The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-23
A KINGS LESSON.

bench and continued to slumber When he
awoke, he thought he would drive away
his drowsiness by tai A 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 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 q 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 a single human being except a boy |
who was watching flock of geese. The
king went up to him and said: Listen,
my boy. You can go and fetch me book
which l have left lying on bench in the
park, and you shall have a form 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 SEEM
ed to him to be so large an offer as to be a
hoax.
81 am not the simpleton you take me
for " said he, turning away.
"What makes you think that take you
for n simpleton?" asked the king, smiling,
pleased with the open manner of the lad.
Because you offer me form for such
a trifiing service" replied the boy. "Mon-
ey 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 If l 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 hest
tated.
"Well asked the king, "why don't you
goP'
The boy pushed his cap on one side and
scratched himself behind the ear.
Eyes" said he, ~ will-but-I dare
not. If the farmers heard that left the
geese, they would dismiss me and should
lose my daily bread"
"I'll 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, might have to pay more
than should earn in year Look at that
fellow with 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 was
away No, no; that would never do
but why should not be able to keep
these geese in order as we'll as 1 succeed in
keeping men in orderp' said the king.
"You?" replied the lad, again eying the
monarch, with a grin. "They must be fine
fellows indeed! All, now have It'll You
are schoolmaster. l tell you, boys are
much easier managed than geese"
POSSIBLY. But come; be quick. Will
you fetch the bookP l 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 gardener, splendid
gander, 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 mean?" cried the king
TO him.
"Crack it oncel' ordered the boy.
The king tried it, but it would not crack
at all.
"Thats just what thoughtp' exclaim-
ed the boy. 1.-The schoolmaster thinks he
can take care of geese and cannot even
crack whip!'
Then be took the whip out of the kings
hand and showed him how to crack 1T. His
majesty could scarcely repress his laughter.
: He tried all he could to learn how to crack
, 1t, and when he had succeeded the boy en-
Joined him to use it at the right moment
and then ran away Now the king could
laugh as much as he liked.
But in fact it seemed as If the geese oh.
served at once that their young but severe
master no longer held the reins of govern.
ment. Tho gander which the boy had
pointed out as the court gardener raised
his long neck, looked everywhere around
| him, uttered several quack, quacks, and
+ then all the geese raised their wings
screamed aloud, and before the king could
look around rushed, in every direction, tC
2 the meadows around the lake.
5 The king cried out. 1t was no use. He
y wanted to crack the whip, but the whiI
gave no sound. He ran to the right, III
ran to the left; all of no use, however. Out
of breath with laughing, he sat down OF
the trunk OF IA tree where the boy had beer
sitting and let the geese go.
"The boy was really right he said t.
himself" that it is easier to govern IA cou
= pie 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 merrily back, but when he saw
T what had happened he let the book fall.
J, "There we have it' he exclaimed, sob
q bling with anger and grief. Didn't l say
you understood nothing about it? Jus
look now! l can't collect them together
by myself. Now you will have to help me. ,
After the boy had instructed the kinl
how he must lift up his arms, wave then
about and shout aloud, he ran off to fetci
II the most distant of the strayed flock.
The king did all that was in his power
and after great exertions the whole flocl
was at last assembled again. Then thu
: boy began to scold the king for doing hi
duty so badly, concluding with the words
"Never in my life will l trust the Will
out of my hands again. / wouldn't ever
intrust it to the king himself II he tried tt
persuade me to leave the flock"