The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07
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BERTHOLDE, THE DWARF.
His Shrewd Answers at the Court of
Albion, King of the LOmbards.

From st. Nicholas.
Bertholde was an Italian. and one day
he made his way to the palace of Albion,
king of the Lombards, at Verona, and
boldly seated himself in an empty chair
next the throne.
The courtiers were as much surprised
at his audacity as they were amazed at his
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, where
upon the attendants went off into ATS of
laughter Il was born when i came into
the world, and the world itself Is my
country"
King and courtiers now began to realize
that they had a shrewd little imp before
them, and they commenced to ply him
with questions of all kinds. The asking
of conundrums was a sort of trial of wit
to which sovereigns were much given at
this period of history.
What thing IS that which flies the
swiftest?' asked one;
Thought" replied Bertholde. promptly.
What is the gulf that is never filled?"
THE avarice of the miser," was the
ready reply of the quck-wtted dwarf.
What trait is the most hateful in
young people,"
self -conceit. because it makes them
unteachable."
"How will you catch a hare running?"
inquired the king.
81 stay till find her on the spit"
How would you bring water in a
'I'd wait till it was frozen" answered
the dwarf, readily.
The king was delighted. For so clever
a rejoinder," he said. you shall have
from me anything you may desire"
''Oh, nor cried Bertholde, with a mock
ing laugh. II shall have nothing of the
sort. You cannot give me what you do
not possess. / am in search Of happi-
ness, of which you have not a particle
so how can you give me any?'
~ frasaH he AeRa Il -
happy on so elevated throne?"
Yes, you are, II the happiness of a man
consists In the hight of his seat"
Then Albion referred to his kingly power
and dignity, and the dwarf retorted with
another mocking laugh; and when the
king called attention to the mobiles and
sSse m aPS95 him yes ssev with
round your throne; so do hungry ants
round crab-apple, and with the same pur-
"Well said" spake the king. keeplng his
temper; but all this does not prevent 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
a Year, For the continual flattering of
these men must now aud then darken your
For this reason you would not be a cour-
tier?" inquired his majesty, whose fingers
began to play upon his sword in threat
Miserable as / am. 1 should be sorry TO
be placed IA the rank OF slaves" replied
the dwarf Besides, / have not the nee
essary qualities to succeed in this fine
employment"
what then do YOU seek at my court?"
asked the king in an angry tone.
Something have not been able TO find
there" answered Bertholde II was told
that "A king was as much above common
men as a tower is above common houses.
find, as / suspected, that sovereigns are
honorcd more than they deserve"
This was a little to much. The king lost
his patience, and commanded the dwarf
Jester 70 leave the palace Immediately or
he would have him whipped out OF court
Maria Pia. the Portuguese queen dow
ager. wears the gold medal OF Lisbon
humane society. IL was granted her for
jumping into the Tagus after Alfonso
when he was a little follow. The queen
is plain but very interesting woman.