Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-28
THE SILVER
LOVING CUP.

The 30 called flowing cup" is COM
mon nowadays. and we see 1t every
where. But many years ago there
were no such things as these queer
three handled affairs. and the follow
Ing story tells how they first happened
to be made:
Once upon a time. centuries before
us, there lived a great and powerful
king who was extremely fond Of hunt
Ing. He was one day in huge forest
pursuing slug. but 1t was so feet
ind clever that 1t eluded him and bis
band Of followers and led them entire
" out of their way. After wandering
about III hopeless fashion they final
ly came upon little hut. and the king
himself disnounted and raped smart
" upon the door.
A young girl answered bis knock
and soon showed the men the right
path. The king was about to so when
he saw a well near the house and at
the sight Of the clear water immedi-
ately felt thirsty and. going back. ask'
ell the girl for drink. Without hesi'
tation she went into the house and
came out with IN earthen jug filed
with the well water. But Instead of
Offering his royal majesty the handle,
as most people would. she held that
herself and handed him the cup the
wrong way.
The king said nothing. thanked the
girl. and lie and his band soon found
their way out of the woods.
But when he reached his palace he
determined to reward the girl for CIV
lpy him the water and ut the same
time to teach her lesson In polite
ness.
Sending to his jeweler. he babe him
make IL silver cup with two handles
and deliver 1t to the young girl with
out word from whence it came.
Perhaps month after this the king
again hunted in that same forest.
sought the little hut and asked the
girl for auother drink Of water.
This time she entered the house and
came out with beautiful silver cup
full of sparkling water.
Now" thought the king. "she has
certainly learned Il lesson" But new
er was he more mistaken. for the poor,
ignorant girl took handle In each
hand and for the second time offered
her liege lord nothing but the side OF
the cup.
The king rode away deeply perplex'
ed. He was still resolved to teach the
girl the polite way to hand cup with
out directly rebuking her. and many
were the hours he spent In cudgeling
his brain for some way in which to
do 1t. At last bright idea struck him,
and he sent for his jeweler a second
time.
make me-" said he to the man. "a
silver cup heavily chased and with my
royal crest and put three handles on
It."
The jeweler. much surprised (for. re-
member. no such thing had ever been
heard of up to this time). did as be
was told, and soon the mug was finish
ed. AS before. the king had 1t pri'
vately sent to the girl who lived in the
little hut.
One day not long after this for the
third time he rode into that forest
and, taking the now well known path
soon reached the cottage. Dismount
Ing. he knocked Mt the door and asked
humbly for IL drink Of clear water.
The girl Immediately came out with
the beautiful three handled cup. and
taking two of the handles In her
hands. she offered him the third.
So the king rode away. well pleased
with his strategy. and. reaching home
ordered three handled cups to be made
In every sort of ware. and they became
so popular that we now have them In
all our shops and stores.