Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-15
A KINGS LESSON.

ing He laid II down besSc him on the
bench and continued TO slumher When ho
invoke, he thought he would drive away
his drowslness by taking walk. The
road, which took him farther and f0rther
away from tho garden, brought him at last
to the meadow which extended on both
sides from the shores Of tho beautiful lake
near which the palace stood.
Here the king remembered his book,
which he had left lying on tho bench in tl,a
park. II any one passed by, no might tako
the volume, which, being u rather rare
one, the king did not wish TO lose. As ho
was unwilling to return the same way, no
looked about for some ono who would fetch
the book TO him, but Tar and VIDE he did
not SEQ single human boing except boy
who was watching COCK Of geese. Tho
king went up to him and said: "Lision,
my boy. You can 20 and fetch me a book
which have loft lying ON bench in the
park, and you shall have form for your
trouble"
The lad, who did not know the hing,
looked at tho gontlemaD with much mis-
trust A form for so small a service seem
ed TO him to 10 60 large an offer us to DO a
hoax.
~ am not tho simpleton You take mo
for, " said he, turning away.
"What makes you think TINT take you
for simpletonS' asked tho king, smiling,
pleased with tho open manner Of the lad
Because you offer me q dorm for such
trlfilng service, F" replied tho boy. "Mon-
ey is not earned so easily. This people down
there, he added, pointing his finger 10 the
distant palace "tnke us for fools, and |
know you arc one Of them"
"Well, whit II / amy" said the king.
"Como, here's half "A form In advance.
Now so and fetch me the book.
Tho boys eyes sparkled when he held
tho money in his hand, for he did not get
much more thnn that for looking after the
geese for the whole year; but still no hest
tatcd
well, asked the king, "why don't you
got"
The boy pushed his cap ON ono side and
scratched himself behind the ear
Yes" said he, 81 will-but-I dare
not II tho farmers heard TINT left tho
geese, they would dismiss me and should
lose my daily bread"
'Ill watch them till you come back
again"
"You," replied tho boy, measuring tho
stranger from top to toe. you don't look
to me like one that could take cnro of geese.
II they were to run away and get lost in
these mondows, might have to pay more
than should earn in year. Look at that
fellow with n black head, who belongs to
the court gardener. He Is an awful old
bird, n deserter, u good for nothing, like
all people who have to do with u court. He
would play you fine tricks whilo l was
away. No, no; that would never do. i"
''But why should not DO able to keep
fhago e,ooua In, f,rfar .typ11 nc I eu,rsnI u,
keeping mon in ordcrf" said tho king.
"Yous' replied tho lad, again eying the
monarch, with a grin. "They must be fine
fellows indeed All, now have itl You
are schoolInaster. tell you, boys nre
much easier managed than geese"
Possibly. But come; be quick. VIII
you fetch the book | will answer for any
mischief that may happen"
This decided the boy. He enjolncd the
king to keep watohful eye over tho COOS;
ho called the court gardener, splendid
gander, who might run of directly, lead
ing tho whole herd after him. Then he
gave him the whip and ran off, but soor
stood still and thcn came baob again.
"What does this meant" cried the king
to him.
Crack 1t oncel' ordered the boy.
The king tried 1t, but 1t would not crack
at all.
"Thnt's Just what thoughtr' exclaim.
ed the boy. "The schoolmaster thinks be
can take care of geese and cannot ever
crack a whipl'
Tbon he took the whip out Of the king,
hand and showed him how to crack It, Hi.
majesty could scarcely repress his laughter
He tried all he could to learn how to cracl
1t, and when ho had succeeded the boy en-
Joined him to usn IL ut the right moment
ana then ran away. Now tho king coult
laugh as much as he liked
But, in fact, 1t seemed as n the geese OBJ
served at once that their young but sever,
master no longer hold the reins of govern
ment. The gander which tho boy hat
pointed out as the court gardener rnisct
his long neck, looked everywhere arounC
him, uttered several quack, quacks, ant
then all tho goose raised their wings
screamed aloud, and before the king coult
look around rushed, in evory direction, L
the meadows around the lake.
The king cried out IL was no usc II,
wanted to crack tho whip, but tho Will
gave no sound. lie ran to the right h,
ran 10 tho left; all of no use, however. GU
of breath with laughing, ho sat down oil
the trunk Of tree where the boy had beei
sitting and let tho geese 30.
"The boy was really right" he said I,
himself-'that II IL easier to govern a cou
plo of millions Of men than TO manage
herd Of geese, Only 1t was that scoundrel
the court gardener, who Was the cause o
all this mischief.
Tho boy meanwhile had found tho bool
and came merrily back, but when he saw
what had happened he let the book fall.
"rhere we have i'll" he exclaimed, sob
bling with anger and grief Didn't ga!
you understood nothing about ip Jus
look nowl / can't collect them togctho
by myself. New you will have to help me.
After tho 10y had instructed tho king
how he must lif5 up hls arms, wave then
about and shout aloud, lac ran OF to fotcl
the most distant of the strayed fioek.
Tho king did all that was in his power
and after great eIertions the whole locl
was at last assembled again. Then tn,
boy began to scold the king for doing hi
duty so badly, concluding with the words
"Neyer In my life will trust the whiI
out of my hands again. l wouldn't ever
intrust It to the king himself II he tried tt
persuade me to leave the flock. -
You are right, my brave lad. said In,
king, bursting into loud laugh. "H,
understands 1t no more than l do, for
am the king myself "-Exchange.
|