The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-20


which will beat people of itself till they !
cry for mercy.
The boy thought of his brothers. and |
SO exchanged his gift for the stick. but |
when he had gone away he remembered
that the oak told him to keep the cloth, |
30 he said:
"Stick that beats of itself, bring mo
back my CLOTH"
And off went the stick like the wind
and belabored the old man till he cried
for mercy and dropped the cloth. The
stick soon reached its master, bearing
the cloth, and on they went again.
But again they came to poor man
who begged an aims and again the
fool spread the cloth and said the magic
words, and there was rustling as Of
leaves over their heads, and something
shone above them, and there stood TIA
BILE full of dishes, with goblets of hy-
dromel and glasses of wine and food fit
for king.
When they had finished eating, the
table disappeared, and the fool, folding
the cloth, was about to depart when
the stranger said:
"Will you not give me your cloth in
exchange for my girdle? You have but
to say, 'Girdle that swims so wonder
fully, not for my pleasure, but for my
safety, let me find myself in a boat on
the water, and immediately a great
lake will spead out, and you will be in
boat far out in the middle of the wa
ter. -
'That will be well, to always have
water for my fathers flocks, said the
boy, and so they exchanged.
Again the boy remembered what the
oak said, however, and he sent the stick
80 bring back his cloth, and all was as
before
He met a third beggar, and after
like experience obtained from him cap
with six corners, which would shoot of
itself and kill every one it aimed at.
Then the boy went home and his
brothers said
"Where are the acorns?"
But instead of answering he whisper
ed to his stick, and soon the brothers
knew not what had happened for the
awful blows they received.
Then the youth showed his mother
and father his wonderful cloth, and the
news of his possession soon spread till
the king heard of it. So the king sent q
messenger to the fool to demand of him
the cloth, but the stick so whipped the
messenger that he was glad to run away.
When the king heard of the stick that
could whip of its own accord, he forgot
about the cloth and sent some men to
obtain it.
Then the fool commanded the girdle
to spread the lake, and the men gazed
in wonder at the clear, beautiful water
which stretched out deep and long and
wide over the plain. And, looking clos
er, they saw that it was full of fish
with silver scales and eyes of pearls,
and in the middle of the lake was a
silver boat in which sat the fool.
When the king heard of the girdle,
he no longer cared for the other mar
vels So he dispatched an army to sur
round the fool and capture him. They
caught him sleeping, but rudely awak.
ened him and told him the kings com.
mands.
Then the fool laughed, and turning
his cap, commanded it TO shoot
What havoc prevailed theni Many
soldiers fell, while others fed to hide,
and a few ran to the king, who when
he heard of the wonderful cap, thought
all the other gifts trifles compared with
it.
Finding that force could not avail,
the king tried persuasion. He sent for
Al 10
al favor and half of his kingdom, to-
gether with his daughter, the princess,
in marriage to the fool, and the success
sion to his throne, if he would but come
to the court to show his wonderful
treasures
, The mother persuaded her boy to go,
, little suspecting treachery. The youth
arrived at court and was greeted by
music, and all the guard bowed down
, to him. The king was engaged at the
time, but the young peasant was receiv'
ed with the honors BETTING prince.
But while the king was still engaged
the chief minister gave commands, and
, the boy was suddenly seized, carried &c
the courtyard, and, amid music and the
firing of guns, was slain
, Some drops Of his blood fell under
! the window where the princess was,
! and this made her so sad that she wept
|, Then, wonderful to behold, from those
; drops of blood, moistened by her tears,
up sprang an apple tree, bearing won
, derful apples. She plucked one, and
! holding it in her hand, went in to heI
, father.
He asked her where she had obtained
the fruit and again the princess wept
and as her tears fell on the apple Il
!, changed, and before her stood the young
peasant. attired in the grandeur OF
prince.
Taking the princess by the hand, h'
knelt down before the king and tolt
? him what the wicked minister had done
q and asked in exchange for his gifts th'
promised reward. But the king wa
wroth and refused his protection ant
, commanded the princess to retire.
I Then the fool, now transformed ant
ell 90 ,,r;rcelv beautv and yalOr ant