The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-11-03
THE THREE
MAGIC TALISMANS.
A Legend Found Among Some Old
Roman Tales.
BY EDWARD COURTNEY.

A long time ago, in a country whose
history and whose traditions are full of
| the glamour of romance, of wonderful
achievements and heartrending cruel
ties and outrages; where science, and
art, and literature fourished, and civ
ilization, so called, reached the very
height of refinement and perfection,
there lived great and wise king, who
was blessed with a loving queen and
three handsome sons.
Many were the years of this noble
monarch's reign, and one day, full of
love for his fellow-beings and thankful
for all the good that he had enjryed.
he called his children before him and
thus addressed them:
Hear me, my beloved ones, for the
last time, as your monarch; for this
day do bequeath to my eldest son my
kingdom and my crown. Rule wisely
and justly, ever. Let love be the cor
ner-stone of your reign. Then will all
your actions be true, and full of wis
dom.p
To the second son he presented all
his personal wealth and much good ad-
vice; and to his youngest, and best be
loved, he gave three magic gifts.
These talismans consisted of "a ring,
a necklace and carpet, and were in
trusted to the queen-Inother, till the
young prince should have reached the
years of discretion and knowledge.
And then, having spoken many low
ing words to his three sons, the king
descended from his throne and retired
to quiet life.
Years passed away, prosperously for
the two eldest sons The youngest,
who was his mothers idol, was for
ever with her, learning from her wis
dom many secrets of nature, of birds,
of insects, of plants, of fishes, and of
animals. He learned, too, the secret
stories of the rocks. He listened to the
music of the winds and the waters; and
studied the science of the stars and of
all the wonders of illimitabIe space.
His nature grew as sensitive as that
of his mother, and the soul of poetry
was strong within him. When he
grew to manhood he eclipsed ali his
high-born companions in their sports
and their studies, for nothing that was
essential in a princes education had
been neglected, and the sympathetic
companionship of the wise and gentle
queen had but added a crown of gen.
tleness to the manly bearing of the
prince.
So the time drew near when the first
gift of the king was to be presented to
Jonathan. The queen called him one
day to her chamber and gave him the
ring.
"fhis," she said, $50 long as you
have it, will make all people love you,
and, moreover, whatsoever you may
wish shall come to you. Take the gift
with all thy fathers love, and remem-
ber the teaching of thy mother, and
beware of crafty people; nor tell the
secret of thy power to anyonep'
Overoyed with his prize the young
prince strolled forth into the street of
the city; a desire was strong within
him to test the value of his ring. AS
he walked along, every one looked at
him and smiled. Many were the kind
words spoken to him, and he felt al
ready the power in the gift, for he saw
that the people loved him.
Presently he met gentle-looking
girl, who smiled so sweetly that it
seemed 10 him like new radiance in
the sr-umer sky. He spoke TO her, and
they soon became great frineds, but, as
time passed, and Su6tilia saw that
Jonathan got lands, and riches, and jew
els, and everything he wished for, she
felt an overpowering curiosity about it,
as young girl would naturally feel,
and she determined to find out the
secret.
"TeII me- she said 10 him one day,
show it is that you get everything you
desire, sor we all know that the king
left you no riches"
''Ahp' answered the prince, ~ must
not tell you that! 1t is my secret9'
"a secret. Aud do you say that /
am your friend, and yet have secret
from me?'
Thus began the trouble; nor would
SubtiIia be pacified until she had learn
ed the secret of the ring; and having
learned it, she longed to possess that
power for herself. Finally, Jonathan
Welded to her entreaties, and gave her
the ring.
All went well for time, but one day
Jonathan met Subtilia, and she was
weeping bitterly. He asked her what
her trouble was, and she told him that
some one had stolen the ring from her.
Then Jonathan, in his anger and dis
tress. went to his mother.
aAlas! my sonri she cried, al warn
ed you against willy people. The girl
deceiyes you But here, take this
necklace; so long rs you wear it on
vour bosom, all that you wish will be
falfIled. Bat beware OF the subtlety Of
q ,yious creatures, and lose not this
jewelV'
Jonathan. feeling that his fortune