The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-26
A Modern King
Beggar Maid Story
BY ARTHUR w. BREWSTER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation 1911.


We are careful that our children
shall read books in which noble DEEDS
are rewarded and selfishness is aboml-
mated. Then when they reach an age
TO understand something about the
world they are about to enter we tell
them that these stories are mere ro-
nance, with nothing practical IN them.
such was the way / was brought up.
When l was eighteen the transition
came. My mother few years before
had taken for maid OF all work
that is, small odds and ends SUCH as
n child could perform--a girl Of four
teen. understood that Ethel had
been taken partly for charity and part
" because my mother found such a
helper convenient. My mother gave
us all to understand that her principal
reason was charity, though she really
needed young girl for certain duties.
But / had not then reached an age
where 1 was TO be instructed that SER
sacrifice was simply romance.
did not treat Ethel as servant,
and / was not required to so treat her.
But my parents did consider that there
was danger for my worldly interest In
| this demure little girl II was not till
| / went to college that ] realized that
this danger existed The morning !
started ! went to find Ethel to say
goodby to her. / found her busting
/ the parlor.
ethel" I said gayly, Il have come
to say goodby."
She went on busting without paying
any attention to me, keeping her back
toward me. Taking her by the arm,
turned her and discovered the cause OF
her keeping her face from me. There
were tears in her eyes. Whether II
was due to my education or to a nat
ural instinct / don't know-I may have
been largely influenced BY the 70
mances Of kings and princes marrying
beggar maidens-- but certain it Is
kissed the tears away. Then, the car
riage being ready for my departure,
left the little girl with sweet taste
on my lips and tender emotion about
the heart.
whether my mother suspected thai
Ethel missed me or that she consider
ed me quite old enough to understand
that love affairs between kings and
beggar maids was pure romance
don't know; but, though often SPOKE
of Ethel among others in my letters
, mother never referred TO the little CIR
In one OF hers. Instead she wrote me
, that now | was entering upon ina
/ stage Of life where a young mans
, fancy turns to love should be care
full in my attentions to young women
not becoming involved with any tina
1t would not be advantageous for M
! to marry. She had often when wa'
! child read me those king and beggal
maid stories with evident delight G
herself. and was not yet old enough
f to understand the change. But wa
old enough to begin to think for my
self. and resolved that / would &C
honorably toward any young womal
with whom might become involved.
But what difference between tn
age OF experience and the age OF re
nance! And how singular that afte
experience comes romance remains
True. when older we simply daily wit
II. sip 1t like delicious wine, but do no
I get intoxicated with 1t sufficiently :
Injure ourselves.
When went home for my first va
cation Ethel was not there. ! aske
nv mother about her, and she said tina
the girl had concluded to learn som
method of making her living more {
her taste than being a servant ane
upon the winding up Of her father
estate. having received some means
she had entered business college.
knew that my mother had taken u
girl from family that had been we
to do, and at time when her Iatne
- had Just died insolvent
;s / made no inquiries at home as
d what college Ethel was attending, OF
NJ learned it elsewhere. Then went
n see her. She had grown and filed OF
n ana improved in every way. she r
g ceiyed me without any reference
the tender scene that had occurred
= the time Of my departure for eolleg
= It was evident from her manner TN
r her servant days were over ana Uni
I'd she stood ON the American basis Uni
OF 4 woman in the new fields open 10 ~
n IL on social par with the generalil
ne Of men and women. Not that she o
truded this change upon me; stmp
- was aware that Il existed left h
h. after a friendly meeting. having DOT
nd myself toward her as would any OF
st er acquaintance with whom l h'
ey Hyed under the same roof, but co
I'd .ealed my feelings.
- I saw Ethel whenever | came rro
= ,olIege for vacation, but said nothn
~ 1t home about my calls. When l
Il lurned after being graduated l foul
Sc staying in the house a young womi
as whom my mother had persuaded
mt visit her, doubtless hopiyg to make
cir a..h hot1vaen bar and me. At al
. rate. the girl was worth 100000 IN q
"a. own right.
i, What a change from the king Al
in Ieggar maid stories mother had re
at mel
ms Poor motherl She was doomed