The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-07
LING DIARMID AND
N THE LITTLE MAN POL.
The Monarch Needed Advice and
Got IL From a Counsellor VIZ
However, Shank Fl
Giving 1t.
Bv Aida Dunbar.

BE on, now, for I'll not leave me work
waltin' while I'm rubin me brain to THU
OF old wives talk. Bother To let mo 20
out, peaceable like. as Poi said TO King
Diarmid. A-ah, sure an I'm in for 1t now ..
70 sit down, with yer red apples to roast.
an hearken while tell yees how it came
about.
Twas mighty fond o. money was King
Diarmid. Not for spendin it on rich
clothin'. or to have a fine place for Twin
In, or to have a grand big army at his beck
onin': but just for sake o savin' IL an pin
II up In his strong room that was the only
spot In all his castle not leakin' at the roof
an lettin' In rain that easy.
Sure SO little was he for gottin' the good
o that pile O. gold that he went abroad in a
faded old doublet that was scarce holdin'
together. but for bein' mended every day
oy queen Dorcha; an the storms beat in
free on the floors o the old tumble-down
castle. where tho Taste bit O. wind shook
the doors an windows nigh to fallin' in:
an his servin men an his soldiers were
paid 90 III that twas scant good he got O
them.
Even his sons went of In the far land
TO seek fortune, havin' small likin' for STAY
In with him an nigh on starvin' (forbye
they went huntin' unbeknownst like. an
roasted their game over a fire o. sticks in
the forest).
But never bit mattered all that to
King Darmid while his pile O. sacks o.
money were film his strong room lalf TO
the rafters, an the great heavy iron key
1.-THE one bit o SHAPED iron in the castle
not red with rustinD hung safe at his belt
ready for usin' night an day.
Now. fine strong young 1len were his sons.
an good at leapin' an wrstlin' on fgh,in'
too. an as long as they were bid n that part
o the country. none dreamed o molestin'
King Diarmid: but when the neigh Dor n
kings and high chieftains learned that no
longer would any O. them stay near l. +
father. an that Disrmids figl H. men
were CROWN fewer each day that davned
they minded the tales old o. the reason
o that came an began to think how plcas-
an twou'd be TO see his bags o. gold hoppin'
into their own keepin', that would know
how to make betther use o. them.
So all looked round to search out good
excuses for invadin' his lands; an before
long twas every few days some train o.
men in armor came ridn' up to the cas,lc
o Diarmid, wantin' him 10 pay for some
hurt done by his people. An while Diar-
mid knew twas but shammin' to wiring
gold from him. vet 20 scant was his army
an 90 full O. scontent, that he dared
not threaten rcsistin. for fsar;n' lawn
to pay up his soldiers before they'd he
afther fghtin' his battles
He tried putin their claimin' OF with
soft words an excuses, but ever an always
they came again. an with more men at
their backs. demandin' gold An at last
came the day when payin' had 10 be done.
whatever came next, for rel o. three
kingdoms were ba,therin' at his gates,
that would stand but little o such treain'
'Mournin' he was as he sent word for
openin' the doors an le,tin' them in. an
q long face was his as he stood yeerin' at
a little hole in the wall, wat chin them ridin'
away afther, each by his own road an
carryin' the good gold before them on their
saddlebows.
He locked up the low iron door. an
RACED around somethin' fearful, so tina,
poor Queen Dorcha was dieadin' her Ii 9
might go next. When he had made an
end o stravagin' an dancin' furious up
stairs an down the halls, he went out an ;
sat at the crossroads talkin' TO himself.
-''ris a beggar I'll be Lefore n,e hour.
me to be plundered unmerciful like! An
when those villains o. King AIahon an
King Duvan an his brother get home an
tell their masthers that I've gold laid up,
its no peace O. me life I'll be havin'. An
none to turn 70 for tellin' me what to do TO
get the betther O. their rob n me-
Now, while he was sittin la0l,ntin
he heard a queer small sound behind MIN
In the lODu Urn ss. m IvhinpiY' ,,,;ol.
an unexpected he caught sight o SOME
thin scarlet slippin' past him.
Sudden as fash he reached for IL:
an though he lost balance AMI went heels
over head OF the stone whore he'd be. n
perchin', yet when he picked himself up
an shook the dust from his old duis he
was still holdin' on to The bit o. rcd that was
wee small pointed cap.
He looked at it in an outs ide, as il he
was hopin' to find gold in it; an then an
odd bit Of a voice piped up.
It's mo cap o power ycre squcezin'
In yer big awkari hands. Give il 20 me,
and may evil follow w all tn, way We 60,
eittin' or standin' or soin' an payin gold
This last frightened King Diirnd.
an he looked up, an there in the dust o.
the road stood none other than the King %
the Little People, holdin out his hand
on hoppin' from one foot to its mate for
eagernesSs to have his own agtin Blu
King Diarmid was crafty, havin' heard
much O. what tho Little People were able
TO do.
'What1l We give me for returnin' ii?
asked he.
Whatever we've mind to ask for
while I'm afther countin' ten says the
little man; an with tina, he began: One,
two three an true it is that King Diarmid
could think o naught but what had been
In his mind the moment before.
Some one 10 ADVISE me, he gaspcd.
fearin that he ID hot get the " ords out last
enough.
But the little King laughed, with some
thin wicked,r nor oros in the ohuc ke Of
him.
s"That will. says ne, An "A fine coun-
sellor yell be- fndin' him. Sure, Pol Ii his
name; an advice lis the very maiIow o. his
bones an the blood o. his bouy, 20 don't
ps ,.:n' MIN up TOO fast an be left wan,in'
him.
with that he pulled a wee tiny dotteen
Of man from his own pocket, All held him
up Like doll In his hard
"'Grow bigger say he to that same.