Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-03

He bO3oed profoundly three times.
What use is it to have all pleasure be-
fore me when il turns TO NORWOOD
when it is tasted?'
True pleasure. sire, lies rather in the
inward life, the serene mind, the easy
conscience. And, then, as we grow
older is il not natural that u minds
should take a graver bent? We might
well reproach ourselves if it were not
80, for 1t would show that we had not
learned the lesson Of life"
ut may be SO, and yet it is sad and
weary when nothing amuses. Who is
that knocking?" asked the king.
at is my companion" said madame.
What is II, mademoiselleT'
IN. Corneille, to read to the king"
said the young lady, opening the door.
"Ah, yes, sire; l know how foolish Is
a woman's tongue, and so l have
brought a wiser N than mine here to
charm you. NJ. Racine was 70 have
come, but / hear that he has had a fall
from his horse. and he sends his friend
In his place. Shall | admit him?'
"Oh, as you like, madame, as you
Ike" said the king listlessly. At a
sign from Mile. Nanon a little peaky
man with a shrewd, petulant face and
long gray hair falling back over his
shoulders entered the room. He bowed
profoundly three times and then seat
ed himself ~nervously on the very edge
Of the stool, from which the lady had
removed her workbasket.
"Shall 1t be a comedy, or a tragedy,
or a burlesque pastoral?" Corneille
asked timidly. There is my Pre-
tended Astrologer.'"
"Yes. that will do"
Corneille commenced to read his
comedy. while Nine. de M%alntenon's
white and delicate fingers picked
among the many colored silks which
she was weaving into her tapestry.
From time to time she glanced across.
first at the clock and then at the king,
who was leaning back, with his lace
handkerchief thrown over his face. 1t
was twenty minutes to 4 now, but she
knew that she had put 1t back half an
hour and that the true time was ten
minutes past.
"Tut, tut!' cried the king suddenly.
There is something amiss there. The
second last line has a limp In it sure
~" 1t vas one Of his foibles to pose
as a critic, and the wise poet would
tall In with his corrections, however
unreasonable they might be.
"Your majesty Is perfectly right"
said Cornellle un~blushingly. II shall
mark the passage and see that 1t Is
corrected" He picked up his book
again and was about to resume his
reading when the king said:
M. Corneille. I am obliged to you
for what you have read. and / regret
that l must now interrupt your com
edy. Some other day perhaps l may
have the pleasure Of hearing the rest
Of It." He smiled In the gracious fash
lon which made all who came within
his personal influence forget his faults
and remember him only as the imper'
sonation Of dignity and Of COURTESY.
The poet, with his book under his
arm. slipped out. while his majesty
said to madame:
II 9 by your clock that It Is 4
o'clock. l must 60"
NY clock. sire, Is half an hour
Slow"
~Half an houry' The king looked
dismsyed for an instart and then be-
gan TO laugh. NAY, In that case"
said he. II had best remain whert
an, for It h too late to 60. and I can
GAY with q clear conscience that It was
0e clocks fault rather than mime"
Il trust that II was nothing Of very