The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-11
A KINGS LESSON.

VaTld, WIS one sum IQeF Gay S1Ell1g II D1dlA
civil costume in the garden of his palace at
Tegernsee. The heat was indeed great, and
it was so very quiet in the garden that the
king fell asleep over the book he was read
ing. He laid it down beside him the
bench and continued to slumber. When he
awoke, he thought he would drive away
his drowsiness by taking 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 a 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 be did
not see single human being except 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 have left lying on bench in the
park, and you shall have 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 service SEEM
ed to him to be so large an offer as to be
hoax.
az am not the simpleton you take me
for said he, turning away.
''What makes you think that take you
for simpleton?'' asked the king, smiling,
pleased with the open manner of the lad.
because you offer me a form for such
a trifling service, replied the boy. Mon
ey is not earned SO easily. The people down
there, - be added, pointing his finger to the
distant palace, ''take us for fools, and
know you are one of them. -
f'Well, what if I amp said the king.
t'Come, here's half a form in advance.
Now go and fetch me the book.
The boy 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
go?''
The boy pushed his cap on one side and
scratched himself behind the ear.
"Yes,' said he, 81 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, I 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 I was
away. No, no; that would never do.
''But why should not be able to keep
these geese in order as well as succeed in
keeping men in order?'' 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 schoollnaster. I tell you, boys are
much easier managed than gtpese."
POSSIBLY. But come; be quick. Will
you fetch the book? 1 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 a 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 oncep' ordered the boy
The king tried it, but it would not crack
at all
"That's just what I thoughti'' ex claim
ed the boy. 1.-THE schoolmaster thinks he
can take care of geese and cannot; even
crack q whipr'
Then he took the whip out of the king g
hand and showed him how to crack + His
majesty could scarcely repress his lau gR ter.
He tried all he could to learn how to OF ,ack
it, and when he had succeeded the 10y en-
joined him to use it at the right N on ieni
and then ran away. Now the king ulC
laugh as much as he liked.
But, in fact, it seemed as If the geese ob
served at once that their young but seva III
master no longer held the reins of Cover q
nent. The gander which the boy ha
I'D
his long neck, looked everywhere aroun
him, uttered several quack, quacks, ana
then all the geese raised their wings
screamed aloud, and before the king could
look around rushed, in every direction, tCs
the meadows around the lake.
The king cried out It was no use He
wanted to crack the whip, but the whip
gave sound. He ran to the right, he
ran to the left; all of no use, however. Out
of breath with laughing, he sat down on
the trunk of tree where the boy had been
sitting and let the geese CO.
1.-THE boy was really right, - he said to
himself that it is easier to govern q oou-
pie of millions of men than to manage a
herd of geese. Only it was that scoundrel,
the court gardener, who was the cause OF
all this mischief. -
The boy mean while had found the book
and came merrily back, but when he saw
what had happened he let the book fall.
''There we have itI'' he exclaimed, Sob
bing with anger and grief. Didn't say
you understood nothing about it2 Just
look now 1 can't collect them together
by myself. Now you will have to help me. ,;
After the boy had instructed the king
how he must lift up his arms, wave them
about and shout aloud, he ran of to fetch
the most distant of the strayed flock.
The king did all that was in his power,
| and after great exertions the whole flock
was at last assem- bled again. Then the
boy began to seold the king for doing his
! duty SO badly, concluding with the words:
| 'Never in my life will L trust the whip
| out of my hands again. I wouldn't even
i intrust it to the king himself if he tried to