Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-02-11
6ERTHOLOE, THE DWARF.
His Shrewd Answers at the Court OF
Alboiu, King of the Lombards,


Mary Shears Roberts, in her series OF
"HiStoric DwarfS," contributes an arti-
Gle on Bertholde to st. Nicholas. Ber-
tholde was an Italian, and one day he
made his way to the palace of Alboin,
King of the Lombards. at Verona, and
boldly seated himself in an empty chair
next the throne.
The courtierS We're as much surprised
Mt his audacity as they We're amazed ut
his grotesque appearances; but the Lom-
bard chieftain smiled grimly upon the
intruder and inquired of him what he
was. when he was born, and in what
country"
Il am man." replied the dwarf,
whereupon the attendants went off into
fits of laughter. Il was born when l
came into the world, and the world it.
self is my country"
King and courters now began to re
alize that they had Il shrewd little imp
before them, and they commenced to
ply him with questions of all kinds.
The asking of conundrums was n sort
of trial of wit to which sovereigns
We're much given at this period of his
tory.
what thing Is that which flies the
swiftest" asked one.
Thought" replied Bertholde, prompt
ly.
"Whatis the gulf that is never filledY
1.-The avarice of the miser," was the
randy Of thn nuinly-NyiitnH
dwarf.
what trait is the most hateful in
young people?"
"Self-conceit, because it makes them
unteachable."
"How will you catch hare runningr
inquired the King.
"I'll stay till l find her on the spit"
How would you bring water in a
sieve"
I'D wait till it was frozen" answer
ed the dwarf, readily.
The king was delighted. "For so
clever u rejoinder," he said, "you shall
have from me anything you may de-
sire"
"Oh, mol" cried Bertholde, with n
mocking laugh. 81 shall have nothing
of the sort. You cannot give me what
you do not possess. l am in search Of
happiness, of which you have not par
ticle. SO how can you give me any?"
SLOW" exclaimed the King. "Am
not happy on so elevated throneT
'Yes, you are. If the happiness of n
man consists in the height of his seat"
Then Alboin referred to his kingly
power and dignity, ana the dwarf re-
torted with another mocking laugh;
and when the King called attention to
the mobiles and courtiers about him,
Bertholde, with sneer remarked: "Oh,
yes, they cluster round your throne; so
do hungry ants round a crab-apple, and
with the same purpose-to devour It,"
"Well said" spake the King, keeping
his temper; "but all this does not pre-
vent me from shining among them, as
the sun among the stars"
'True, but tell me, shining Sun, how
many eclipses you are obliged to suffer
in year? For the continual flattering
of these men must now and then dark
en- your understanding"
"For this reason you would not be n
cOurtierY" inquired his Majesty, whose
fingers began to play upon his sword
in a threatening manner.
miserable as | am | should be sorry
to be placed in the rank of slaves" re-
piled the dwarf. Besides, | have not
the necessary qualities to succeed in
this fine employment"
"What, then, do you seek at my
courtT asked the King in an angry
tone.
Something have not been able to
find there" answered Bertholde. 81
was told that king was as much
above common men as tower is above
common houses: find, as | suspected,
that sovereigns are honored more than
they deserve"
This was little too much. The King
lost his patience, and commanded tho
dwarf Jester to leave the palace imme-
diately, or he would have him whipped
ont of court