The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-09-10
THE KING AND THE GEESE

There was once upon time king who wan
dered away from his courtiers into his garden and
taking book from his pocket, straghtway fell
asleep. On waking, he determined to drive away
further drowsiness by taking walk
lie came to a sunny meadow barred with long
shadows OF trees, which soped down to a large
pond. When he came to the margin of the pond he
remembered that he had left his book behind He
would be sorry to lose the book but he did not wish
10 go back after 1t, he looked around for some
one TO send. He presently spied tall lank ie-
4orant looking boy, taking care of flock of geese
lie called the boy to him.
On bench under great ash in the park you
VIII ind book. Go and bring it to me- and will
give you form"
The boy did not know the king But he knew
That strollng people were not apt to offer forins
for slight services.
DO you take me for fool!" asked he.
What makes you think | am joking2" asked
the king.
Because money does not come so easy as that
You must be one of the gentlemen from the
castle"
well what of that: Here is the form. Go
for the book
The boys eyes sparkled The money was almost
as much as he received for taking care Of the flock
OF geese for season. Yet he hesitated
We'll" said the king. why don't you go:"
The boy took off his hat and rubbed the side of
his head.
l Noulu IL i coulu. but the geese.
You little dolt! [ will take care of the geese"
"You!" exclaimed the boy You do not look
as though you knew enough. If they fly through
the helds while am gone | shall have the damage
topay, and may lose my place, and then [ would be
ruined entirely. You see that one with a black
head! 1t is sly bird, and will be sure to lead the
flock astray while | am gone"
The king smiled.
Il know how to manage men, and [ think [ can
manage goose"
lie babe the boy go at once. The latter hest
tated but finally consented, giving the king a whip
to crack in the geese should begin to dsperse
But the winged subjects of the monarch soon
perceived that their master was gone, and began
to cacke and announce the news to each other most
Jubilantly The back-headed bird began to march
and countermarch, and the whole flock under his
generalshlp, scattered, each separating from the
other and forming a line, which grew longer and
longer, The king issued his commands in loud
voice and tried to crack the whip, but all his eff
forts went for nothing. The geese observed the
orders of the gander
The king ran hither and thither, but the line of
geese only grew longer and more diverse
"Shoo." said the king. 1t was the only goose
language he knew.
"Honk" said the gander, and the geese obeyed
the mysterious command, and made their line
longer and longer.
At last the 'bacl-headed bird" gave triumph
ant "Honk! Honk!" and the whole column of
geese rose into the air and flew into the fields The
king, bathed in perspiration, sat down in great
veXaton to find that his royal authority was of so
little account in the goose kingdom
Presently the boy returned and saw what had
happened. He was III great terror and distress
Did | not tell you that you did not know
enough to take care of geese? Now you must help
me to find them again.
The king consented, and late in the day the flock
was gathered
I'll never go away again" said the boy, mot
for the king himself"
The king returned to the castle quiet and
thoughtful 1t was easier after ALL he reflected.
to manage kingdom than to outgeneral an old
gander-a thought which was hardly fattering to
the king.