Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-06-04

bled at the bag so vigorously as speedily
TO make hole. out ~ which ii leaped TO
the ground and bed.
Nellf' inquired the princess on see
ing the king return TO the palace.
Il hardly know what to tell you, my
daughter" replied the king. "'rhis young
shepherd Is an obstinate fellow, who re-
fused to sell me one OF his harcs at any
price. But don't distress yourself. He'll
not get 50 easily through the two other
tasks as he has done with this one"
IL need hardly be said that the king
made no allusion 70 the condition under
which he had for a moment had possess
sion Of one Of his hares or that the
princess said nothing about the terms OF
her similar unsuccess
THAT is exactly my case" she remark
ed. Il could not induce him to part with
one OF his hares either for gold or sill
YER"
When evening came, the shepherd re-
turned With his hares. He counted them
before the king. There was not one
more or one less. They were given back
to the minister of the interior. who had
them driven into the stable.
Then the king said:
''The first problem has been solved.
The second now remains to be accom-
plished. Pay great attention. young
man"
The shepherd listened with all his ears.
Up yonder in my granary." the king
went on, there are 100 measures OF
gray peas and 100 measures of lentils.
lentils and peas are mixed together. Ii
you succeed tonight and without light In
separating them, you viii have solved
the second problem"
I'm do my best" replied the young
shepherd.
And the king called his minister of the
interior, who conducted the young man
up to the granary, locked him in aud
handed the key to the king.
As IL was already night and as for
such labor there was no time TO be lost.
the shepherd put his whistle to his lips
and blew long, shrill note.
Instantly 5000 ants appeared and set
to work separating the lentils from the
peas and never stopped until the whole
was divided into two heaps.
The next morning the king. to his great
establishment, beheld the work accom-
plished. He tried TO raise objections,
but was unable TO find any ground what
ever.
All he could now do was to trust to
the third trial. which, after the shcp-
herds success In the other two trials, he
found to be not very hopeful. However.
as the third was the most difficult of all
he did not give way to despair.
What now remains for you to do" he
said. lis TO go into the breadroom and
n al Ia Dfe ha =taIn y.
bread, which il stored there. IL tomor.
row morning not single crumb is to be
found there, will consent TO your mar
rying my daughter"
That same evening the young shepherd
was conducted TO the breadroom OF the
palace, which was so full of bread that
only very small space near the door
remained unoccupied.
But at midnight, when all was quiet in
the palace, the shepherd sounded BIZ.
whistle. In a moment 10000 mice fell te
gnawiug at the bread In such a fashion
that the next morning not single crumt
remained in the place.
The young man then hammered at ths
door with all his might and called out:
Make haste and open the door. please
Tor I'm hungry"
The third task was thus VIGOROUSLY
accomplished. as the others had been.
Nevertheless. the king tried hard to gel
out of his engagement.
He had a sack big enough to hold ST,
measures of wheat brought and, havin,
called n good number OF his courtier.
about him, said; Tell us as many false
hoods as will ill this sack, and when Il
is full you shall have my daughter"
Then the shepherd repeated all tn,
falsehoods he could think Of, but the da,
was half spent, and he was at the end o
his tibs and still the sack was far from
being full.
Well" he went on, "while | wa
guarding my hares the princess came t,
me disguised as a peasant and. to ge
Que OF my hares, permitted me to kiS
| her.
The princess, who, not In the least sus
| pecting what he was going to say, has
not been able TO close his mouth, be
came red as a cherry, so much so tina
the king began to think that the youn.
shepherds tarradiddle might possibly b
/ true.
! "rhe sack is not yet full. though 20,
have just dropped very big faIsehoot
into IL" cried the king Go on
The shepherd bowed and continued
"A moment after the princess was gon
saw his majesty. disguised as a peas
ant and mounted on a donkey. His mai
esty also came to buy one of my hares
Seeing. then, what an eager desire h
had TO obtain hare from me. what d
you imagine compelled him to do?"
Enough, enoughr' cried the king
'The sack is full"
A week later the young shepherd mar
ried the princess.
His Trouble.
SLIM sure. Mr. Goodhv fhere ar