St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-10-04

MACMILLAN AND THE GEESE.

following anony1nou story of the late un-
fortunate King of Bavaria. He was almost
as bad as Alfred with his cakes.
Macmillan Joseph, the late King
of Bavaria, was one summer day sit
ting IN plain civil costume in the
garden of his palace at Tegernsee.
The heat was indeed great, and it
it was so very quiet in the garden
that the king fell asleep over the book
he was reading. He laid it down be-
side him on the bench and continued
to slumber. When he awoke, he
thought he would drive away his
drowsiness by taking a 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 remem bered his book
which he had lett lying on the bench
in the park. If anyone passed by,
he might take the volume. which, be-
ing a rather rare one, the king did
not wish to lose. AS he was not will
ing 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 a single human being,
except boy who was watching
flock of geese. The king went up to
him and said, Listen, my boy, you
can 60 and fetch me book which l
have left lying on a 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
a service seemed to him to be so
large an offer as to be hoax
Il am not the simpleton you take
me for" said he, turning away.
What makes you think that l
take you for simpleton ?" asked the
king, smiling, pleased with the open
manner of the lad.
Because you offer me a form for
such trif1ing service" 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 l
know you are one Of them"
well, what if l ann" 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 hesitat ted.
"Well," asked the king, why |
don't you go?"
The boy pushed his cap on one side
Yes" said he, Il will-but-I
+L1a n,
| left the geese, they would dismiss
me. and l should lose my daily
bread"
IN 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
meadows, l might have to pay
more than I should earn in a wear.
Look at that fellow with a black
head, who belongs to the court
gardener; he is an awful old bird,
deserter, good-for-nothing, like
all people who have to do with
court; he would play you fine tricks
while l was away. No, no! that
would never do"
But why should not 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 eye
ing the monarch with a grin They
must be fine fellows indeed All!
now 1 have it! You are a school
master l tell you boys are much
easier managed than geese
Possibly; but come, be quick.
Will you fetch the book? 1 will
answer for any mischief that may
happen"
This decided the boy. He enjoined
the king to keep watchful eye over ,,
the goose he called the court garden ,,
er, a splendid gander, who might :
run off directly, leading the whole !
herd after him. Then the boy gave -,
him a whip and ran off, but soon l
stood still and then came back again. =.
What does this mean ?" cried the
king to him.
Crack it once!" ordered the bov. !
The king tried it, but it would not :
crack at all. 8
That's just what thought" ex- +
claimed the boy. THE school :
master thinks he can take care of
geese, and cannot even crack a
whip!"
Then he took the whip out of the r
kings hand and showed him how to +
crack it, His majesty could scarcely s
repress his laughter, he tried all he g
could to learn how to crack it, and .,
when he had succeeded, the boy en- E
joined him to use it at the right e.
moment, and then ran away. Now b
the king could laugh as much as he q
liked. &c