The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-28

Of a completed poem is an audience to
listen 10 it,
Like every other literary man, 1t was
praise and not criticism that James
wanted; stH be preferred 10 have such
praise from the lips Of one who knew
something If the life he tried TO sing;
Therefore. IS evening came on the mon
arch dressed himself in his farmer COS
tune and taking his thirteen stanzas
with hlm Nentured upon d cautious
visit 10 mis- friend the cobbler in the
lower town Of Stirling.
The cObbler listened with an atten-
ton which WAS in itself fattering, and
paid his royal visitor the additional
compliment OF asking him 10 repeat
certain or the verses, which the king
in his own heart thought were the best.
Then. when the thirteenth stanZa was
arrived al with the "No-that-bad" q
p commentator. which is dear TO the
heart Of the chary ScOtchman. be he OF
high or low degree, Fleming contln-
ued
They might be worse, and we've
had many a poet of great reputation in
Scotland who would not be ashamed to
father them. But I'm thinking you
paint the existence Of q beggar in
brighter colOTs than the life itself war
rants
King earnestly. Pm convinced that
only the beggar knows what true con-
lentmeut Is. You see. he begins at the
very bottom OF the ladder, and every
step DE takes must be a step upward
Now imagine a man at the top, like
myself; any move ] make in the way
Of changing my condition must be
downward A beESar is the real king,
and KING is but a Deggar. for he holds
o. his position 10y the favor OF others. You
see. tlemmlns, anything be6Sar gets
is SO much 10 The good. and as he has
nothing to- lose, not even his head-for
who would send beggar TO the blOck2
he must needs be therefore the most
contented man on the face Of the foot
stool
We'll in SO far as concerns myself
your Majesty. I'd like 10 be sure Of a
roof over my head when the rains COM
ing down, and of that beSEar never
can he. a king or a cObbler hss place
10 lay his head. al any rate
Ave. admitted the King. but
Sometimes th-t Diace Is the block. To
tell you The truth. Fleming. I'm think
ing ~ taking a. week 1t the begging
myself IS poet Should have practical
knOWledse of the subject about which
De- writes. Give inc a week on the road.
flemIaiuS. ard III pen you a poem on
hegSaIy that VIII get warmer praise
from you thsn this has had"
Docs your Majesty intend to so
sloue2"
Entirely alone. Flemming. Bless me.
d. you imagine 1 would tramp the
country as besgar with q troop Of
horse at my back2'
Your Majesty would be wise To think
twice - such a project warned the
CObbler.
"Oh. wei. I've doubled the number:
I've thought four times about it; once
= he he u,
times while you were raising objections
TO nay assertion that the beggar is the
happiest man on earth"
If your Majesty's mind is fixed. then
there's no more TO be said. But take my
advice and put a belt round your body
with number Of gold pieces in it. for
the time may come when you'll want
horse in a hurry, and perhaps you
may De refused lodgings even when you
greatly need them: in either case a few
gold rascals VIII stand your friend"
That's canny counsel, Fleming,
and III act on it,"
And thus il came about that the
King q Scotland, with a belt Of gold
around his waist IN case Of need, and
o. garments concealing the belt, which
gave little indication that anything
worth a robbers care was underneath
tramped the high roads and byways Of
a part OF Scotland, finding general well
tell z story that would bring a laugh
and sing song that would bring a
tear. and all such rarely starve or lack
shelter in this sympathetic world.
Only once did he feel himself in dan
ger, and that was on what he thought
20 be the last day OF his tramp. for in
the evening he expected 10 reach the
lower town OF Stirling, even though he
came 10 il late IN the night. But the
weather OF Scotland has always some
thing 20 say to the pedestrian and II
delights in Upsetting his plans.
He is stiu more than two leagues
from his castle. and the dark forest OF
TOrwOod lay between him and royal
Stirling, when toward the end Of a low
ering day there came up over the hills
TO the west one OF the fercest storms
he had ever beheld, which drove him
for shelter 10 a wayside inn on the out
skirts OF the forest. The place Of shell
needs must when a Scottish storm
drives, and the King burst in on q
drinking company, bringing a swirl OF
rain and n blast Of wind with him: SC
fierce in truth was the wind that one
Of the drinkers had 10 spring to his feet
and put his shoulder to the door before
the King could get IL closed again. He
found but scant welcome in the com.
pauv. Those seated on the benches By
the fire scowled at him. and the land.
lord. seeing he was but a beggar, die
not limit his oispleasure TO so silent z
censure-
what in the fend's name" he cried
angriIy, does the like Of you want II
here2"
The King nonchalantly shook the
water from his rags and took a steI
nearer the fire
ssrrlat is a very unnecessary question
landlord" said the young man, with {
smile: nevertheless. I will answer 1t
want shelter in the first place. anC
food and drink as soon as you cal
bring them"
IN take your order Tor a meal Wnel
- -esr the color Of your money"