Evening journal., 1912-04-17
A Gift Of
Cabbages
BY EDWARD D. sHIPLEY


ago Hans Berault. young countryman
who had never learned anything except
what he could pick up on the farm.
drove into the capital Of the dukedom
Of Flanders with load Of cabbages to
sell In the market place. He was sur
prIsed to see flags flying from all the
windows. the people out IN their best
costumes and every appearance Of a
holiday.
Now Hans. who in his farm clothes
looked greener than the cabbages in his
cart. stopped beside the curb and asked
some men talking there what was the
occasion Of the festivities and was told
that the duchess. who had up to this
time been minor. came Of age that
day and would assume the reins Of
government.
And what are those wagons so gay
ly decorated for? And where are they
goingT asked Hans.
They carry presents to the duchess So
Now Hans was a good citizen. and
he bethought him that he, too. should
OAAEA hAo kAlb " ulr bNNChGANns nO nc
drove his cart toward the palace. in
tending to offer his cabbages to her
highness. On the way be stopped at a
shop and bought some fiags. the largest
OF which he placed over the cabbages
Then he went on to the palace, where
the wagons he had seen were drawn
mp In the court, waiting their turn to
be unloaded. Hans pulled up at the
rear of the line and waited too. When
his turn came the chamberlain asked
what he had and from whom 1t came.
"Cabbages from my farm. and offer
them to the duchess as my own gift as
her loyal subject" Hans replied
With this the chamberlin grew red
in the face and began to berate Hans
for what he called his effrontery. q
mere country lout making a gift OF
cabbages 10 the duchess. Then he call
ed for a guard to take him away.
Now the duchess. who was just eight
cen years old. was nightly interested
in her presents and was leaning out OF
an upper window looking down watch.
ing their unloading Seeing the pre-.
dicament In which the honest Hans
had innocently placed himself. she sent
q messenger down to say that Hans
gift would be accepted. and he was ia
come into the palace TO be thanked per.
sonaily by her royal self. So the coun
tryman was conducted into a richly
furnished apartment. where the girl
received him and thanked him for his
cabbages. She appeared to be much
touched by the loyalty of the simple fel.
low.
I'VE would like" she said, ito have
you in our army. It seems a more 1T
ting calling for you than tilling the
earth. Would you like to be a sol
dier7'
Indeed would" replied Hans
''and for so sweet and gracious a SOW
ereign think I could conquer all you
enemies single handed"
Then she gave an order that Han
should be given a commission as lieu
tenant in one of her regiments. ant
dismissed him with many thanks 70
his valuable present
We can never be sure OF any hear
into which the little god of love wi
not send one Of bis arrows. The youn
duchess was at a most impressionabl
age. and she could not forget the hand
some face and figure. the honest loys
look of the young cabbage grower. Sh
gave orders that Hans was to be sen
to'a military school, and she kept trac
of him. learning that be was a yer
apt scholar and bid fair to make a I'm
soldier. Within a year he was pre-
NOTED to be captain and from tina
time forward continued to advanc
with equal rapidity till he commando
a regiment
Then one day while the army wa
engaged in war with the enemies {
the state news came to the duches
that her troops had been beaten. he
commander in chief had been kille
and the foe was marching on the cap
tai. In her distress she thought Of th
countryman who had said that for S
sweet and gracious a sovereign
thought he could conquer all her en'
mics single handed. Ordering hl
coach and her mounted hodyguard, 81
drove out toward her retreating force
When she met them she sent at ono
for Colonel Hans Berault and said
him:
Colonel. you once said that for n
you thought you could conquer m
enemies single handed. | wish you
take command of this retreating arm