The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-09

Part l.
 Once there was king who was very fond of stories. but either because his eyes were bad or because he was too lazy he did not care to read them. His great de sire was to hear them told. Whenever or wherever he heard of any good story tell CTS he had them brought to the palace and in short time tired them out. After n while he appointed two men to be near him always. day and night, to relate a story should he happen to wake up and want to hear one. These men got dread fully tired of 1t and wanted to give up their positions, but the King would not let them. Still. he was very kind to them, ana they were fast growing rich.
 At last one of these men happened to meet with an ingenious clockmaker, to whom he told his troubles. While he was telling them an Idea came Into the head of the clockmaker, and he said:-"I am poor and you are rich. If you will pay me well I will make you an iron man with clock work inside that will tell all the stories the King likes and many others" The story teller was delighted. "Only," said he. If the King has thIs iron man, the other story-teller and myself will lose our places and the rich presents the King gives ms. The worst Is at night, when one of us has to sit up ready with a story at any moment.
 Then said the ciockmaker, "that would be all the better. The King could wake up or drop asleep, just as he liked, there would be the man going right on with the stories"
 "But." said the story teller. the King IS very angry if we don't stop Instantly, ana if the man goes right on he will ind out IL Is cheat.
 Here the story teller ran away as fast as he could 10 the palace, for his time was up.
 The cIockmaker set to work and in short time made the Iron man. IL iooheu inst like one of the story tellers, anu, "nne .,-as n,ore wonderful 1t could have voice ,,,1s ono or the other of them by turning . screw Then there was an arrangement ,yherehv A paper full of litfle holes or slts r,as nut into the machine. By tnis they ,nade the Iron man tell any story eha' was put on the paper. .,or
 Tha story teller had told his companion all about 1t, and they agreed to try II on tns King. Only one was to stay ana "a'cn l. so as to stop 1t when the hihs oiu "o' """' to listen any more.
 They smuegled the Iron man into the pal ace and into the room next to the Kings bod After the King had retired they wheeled 1t In softly, for 1t made no more noIae than the smallest bird, and then when tha King asked for story they set 1t going If worked beautifully, but they had to De careful not 10 make the least noise them selves lest the King hear them or see them. The Kings bed had great curtains that shaded 1t and kept out the light. The Iron man was complete success at first. but un- fortunately the story tellers had to be moved back into the anteroom before morning, and one of them had to stand there ready when the King woke and was dressed. So they were not much better on than before.
 But after a few days they managed this, too. They hired page, who was to watch and stop the machine or set It going, while they either slept in comfort or went to their homes Of course, they paid the clockmaker well.
 One night the page fell fast asleep and the King, wishing to sleep also, ordered the story teller to cease The page. beinglasleep, did not hear him for some time. Then he awoke to nnd the King sitting up in bed and staring with wonder at the Iron Man. In a few moments the frightened page. who,