The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-02-24
Wadsworth Dispatch,
PUBLISHED sEMi-wEExlY
$500 Per Annum.
A. KINGS LESSON.


varia, was one summer day sitting In plain
civil costume in the garden Of his palace at
Tegerrsee. The heat was indeed great, and
1t was So very quiet In the garden that the
king fell asleep over the book he was read
ing. lja laid it down beside him on the
benta and continued to slumber. When he
awpL1, lie thought he would drive away
bis orqwsiness by taking a walk. The
road, which took him farther and farther
! way ifoin the garden, brought him ut last
To tho meadow which extended on both
sides from the shores Of the beautiful lake
near which the palace stood.
Here the hing remembered his book,
which he had left lying on the bench In the
park. II any one passed by, he might take
the volume, which, being q rather rare
one, the King did not wish to lose. As be
was unwilling to return the same way, he
looked about for some one who would fetch
tie book to him, but for and wide he did
not see a single human being except a boy
who was watching a flock Of geese. The
king went up to him and said: Listen,
my boy. You can 60 and fetch me a book
which ] have left lying on a bench in the
park, and you shall have a form for -FOUR
trouble.
The lad, who did not know the king,
looked at the gentleman with much mis-
trust. A form for 80 small a service SEEM
ed to him to be so large ar offer as to be a
hoax.
~ am not the simpleton you take me
for" said be, turning away.
What makes you think that I take you
for a sim ~pletons" asked che king, smiling,
pleased with the open manner Of the lad.
~ a--l- g.
u trifiinR SERVICE, y 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 l
know you arc one Of them"
"Well, what II i amf" said the king.
. Come, here's half a 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
t;ited.
well, " asked the king, "why don't you
ger"
The boy pushed his cap on one side and
scratched him self behind the ear.
YES" said he, II will-but-I dare
not. II the farmers heard that l left the
kGOFCy thCJ tNOutd- III Aho III L bhohio
lose my daily bread.
"I'll watch them till you COM back
again"
you u replied the boy, measuring the
stranger from top to toe. "You don't look
to me like one that could take care Of geese.
Ii they were to run away and get lost in
these meadows, 1 might have to pay more
than / should earn in a year. Look at that
fellow with IL black head, who belongs to
the court gardener. He is an awful old
bird, a deserter, "A good for nothing, like
oil people who have to do with a court. He
would Ilny 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 well as l succeed Ia
keeping men In order?' said the king.
YOU" replied the lad, again eying the
monarch, with u grin. "They must be fine
fellows indeed All, now | have It'll You
are a schoolmaster., ] tell you, boys are
much easier managed than geese."
Possibly But come; be quick. Will
you fetch the book? l will answer for any
mischief that ray happen"
This decided the boy. He enjoIned the
king to keep u watchiul eye over the goose
he called the court gardener, a splendid
gander, who might run off directly, lead
ing the whole herd utter him. Then he
gave lin the whip and ran of, but soon
stood still and then came back again.
what does this meanS" cried the king
to him..
Crack 1t oncei'' ordered the boy.
The king tried 1t, but 1t would not crack
at all.
"That's just what I thought" exclaim-
ed the boy. 1.-THE schoolmaster thinks he
can take care of geese and cannot even
crack a whipr'
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 1t at the right moment
and then ran away. Now the king could
laugh as much as he liked.
But, In fact, 1t seemed as If the geese OBJ
served at once that their young but severe
master no longer held the reins Of govern
ment. The gander which the boy had
pointed out as the court gardener raised
bis 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, to
the meadows around the lake.
The king cried out. 1t was no use. He
wanted to crack the whip, but the whip
gave no sound. He ran to the right, lie
ran TO the left; all of no use, however. Out
Of breath with laughing, he sat down on
the trunk Of n tree " here the boy had been
sitiing ard let the geese so.
iic boy was really right" he said to
hinseIf--''tlat it is e..sinr to govern a cou-
ple CT millions Of non than tn manage u
herd al geese. Only 1t MAS that scoundrel,
tie court gardener, who was the cause of
all this mischief.
lile 10y meanwhile had found the book
nn- --E-a nnrriIr lanL hut when La 81 W