The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-01-11
tlie Ecya and the silk that shine lik

oldswitch wiiiked at her black cat and
PsBeclzcbub winkcd at her
4 rs 1t possible said the sencschal
10 himself, that l am a coward? ]
thought myself afraidof nothing, and
|yet ! cannot see thissweb Of silk upon
tlc1j0nL WeHsoncth4ng Is certain,
| am not brave enough to admit that
| cannot see it; | must pretend that |
do"
And so, while the old woman point
ed to the patterns Of the web and
seemed to pass her hand over it he
protesscd to see everything she de-
scribed and even pretended to rub
the stuff between his fingers to feel
its tlneness But when he was gone
the old witch and Deelzebub laughed
till they choked.
"It is the most wonderful stuff |
ever saw, your majesty" said the
seneschal. beautiful gold lights play
through it like sunshine. 1t has the
rich changeful colors Of pcacock's
tail, and into the patterns is woven
all the flowers of spring. 1t is fine
and soft as a spiders web and yet has
the temper and hardness of Steel
Next day the king, being very busy,
sent the commander of all the forces
to the old witch to see If the suit was
cut of proper size, because to-m0r-
row it must be re ldy to wear.
The old witch had pushed the loom
to one side and sat as if sewing. The
brave old general saw her stick in a
necdleand pull through long thread,
but though he rubbed his eyes hard
he could not see the clothes which she
seemed to be sewing. But he did not
dare say so. and when the witch
seemed to hold up the clothes to show
him the shape of the sleeves and the
size of the buttons, he pretended tC
admire it very much and went to tel
the king that nothing so wonderful
and beautiful as his new clothes had
ever been seen, while the witcl
pinched Beelzebub in the ribs ant
he pinched her, and they both laughed
fit to kill themselves.
On the sixth day the army was al
ready to march and then the king sen
for his new clothes, and the senescba
and the commander of the force
fetched the old witch.
Here they ale, your majesty" sh'
said, seeming TO spread out the sui
before him, ''and when you wear then
in battle with the enemies of ou
country, don't forget the poor ok
witch of Salamanca - Upon whicl
Beelzebub had to stuff his own tai
into his mouth to keep from aughin
right out.
When she said this the young kin
turned pale, because he didn't see an
: clothes at all, and yet the senescha
and the commander Of the forces stoo
by and seemed to expect him to pu
them on. So, he dared not make an
protest, though all the while he wa
saying to himself, as they were hell
ing 20 put on the clothes he couldn
see.
"Then ! am coward, Well, | al
; too much Of IA coward to admit it, an
| shall at least know how to die ft
my country when the time comes"
And then they went out of til
palace and the king mounted his hors
J, and all the people cheered, for cac
< one said to himself: II can't see I'll
I kings clothes, but that is because
u am not truly brave, but no one els
: shall see that don't see Them an
S every man said to his neighbo
. GLOW splendid the kings mag
G clothes are Did you ever see an
a thing so glorious" ?"
. Every neighbor replying: mo il
y deed, | never did -
And all the while the old witch an
Beelzebub, left alone in the palac
: were winking both eyes at each otht
:. and shouting with laughter.
But when the king came to the cit
: gate there stood his sister. the Pri
l cess Inez, with all the ladies of I'll
= court, and the moment they saw I'll
king they all hid their faces.
!, "Oh, BROTHER said the princes
through the sticks of her fan; "wt
do you go to war with no clothes on
: mo clothes !" answered he. "Wh
u ] am wearing the magic suit made |
the witch of Salamanca which only
brave man can see"
e "Magic nonsence said the pri
cess sharply. "You haven't on an.
thing at all. Here, put my clos
d around you Immediately and send I,
t a SUIT Of arm0r; you shan't lea
q Madrid In this condition, / can te
s you. Now" she said, turning to Il
g people, tell me on your faith
Christians, can any one OF you s
6 this magic suit? ?"
e Then, OF course, they all admit,
d the truth, and great cry was rails
g that the witch should be burned
deceiving the king, but when tn
a went to search for her she and t
It black cat and the silk and fine &c
4, had all disappeared.
te Let her co." said the king. IS
VI was rjgnt in ono thing at least