The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-10-27

itsalln 10 renew my power 10 Tuie owe
the earth and all living things spols
the wise king.
: Beware lest you wait till too late,
shimmered the sunbeams. IF by an
mischance you fail TO gather tn
milky sheen for the Wonder Key o
the coming year you VIII not know
the secrets Of life Then youll los'
your sway over the birds and th'
beasts and their brother, Man, anc
/, each will dwell apart"
i The great king went to his treasure
hall with the crystal globe in his
hand, and opened the alabaster chests
: that We're ranged against the wall
One by one he chose the gifts, wrap.
ping them round with filmy web OF
woven golden threads, then bore them
off to his grass-grown court ringed
within the nodding daisies.
On the opposite shore an elm tree
grew. A mischievous jackdaw nest.
ing among its topmost branches kept
curions watch as Solomon spead out
the golden web and set the gifts
upon it,
Those numerous packets merit a
closer peep" he exclaimed, and, curl.
GUS as he could possibly be, flew
straight down from his nest and over
the brook
Lord" the jackdaw repeated, truly
you need helper"
That know assented the king,
so you must bring the owl back to
my court when you return this even
ing. His eyes are so sharp in the
dark he'll be sure to see any prov Ter"
The jackdaw set forth on n,s MS
sion with discontinued sigh. for lis
heart was bent on a closer peep of
the crystal globe with its prisoned
key.
When the twilight fell he came
scurrying back with the owl. as the
king had hidden The parrot came.
too, for he lived far away and. being
of socable habits, he had no mind to
journey alone
Guard these treasures WE'LL" he
babe the sulky bird. "and If any one
enters the daisy circle give three
sharp calls. "
Solomon rose from his throne of
sold with these words and went to his
palace in the woodland depths.
For an instant Sir Serpent, who
had been awaiting his opportunity.
crawled among the gifts and closed
his great fangs on the crystal sheath.
Back to the old elm tree he came
and slowed the shattered globe be-
meath the twisting roots.
What joke it would be to steal
his loot the jackdaw chuckled with
glee.
Then cautiously down from his nest
came the curious, misehieyous bird
when the serpent crept back to the
court He pried and |
poked among the roots till yellow
,leam in the dark met his eve.
THE Wonder Key, he exclaimed
He picked II up in his beak ana
made his way up the tree just as the
Serpent returned with one of the gifts.
Solomon mounted the throne with a 1
terrible frown when he saw the empty /
ilm The parrot stepped forward.
Lord" he spoke, -" It's your own |
'ault. When you set the owl to watch
because his sight was so keen in the
lark you wholly forgot that the moon
sheds light almost as bright as day.
How could he tell the rustling he 1
Ieard was anything more than tho
summer breeze?'
THAT is just" spoke the king. and
ust It is too, that I should humble
ny pride to pay for my error"
"Sir Serpent, I'll truly forgive IL you
estore the key he said.
NAY, Lord" the serpent replied.
IT is i'll to suspect me of theft.
anne in all humility to ask forgiven SO
or past offenses."
The jackdaw strutted into the daisy
ing. lord. you'd have none OF my
Ielp. yet ! alone know where TO find
he key which Sir Serpent thinks so
yell hidden"
Twill be death 10 whoever comes
ear" the angry Serpent Kissed, as he
oiled beneath the elm's roots
In truth. your wisdom is spent"
nocked the jackdaw, mischievousiy
irouetting along the edge OF the sill
or brook. Il left you the shattered
heath to guard when flched the
Wonder Key"
The serpent. in baffied rage, fed
Stay, you madcap wbirl," the wise
ing said, land be off for the Key.
on must bring it here before the
Wight hour" to the iackdaw
Hour by hour the king and his sub
ects sat waiting. The sun climbed
igher and higher. and then sank low
r and lower
The last warm rays lighted the way
Or a very disconsoIate wanderer
Lord" cried the jackdaw-for, II
'ss ne with all his iauntiness gone
The Wonder Key is lost However.
hall atone2"
Stupid, BY finding the key. OF
purse" the parrot said
But I've forgotten where hid it,
be jaekdaw began
Then you must keep hiding every
ling bright you can find interrupt
the king. until some way. when
Ou're busy at that. you'll be sure to
scall where you slowed the Wonder