The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
The StOrks of AmmerIei
lcine the old German legend of the Transformation of King Olaf
and his minister, retOId for young readers by
Prof Loufs c. Ward.

told stories and did tho other hundred
things that children do 70 pass away the
time. Very often. at such times Uncle
Frank was Of the company; and then he
kent young folks and old laughing at his
droil tales or the old countries. one even
ing. Just after sunset. when the young
nan was reading in a huge volume, Dan
dellon interrupted him by skiing for a
story. All the children joined in the re-
quest: and. perhaps. because he was tired
anyhow. Uncle Frank laid his book aside
and began:
"A long. long time ago there lived In
a little German kingdom a king named
Olaf. he was a very queer monarch and
loved a good time much better than the
task OF governing. And so. because there
are always plenty OF people TO help a
king enjoy himself. he had so much sport
that by the time he was thirty he did not
know what 20 DO for amusement. Then
he became very sour-tempered and dis
consolate: and, at the time our story opens,
he sat in one Of his fine palaces with his
prime minister. Frederick. and wondered
how they could pass the time away. AS
he sat there IN his easy chair and grumbled
because no one could invent a new pleas
ure for him. a servant entered and said:
May II please your Majesty, a peddler
waits below with his wares, which he
wishes 20 show you
let him enter the king replied. He
may amuse US for half an hour
"Then In a few minutes the door opened
again, and in walked an old man, very
brown and sunburned. whose sharp. blue
eyes looked man years younger than his
gray hair and beard. He laid his heavy
pack or The floor, and kneeling beside IT.,
proceeded TO show the king his wares.
Costly robes he had, and trInkets Of gold;
here and there a diamond sparkled. or a
ruby glowed in the sunlight. But the king
had seen all these things so often that he
did not care much for them; and after a
little while he bade the old fellow to wrap
up his goods and depart. The peddler
obeyed; but as he pulled his pack toward
him, a curiously-engraved little box fell
out and attracted the kings notice
Ha, what have you there? he de-
manded.
Your Majesty replied the peddler.
this was given me in Bagdad some years
ago by a man who said it would make the
fortune OF any one courageous enough TO
use it. But alas. he must have lied TO me.
for it contains nothing but a little flask
Of powder and a paper written in a tongue
that 1 do not know. I have carried it for
years and no good has yet come to me-
'The king grew interested. and asked TO
read the paper; but neither he nor Freder-
TEX could make II out. Still he felt sure
that there was some mystery about it; and
so he bought it OF the old man for five
pieces Of gold. As soon as the merchant
had left Olaf turned to his friend and said:
Send at once for our wisest man. that
ne may read the scroll. We are impatient
10 know what it contains
while Frederick was gone TO summon
the wise man the kings impotence grew.
he paced up and down the room, pulling
hercely at his beard, and gulping down
glass after glass Of strong wine. In a
little while the prime minister returned
with an old man. whose bald head and long
white beard showed the wisdom of age. He
took the paper. and after a hasty glance an
nouneed that 1t was written in Latin, but
that he was not well versed in that tongue.
BY the hammer of Thor exclaimed the
king. If you don't tell me what the scroll
says in one hours time, off comes your
headr
With such a promise to drive him on,
the old man set diligently to work. and in
a little while he said:
Your Majesty, l have translated the
paper. II says that If any one swallows
a little OF the powder and says the word
'Mutabor' he will become any animal that
he desires. and Will be able to understand
its speech. When he wishes to return
again TO human form. he has only TO turn
10 the east, bow three times, and repeat
the word. But If he laughs at any time
while he is enchanted he will that instant
forget the word and must remain an ami
mai forever
Many thanks, answered the king when
the wise man had finished; and throwing
the old fellow a piece of gold. the king
babe him depart. As soon as the sage had
gone out of the room the king and his
friend looked at each other.
1t will be fine sport. the former cried.
Tomorrow Wen SO out into the field and
try it
Now, my little friends. continued Uncle
Frank. 1--WE may be cutie sure that when
the morning came. both King Olaf and his
prime minister were very anxious to Try
the magic powder. So. bright and early,
before the dew was yet off the grass. they
slipped out Of the city and went into the
fields. Not a breath OF wind was stirring.
dHN At sun SAole warm ABOVE them. Ear
NJ in the air. floating slowly toward them.
a stork balanced himself on his broad
wings, his long legs stretched out behind
him. AS the two watched him. he began 10
descend In great circling fights. and where
he touched the ground they saw another
stork getting her morning meal.
All. friend Frederick. said the king.
Let Us become storks. These two are
about 10 speak and VIC must hear what
they have 10 say
Very we'll replied the prime minister
we will become storks.'
Carefully each one took a pinch OF pow
der; and as they rep I'd the word. a
wonderful change tool, ace. The yellow
slippers OF the king I'd. the red feet
OF she stork; his rob seemed 70 grow
feathers; his neck grew longer and longer.
and 20 his own amazement. he found him
self transformed into a stork. As ne looked
toward Frederick. he saw that that worthy.
TOO. had fallen under the spell. and stood
before him as any other stork would have
stood. Tn king felt like laughing. but
he remembered what would happen to him
II he did. So he conteuted himself with
saying.
Your nose makes a capital bill for a