The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21
= by
AarJ Richards


which was wound about one of the mar BILE
columns, while two of the stoutest of the
duchesses wiped his tears away with the
great pillows from the divan.
"Oh my country, my country" he was
saying, 81 feared thou vert lost forever"
After time his Majesty became more
composed and noticed the little boy, who
stood holding the little girls hand.
Brave YOUTH" he said, "thou mast van
quished the invader. Half of my king
dom is thine"
By this time the news that the mouse
had fed had spread abroad and the cour-
tiers and the guards returned, the king re-
sumed his throne, the ambassador of the
subject prince came back from the garden,
where he had been vainly trying to climb
tree ever since the invader appeared.
The court resumed Its magnifcence. and
the little boy and girl, whose clothes were
none of the best, looked strangely out of
place. The king again addressed the brave
young stranger:
"Speak, youth, and claim what reward
you will My gratitude knows no bounds"
At this the little boy answered boldly,
"Y our majesty, for myself want nothing,
but for this little girl 1 beg morsel of
bread, as we have wandered for days in.
| the woods and are hungryr'
At this generous speech the courtie-s
applauded by stamping on the floor with
their forefeet and trumpeting wildly.
'You shall banquet with me, cried the
king, "and then we will talk of future
plans"
In the banquet-hall the king sat between
the little girl and the boy, and they told
him their story.
81 am a prince" said the boy. 81 am
Damar, son of King Caviar, stolen from
my father py the wicked Baruck three
years ago. Baruck's queen came to our
palace and begged shelter, saying her hus-
! band was pursuing her for her life. The
queen, my mother, took her in and wept
with her. At midnight she rose up and,
seiZing me from my mother side, fed away
to her own country, for she had plotted
with her husband to do this. Baruck sent
a courier telling my father that his wife
was mad and had stolen his heir. My
father set out immediately, and when he
arrived at Baruck's court he was loaded
with chains and confined IN a dungeon. A
messenger was sent to my mother telling
her that he was very i'll. In great distress
she journeyed after him, only to share his
fate. Baruck then assembled my fathers
, throne and reigned over both kingdoms.
| was sent to the hut of a poor fisherman,
who treated me like son, and this is his
daughter, Zella, who is with me. 1 was
three years OF age when the queen stole
NE, and l could not make resistance. Now
l am six years of age, and resolved to fight
for my rights"
The little girl very modestly and sweetly
added to her foster brothers tale. She
was resolved. she said, to share all his
trials and dangers.
And what will you do now?" asked the
king, burying his trunk in great golden
trough of honey.
81 will march Immediately on the CITY
where Baruck lives and summon him to
surrender. If he refuses, 1 will batter
down the gates and take him alive"
brave youtnv' exclaimed the king.
"On one condition 1 and my whole army
will join you"
What is the condition." asked the boy.
THAT you will defend my kingdom
against mice whenever the necessity
arises"
With hearty good will the boy gave the
promise, and next day the allied forces set
out, one of the great lords of the palace
carrying the little boy and girl. The kings
army, consisting of thousands of fierce
elephants, spread across the plain. They
made such a dust that King Baruck,
standing on the city wall, could not see
what it was advancing. He only heard
the voice of the little boy summoning him
to surrender, but instead he called all his
fighting men and began hurting javelins,
darts and great stones from the walls. The
darts enraged the elephants to such an
extent that, sucking the nearest river
into their trunks, with all the mud,
fish, rocks and logs of wood that
were in it. they rushed against the walls,
throwing them down. Against the king and
his fighting men they then discharged the
river, sweeping them away. A log struck
Baruck and knocked him down, an eel fell
about his neck and Goldfish got down his
back. He fed, bowling, and his queen
followed him. The brave young prince re-
leased his father and mother from their
prison, and they were restored to their
honors and dignity. In return for the
trespasses of Baruck his kingdom was
declared forfeited and was added to that
of Caviar.
Far from despising his sons feeling for
the little fisher girl, the good king en-
couraged their affection, and she was
made a great princess, while her father
became fshmonger extraordinary to the
palace. Great feasts were given IN honor
of the white elephants and their king
and firm alliance was made. Young
Prince Damar made himself such a terror.
to mice that none dare venture to invade
the territory of his allies, who easily re-
PEELED all other foes, and there was happi-
ness and peace in all the land Chicago
Record.