Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-06

farm" the boy replied, pointing to
some roofs that could be seen in the
distance over low hill.
"And have you no parents, lad"
asked the king.
mo, good fellow, my father ana
mother are in heaven"
And have you no kith or kim"
asked the king.
None that l know of, minstrel. But
what does it matter about me? l am
young and strong and can work my
way. But this poor old man cannot go
much farther alone. Once l thought of
taking him to the palace gates to ask
for aims for him. You know the king
is good and just man"
''And why didn't you do 500" asked
the king.
"The kings servents are not kind
and rudely turn beggars away" re-
piled the boy. $50 l have given him
my bread-which was to have been
my dinner-and shall take him to my
masters, house tonight But all the
afternoon he must rest here on the
grass"
And you will receive no reward
from him for your kindness?" said the
king See how he eats your bread
without Offering you a word Of
thanks"
II am not helping the old man for
thanks" the boy said in very low,
feeling tones He is old. sick and
poor. l help him because he touches
my heart to pity. Should I turn my
back Oh him now l would never enjoy
another hour while live. help those
in worse, condition than myself be-
cause can't help doing so. 1t makes
me so miserable to see people suffer,
and makes me happy to be of help to
them. But, good minstrel, will you
play and sing a bit to the old beggar
to cheer him before you depart on your
way? | suppose you are going to the
palace to play and sing for the king.
May all good luck attend thee, and
may you you in your prosperous hours
never forget those in distress" And
the boys voice shook with emotion.
eyes, l am going to the palace, and
you and this beggar are going with
me-" declared the king in ringing
voice. 81 know the king and he will
give aid to your old beggar man. And
you-well, the king wishes very much
to see you in private
Wishes to see me?" asked the boy
in surprise. "Why the king doesn't
know l am in existence. And even if
he did I could not leave my work to go
to the palace now. My time belongs
to my master, who pays me for my
labor"
But if the king bids you to him
will you not then go?" asked the king.
mo, for the king is just and good
and he would not ask me to leave my
masters work. l am swineherd and
must look after the swine and keep
them from wandering. And even now
l must go to look after them.
The boy was rising when the king
laid hand on his shoulder. my
little lad, you have this hour been
talking to your king, and he asks you
to come to the palace as soon as your
masters work is done. He. has a
more important work for you to do in
great man. Behold, am the king, and
as poor in many ways as this old
beggar."
AS the king spoke he lifted his min?
streps cap and wig and the little
swineherd recognized the king, whom
he had many times seen passing Oh
the highway with the royal hunters
yes, l am your king, out to find an
unselfish boy whom may adopt as my
heir to the kingdom. And have
found him sitting here at the brook
feeding and soothing a thankless old
beggar. And now it is your king who
asks for alms-for aims from you
good lad, who have youth, earnest
ness, virtue, charity unselfshness, to
give. Come to me this night as soon
as you have completed your masters
work. And now l shall depart and
will send a servant with a cart i'm
mediately for this old man whom you
have tended so tenderly''
The king withdrew while the little
swineherd gazed in silence after him,
and he could not bring himself to be-
lieve he had really been talking to the
king till an hour later, when SER
want from the kings stable came with
a horse and cart to fetch the aged beg
gar. And then the boy knew he had
not been dreaming, for the servant
nanded 10 MN Slgnet ring with a
tablet on which was written: DO not
be unjust to your king but come to
him tonight He is beggar and you
can aid him"
And that is how it happened that
little swineherd became a king and
how the kings own son, the selfish
prince, was established as the "sec-
ond SON. and therefore not heir to the
throne. You see the good king had the
power to enact laws to suit himself,
and it suited him to adopt the wholly
unselflsh boy as his eldest born and
heir to the throne" And never a bet
ter or more just ruler lived than did
! he who was once little swineherd,
! washing the feet of an old beggar at
the roadside brook.