Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-22
KING AND GEESE.


plain civil costume in the garden Of his
palace at Tegernsee. The heat was indeed
great, and it was SO very quiet In the gar
den that the king fell asleep over the book
no was reading. He laid 1t down beside
MIN on the bench and continued to slum-
Der. When he awoke, he thought he
would drive away his drowsiness by tax
ing walk. The road, which took him
farther and farther away from the gar
den, 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. II 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 to him, but far and
wide he did not see single human being,
except boy who was watching flock OF
geese. The king went up to him and said,
"Listen, my boy; you can go and fetch me
q book which have left lying on a bench
I'm the park, and you shall have forin
for your trouble"
The lad, who did not know the king,
looked at the gentleman with much mis-
trust. A form for SO small a service
seemed to him to be so large an offer as to
be hoax.
II am not the simpleton you take me
for" said he, turning away
"What makes you think that take you
for simpletonS" asked the king, smil-
ing, pleased with the open manner of the
lad.
"Because you offer me form for such
atrifling service, 4" replied the boy. money
is not earned so easily. The people down
there" he added pointing his finger to
the distant palace, take us for fools, and
know you are one Of them"
"Well, what II ann" said the king.
"Comc, here's half a form In advance.
Now go and fetch me the boob"
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 tho whole year, but still he hest
tated.
"Well," asked the king, "why don't
you go'"
The boy pushed his cap on one side and
scratched himself behind tho ear.
yes" said he, Il will-but-I dare
geese they would dismiss me, and
should lose my daily bread"
I'm watch them till you come back
again."
YOU" replied the boy, measuring the
stranger from top to toe. "You don &
look to me Ike one that could take care If
geese If they were to run away and get
lost in these meadows, might have to
pay moro than l should earn in a year.
Look at that fellow with black head,
who belongs to the court gardener. He Is
an awful old bird, deserter, a good for
nothing, like all people who have to do
with court. He would play you fine
tricks while J was away. No, no; that
would never do"
but why should not be able to keep
these geese In order as well as I succeed
In keeping men in order9' said the king.
"You?" replied the lad, again cying
tho monarch with grin. They must
be fine fellows indeedl All, now have it,
You are schoolmaster. l tell you, boys
arc much easier managed than geese"
Possibly, but come, be quick. Will
you fetch the bookP will answer for any
mischief that may happen"
This decided the boy He cnjoined the
king to keep watchful eye over tho goose
he called the court gardener, n splendid
gandcr who might run off directly, lead
ing the whole herd after him. Then he
gave him the whip and ran off, but soon
stood still, and then came back again.
What does this mcan2" cried the king
to him.
"Crack 1t oncel' ordered the boy.
The king tried it, but it would not crack
ut all.
THAT'S just what I thought" OK
claimed tho boy. 1.-The schoolmaster
thinks ho can take care of geese and can
not even crack whipi'
Then he took the whip out of the kings
hand and showed him how to crack it.
His majesty could scarcely repress hi:
laughter He tried all he could to learr
how to crack it, and when he had succeed
cd the boy cnjoined him to uso it at the
right moment and then ran away. Now
the king could laugh rs much as he liked
But, in fact, it seemed rs If the geese oh
served at once that their young but severe
master no longer held the reins of govern
mcnt. Tho gander which the boy haC
pointed out rs the court gardener raiscC
his long neck, looked everywhere arounC
him, uttered several "quack, quacksN
and then all the geese raised their wings
screamed aloud, and before the king could
look around rushed, in every direction, t.
tho meadows around tho lake.
The king cried out. Ii was no use. He
wanted to crack the whip, but the whiI
gave no sound. Hc ran to the right, hi
ran to the left, all of no use, however
Out of breath with laughing, he sat dowI
on the trunk of a tree where the boy hat
been sitting and let the geese go.
Tho boy was really right, he said te
himself, THAT it is easier to govern cou
plo of millions of men than to manage q
herd of geese. Only it was that scoundrel
the court gardener, who was the cause OF
all this mischief"
The boy meanwhile had found the book
and came morrily back, but when he saw
what had happened he let the book fall
There we have itl'' he exclaimed, sob
hing with anger and grief. Didn't / say
you understood nothing about its just
look nowl can't collect them together by
myself Now you will have to help me. "
After the boy had instructed the king
how he must lift up his arms, wave them
about and shout aloud, he ran off to fetch
the most distant Of the strayed flock.
The king did all that was In his power,
and after great exertions the whole flock
- III INyx Ia,