The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-18

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mounted train sweep past with loud
clatter. The sun was shining when he
arose. At a little distance he saw
three little old men journeying through
the wood. He hastened to join them
and asked:
Whittier go these crowds? All night
long they have been passing in the for
est, and yonder cometh a train like
that Of kingr
Not far from here is the kings pal
ace" answered one of the men. "His
daughter, the Princess Idlewise, is six
teen years old to-day. The king eele-
brates the anniversary by a great feast
and gorgeous pageantry.p
II never saw princess in my life, !"
said the wood-cutter, more to himself
than to them.
Never saw a princess ~ they ex-
claimed. Then it is time you should.
Come with us; we know the palace
gardener, and we will get him to show
you place where you can see the
shows
The men were as good as their word.
The gardener found him place by the
garden wall, where the crowd was not
great, and there he saw the princess.
What do you think of a princess
now?' asked one of the old men, who
still kept by him.
'Oh, she is fair enough" answered
the youth. "But for that matter, saw
a more beautiful woman in my dreams
last night"
"out, you vain felIOwT' cried the
three men. "Where are your eyes, 10
think there is a more beautiful woman
than our princess?''
And they began to heat him unmer-
cifully. In the struggle his hat was
knocked from his head.
The princess stood, at that moment,
on the palace terrace, with group of
princes and knights about her. Sud-
denly bright reflection swept across
her eyes so as to almost dazzle her.
Looking down upon the crowd, she
saw the sun shining upon the golden
hair of the young wood-cutter. She
was surprised, for she had never seen
anything so sparkling in her life.
Bring that youth with the bright
locks to me-" she said to one of the
knights; and in few moments the
young man stood in her presence.
"Who are you?r said the princess.
81 am the wood cutter, Radiger," he
answered, bowling in a stately manner.
you wood-eutter! Impossiblel
You look more like a prince in dis
guise. How would you like to serve
me?"
II will serve any one, if the labor be
honorable and the wages fair, answer
e Rudiger.
Consider yourself ans equerry then,'
said the princess. "But yol will need
some better clothes. Go to the court
tailor aud tell him the Princess Idle
wise sent you. Then come back to me.
l shall await you.p
So the wOOd-cutter put off his hem
pen blouse, and his heavy fur hat, and
his wooden shoes, and walked about
the palace in suit of red and black
velvet. Great diamonds blazed on the
clasps of his shoes, aud he had long
feather in his cap, and a chain of gold
around his neck. To this last was at
taehed whistle of ivory, the badge of
his new Office.
One day the princess called him into
her room to do an errand.
"You do not like me-" she said to
him, as he hesitated.
may, princess, were to smile and
fawn on you, would you be surer of my
service? / am free man."
"You have no courtesy" she said,
her anger burning in two red spots on
her cheeks. "You are not fit 10 serve
in n palace. Go into the garden to
work; you are 10 longer my equerry."
Into the garden he therefore went,
where he had to put on his old gar
ments again, and dig and rake and
SOW, let the weather be what it might.
But he whisiled as cheeriIy at his labor
as though he had never known any
thing else, and was contented and hap
py all the day long. Some of his for
mer companions often moeked him,
bet he always answered:
'I am content. Better be so and tell
the truth than be liar and wear a
kings livery.
Not long afte his there was war in
The land. The king went out with his
princes and his army to fight King Sto-
nyheart, who had invaded his king
dom. Rudiger saw the train go forth
as he stood leaning ON his hoe by the
garden walls The floating of the GRIM
son banners, the flash of spear-heads,
and the tramp of many horses, filed
him with martial ardor, and he wished
that he were going to the wars toe. At
last he said:
81 am going to the battle, if can
get me horse"
"a pretty soldier you will maker
Knocked the gardener. "And, pray,
how will you get horse?''
81 will buy one with this" answered
Rudiger, taking the opal ring from his
bosom. al will ride to the war like
noble knight"
"Why don't you wish yourself one at
once, and have done with it, said the
gardener scornfully.
Rudiger had the ring on his finger,
looking iptently at it. ''If it pleases
you, l do wish So" returned the youth.
No sooner said than done. There was
the rustling of banners and the tramp
of horses feet, and two hundred brave
warriors, all clad in shining steel, came
up behind a warhorse that was capari-
soned fit for king, led by a mounted
equerry. Clad in battle armor, sword
on hip aud lance in hand, the quon-
dam gardener sprung to the saddle, and
rode away at the head Of his troop.
He reached the battlefield just in
time to save the old king from an igno-
minious defeat. The royal forces were
beginning to give way before Stony
hearts legi0ns, but the arrival of Rudi-
- Il a r..