The Western outlook., 1900-01-27

! mont correspondent or the L0EdOn
| Daily News, but even if he had been
able to wade across without being
drowned, he would have been what in
Ireland is called "drOwnded"; and it
is no help to days shooting to begin
1t soaked to the skin. So, when a tall
man happened along, the king hailed
him.
You must carry me across" said
the King.
We'll. cOmrade," returned the big
man, lit would take good deal TO
make me do that. You may not be
very long. but you are broad and
heavy"
'Oh, come, what will you do the job
fOr? asked the King. slightly ruftied
by the allusion to his sore point-his
bulk.
"NOt one sou under n hundred" the
man replied, land l warn you, if you
fidget, I'll drop you, even if it should
be in the middle OF the stream"
"DOnew cried the King. But in mid
channel a fear seized him that his
pointer was not following. and he
| twisted around to have a look.
"BOurreau! You shall be paid for
this" grOwled the porter; but he did
not drop his burden.
Now" said he, as he deposited the
King on the bank, you must pay me
not one hundred, but two hundred
! sous. Don't you know you riSked both
our lives with your fidgeting:"
The King humbly pleaded that he
wanted to see If his dog was safe over
the water. and paid his ten francs
cheerfully, and then asked:
us there nothing else l can do for
yOu?"
The big man pOndered. At last he
said: "The thing l am long wishing
for is donkey. If l had donkey
should be happy as a king. I'd sell
my little crops in Turin then"
But it's long way to Turin" OBJ
jected the King Wouldn't a horse
better serve your needY
What a horse and no stable? A
donkey fills in in corn shed or any
where; but it would cost me many a
| lira before l should have a stable
built" said the man mournfully.
And so they parted. But soon after
ward the King provided one of his
own farm horses and sent it with 20
gold pieces to his bearers cabin.
The mans wife was at home, and
secuted the idea that beast and money
were for her husband. The messenger,
however was firm. He explained that
the gifts came from the King" This
excited the woman's mirth She shout
ed down the hillside to her husband
Come home! Here's a horse for
you, man, and a purSeful of gold.
From the King! FO- yourselfr'
1t took the big fellow a long time to
get it into his head that all these mira
cles had happened because he once
helped a stranger over the torrent, but
at length he accepted it for true.
That, however, Is not quite all the
story. One day, when the peasant and
the cart and the horse were in Turin,
he saw a crowd gather and the people
said the King was coming. Then he
bethOught himself of his manners. He
flung the reins to a boy, Strengthened
himself to his full height, and went
into the middle of the street, holding
up an imperiOus hand to the coach
man on the box of the royal carriage.
The coachman refined up, the noun
taineer bounded to the carriage door
and shook the Kings hand heartily
81 am proud to see your majesty"
he said, 'fOr wanted to thank you for
sending me the money and the horse.
Look over at him there with the cart
load Of cabbages. He Is hale and
hearty! And 1 always wished to tell
you 1 am glad 1 was of service to you
at that stream; and am sorry called
you a bourreau."
The King greatly relished the frank,
Independent ways Cf his Alpine sub
ject, his unconventionality and good
breeding, as well as the hearty hand
shake, which was returned with equal
heartiness.