in keeping men in order?"
said the king.
'You?" replied the lad, again eying
the monarch with a grin. "They must
be fine fellows indeed! All! now I
have it! You are a schoolmaster. I
age than geese"
Possibly; but come, be quick. Will
you fetch the book? I will answer for
mischief that may happen"
This decided the boy. He enjoined
the king to keep watchful eye over
the geese he called the court gardener
splendid gander, who might run off
directly, leading the whole herd after
him. Then the boy gave him the whip
and ran off, but soon stood still and
came back again.
'What does this mean?'' cried the
king to him.
"Crack it once!" ordered the boy.
The king tried it, but it would not
crack at all.
"That's just what I thought" ex-
claimed the boy. ''The schoolmaster
thinks he can take care of geese, and
cannot even crack a whip?"
Then he took the whip out the kings |
hand and showed him how to crack it,
and when he had succeeded, the boy