Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-02-08
A TALE OF THE MAGI
IRON the French Of Andre rheuriet.l

They were tired, and their arms were
nearly broken with the weight Of the vases
of perfume which they intended for the
Son Of Mary. Moreover, they were nearly
dead Of hunger and thirst. So they knocked
at the first door they came TO and begged
hospitality.
The house, or rather the hut, on the Dor
der Of the forest, belonged to woodcutter
named Fleuriot, who dwelt there with his
| wife and four tots.
Overcome with fatigue, the three kings
! fell against the door, and when the wood
cutter opened it, they begged meal and
/ a bed.
"Alasi good people" said Fleuriot, Il
have only one bed for myself and pallet
! for my children As for supper, we can
only offer you boiled potatoes and rye
bread. Nevertheless, enter, and If you are
not too hard to please we viii try to help
you"
! SO the kings entered, and they were served
| potatoes, which they ate with gusto. The
woodcutter and his wife gave them their
| bed. The strangers slept soundly, with the
exception Of Kaspar, who liked his ease.
! He found the bed narrow between the
stout Balthasar and the giant Melchior.
/ Before setting out the next morning Bal.
4
! three kings, said to Feuriot:
I'D like to offer you something out OF
| gratitude for your hospitality"
eve gave it freely, good people, and we
expect nothing" said the woodcutter hold
ing ont his hand, nevertheless.
Then Balthasar said: 81 have no money,
but / would like to leave you a souvenir Of
more value" Feeling in his pocket he drew
out little oriental flute, which he present.
ed to Fleuriot. The peasant, taken abaek,
made long face, and Balthasar continued:
! while playing this flute, il you make
a wish it will be granted at once. Take it,
! do not abuse it, and never deny the poor
aims or hospitality"
As soon as the three kings had. disap-
! peared around the turn of the road Denis
! Fleuriot, scornfully balancing the fagelot
| in his hand, said to his wife:
''They needn't have given us quite such
a stupid thing as hagelot. Still, just to
see whether they were poking fun at us,
/ I'm going to try it..
Then he shouted 81 wish to have some
white bread, venison pie and bottle of
wine for breakfast"
All at once, to his great establishment,
while Se played little popular air, there
appeared table covered with fine white
cloth, and bread, and venison pie, and wine
just what he has asked for.
Then, when he was assured of the power
of his flute, he did not stop there, as you
may well believe, but he asked for any and
everything that came into his head. He
/ played from morning to night. He had new
clothes for himself and his wife and chill
dren, money in his pockets and his table
amply supplied.
In place of his tumbledown hut he had
a superb chateau, which he filled with cost
ly rugs and furniture, and when all was
ready he gave a great banquet to show his
new establishment.
he gave his servants orders not to permit
any beggars or troublesome people on any
pretext whatever to enter the court, that
the festivities might not be interrupted. He
even went so far as to station two great
brutes of footmen, armed with bludgeons,
with strict orders to keep off any strollers
or vagabonds who approached the prem
ises
Thus, sure of uninterruption, the guests
gave themselves up to enjoyment, wagging
their jaws, swinging the good wine, and
cramming their stomaehs to the point of
bursting their buttons.
Now, the three kings, having placed their
offerings at the feet of the infant Jesus,
were returning from Bethlehem. Passing
the forest, they recognized the village where
they had slept, and seeing the brilliantly
lighted chateau, Kaspar said, banteringly,
10 Balthasar: I'm curious to know wheth-
er our man has not misused the little flute,
and now, since he is rich, whether he keeps
his promise to be good to the poor"
Said Balthasar, laconically: Lets go
see"
Changing their beautiful garments for
rags, they assumed the guise of beggars.
Presenting themselves thus at the castle
gate they begged hospitality for the night,
but they were received, indeed, very badly.
They insisted and made great connection,
until Fleuriot popped his head out of the
window. and, seeing beggars, ordered the
dogs set upon tnem, so that they made off
a. 2rt' speed, but not without damage
70 ta ecs.
Il taought as much" declared the skep-
tic Kaspar, who had been bitten in the
calf.
'Never mind, he can't take it to Heaven!'
said the giant Melehior.
Hell find out the weight OF the three
magis' indignation"
The jewellers went on with their banquet
ing, carelessly. They came to the dessert,
and Fleuriot huge knife in his hand, was
about to cut the enormous cake when they
heard the rafting OF postchaise in the
court, drawn by four spirited horses, ca
parisoned in gold,
Feuriot stuck his nose out OF the window
again, and this time, perceiving noble guests,
he ordered in all haste that they be shown
up. He went himself with torch TO re-
ceive them at the hall door. Then, in all
the pomp of apparel, clad in purple and
gems, with crowns on their heads there
entered the three magi.
Fleuriot, who recognized the guests of
former days, kept g tragat face, and with
forced welcomes he pray ed them to be seat
ed a the table,
Thanks" said Melchior, dryly, eve do
not eat with one who maltreats the poor"
81 make you my compliments" said Bal
thasar, in his deep voice, con the manner
in which you keep your promises"
"Ahl You set the dogs on beggars,"
added Kaspar, feeling his leg. "Wait, and
III play you tune you have not learned