The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-22
=. Drakesbill and His Friends =.

"Quaok, quack, quack! oh, when
shall / get my money back"
When he came to the kings pal
ace he climbed up the step; and
then he stood on rtiptoe, and knock
ed at the door, toe! toe! toe!
Who's there?" asked the door
keeper, looking out through the key
hole.
IT'S /. Drakesbill. / want to
speak with the king"
Speak with the king? Nonsense!
That is easier said than done. The
king Is in the parlor counting out
his money"
THAT is just what want to see
/ him do" said Drskesbill. Tell him
am here. and then he win know
my business"
The doorkeeper went into the par
lor to speak with the king. But he
was not there; he was In the kitchen.
| just sitting down to dinner with
white napkin round his neck.
| Good! goodl" said the king. 81
know the rascal. Fetch him in and
put him with the turkeys and chick
ems"
The doorkeeper went back to the
door
| Walk In, sir"
! Good" said Drakesbill to him
self. Now | can see how the folks
eat at the kings table"
This way. this way" said the
gate. There you are!'
What In the poultry yard7 Howf
What?"
How vexed the little fellow wasl
And no wonder.
"Just wait" he said at last. 81
think I'll show them thing or two.
IQuaek, auaek. quack, when shall /
get my money back"
But turkeys and chickens are
queer things. as you know, and think
themselves good deal better than
other folks When they saw what
a funny little fellow had come among
them, and when they heard him sing
ing his queer song, they began to
ask one another;
'Who. Is he? What In he doing
here?"
Then they all rushed upon him.
him they would have pecked him to
death In no time. But, as good luck
would have It, he remembered his
friend Fox. and he cried out:
Fox, friend Fox, from your hiding
place
Come quick. or sad will be my case''
Then friend Fox, who was only
waiting for these words. leaped out
from his hiding place, as big as life
and as happy as a sunhoWer- and
he threw himself on the wicked
fowls. and snip, snap crish. crash
he tore them to pieces; and at the
end OF five minutes not one or them
was left alive. And Drakesoiii
spruce and fresh as ever, began to
sing again, "Quack, quack, quack
when shall / get my money backE
But the king was very angry when
the poultry woman and the COOK and
the doorkeeper all rushed into the
kitchen where he was eating ane
told him what had happened. lie
ordered them to seize this naughty
little Drakesbill and throw him into
the WE'LL and thus make an end OF
him.
Il am lost, I am lost" CRIED
IDrakesbill as he fell fiuttering dowr
| into the deep. dark hole. car
;, never climb out of this place.
Then he happened to think OF hi
lady friend Ladder, and he sang;
Ladder. Ladder, from beneath III!
tongue
Come quick, or soon my song will 81
sung"
Friend Ladder. who had only beer
, waiting for these words, leapet
quickly out, as tall as fiagpole ant
\ as charming as walkingstick: ans
she stood with her feet at the bot
! tom of the we'll and her two arm'
resting upon the top; and brakes
bill climbed nimbly on her back, ant
? hip, hop! hup, how soon he was III
and singing louder than ever
, "Quack, quack, quack. when shall
get my money hack?"
The king, who was still at thu
| table, heard him singing, and tn
! song made him so angry that HI
almost choked
: Cant anybody make that fellow
r hush" he cried.
Then he ordered MS men 10 pul'
a great fire, and. when 1t was not
to throw DFakeshiIl into 1t and burr
, him up for a wicked wizard.
But Drakesbill was not mucl
, afraid this time; he remembered hi
, sweetheart River. Just when tn
flames were the highest, and thu
captain of the kings men was goinl
to toss him into them, he cried out
l "River, River, outward now,
Or into the FIRE I must got"
. Then friend River, who had onl,
y been waiting for these words, fiowe'
I quickly out, as strong as a storm ant
as swift as the wind; and she pu
1 out the fire. and drowned all tn
people that had kindled It; and
{ gloul glou glou' she flowed into TIL
, kings palace and stood four fee
} deep in the great hall. And brakes
bill. spruce and fresh as ever, swan
= hither and thither. singing. "Quack
quack. auack. when shall | get m.
3 money back"
! or course, after all this had hap
, Ipened. the king was more angr,
than he had ever been before: ant
~ a Rest.