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

Was not he all powerful? Could not
he make and unmake laws to suit his
own pleasure? Was not he the unlimit-
ed power Of his realnl-a vast land
teeming with million souls? And
was he not the father of his people?
And was it not BETTING that he should
do something for their future as we'll
as for their present? Why should ne
not devise some law by which his be-
loved country might remain prosper
Gus and happy even after his own
death? Yes, that was his duty. And,
once seeing it, he must not falter
While his own son was very dear to
him, he must not allow the tie of blood
to influence him in the matter that
was now so vital
Summoning his councillors to him, ne
announced to them a strange order
Let wise men be sent throughout the
realm In quest of a youth who is who'll
ly unselfish Let not the object Of
their search be spoken Of to anyone,
but let them go as poor wayfarers who
are living On the charity of the people,
In this way they will come to close
touch with my subjects and find tho
way to those of them who have just
hearts. And in every way possible let
them feel the pulse, so to speak of the
youth Of my realm. For from among
the youth they shall surely find one
lad who is wholly unselfish. When one
is found he must be brought to me at
once"
The good kings command was
obeyed, and that same day twenty Of
the wisest and best men of the king
dom We're sent into the various cor
ners and byways of the realm to find
one wholly unselfish youth that he
might be taken to the king.
The search lasted for many, many
months, one by one Of the wise men
returning to the king declaring they
had not yet found one wholly unset
fish youth. And after the last Of the
twenty wise men had returned discon-
ISOLATE to his king, declaring, 81 have
failed in the search, sire" the king
was very sad But his duty said: Go
you yourself and search for the wholly
unseltish boy. You will surely find
him"
Without a word Of his intention to
his councillors, the king retired to his
private chamber, where he dismissed
his body servants, saying: Il am
very worn with cares of state and
wish to have complete rest for few
days. Let my food be brought and
placed at my door, but allow no one
to enter my chamber till I ring for
him. Send me my staff bearer and the
minstrel. Then allow no one to ap.
proach my door"
The servants fastened to obey
their king, and soon the staff bearer
and the minstrel were with him. From
one he took his long staff, then dis.
missed him with the same stern in
junction with which he had dismissed
his body servants. When alone with
the minstrel, the king said "It is
my will that you play being king until
1.return. Do not ask single question,
but do as I instruct you. I can trust
YOU for you are good servant. This
day it pleases me to wear. your garb
and to pass out of my own palace as
a. minstrel. Stay you here In this
chamber till I return, which may be
tomorrow, or within a week"
Within a few minutes the king was
al ds GU pun lHlllSll el, lSdN
off the minstrel insignia which pro-
claimed the fact that he was of the
royal household Thus he resembled
any ordinary rowing minstrel one
might meet any day on the highway
AS the king approached a little
bridge which spanned tiny brook he
beheld a young boy kneeling On the
bank. Beside the boy sat an old man
in rags, and his face and head were
dust stained from long and constant
travelling on foot. The kneeling boy
was LAYING the old mans bare feet.
rubbing them softly with tufts of
grass to remove the mud stains.
"Ah, I must stop here" murmured
the king. Then, in feeble way, he
descended the sloping little bank to
the spot where the young boy kne1t,
washing the ragged mans feet.
"Ah son." said the king, what
have we here-a sick man."
The boy looked up, replying: Eyes,
good minstrel, poor old beggar. He
came along just now, very feeble and
i'll. was sitting down here to eat my
bit of crust, when I saw him, help
ed him down the bank to this spot,
where he might rest"
But is he no relation to your"
asked the king, himself sitting down
on the bank beside the old beggar
ooh no, good fellow. I never saw
the poor man before. But-you do not
seem very we'll yourself my good
man. Is your back crippled?"
''uch worry cripples the strongest
back" replied the king. But what is
the old man eating?"
II gave him my bread" said the
boy. now drying the old beggar's feet
with his kerchief. 1T isn't very much,
but it will help to give him little
strength till I can take him to my
masters place"
And why do you take him to your
masters place, lad?" asked the king.
Because he must have bed to lie
on and a roof to shelter him from the
night dews," explained the boy.