The Washington herald., 1915-12-19

But the little old lady hardened
her heart. 1T is a great honor to be
sacrificed for the Governors table. We
should all be willing to servo tho
state" she said.
Alas" said the goose" but on4
prefers not to do II piece-meal"
But in spite of the pleadings of tho
| lovely goose. Dame burden trudged
on until she came to the Governors
gardens. and as they passed through.
the goose cried. Help. help" and az
last her soft cries attracted the at
tention of a page who came running
up.
He was a very handsome page, and
he was dressed all in pink. and there
was a wreath of roses on his brown
curls.
why does the goose cry for help?'
he asked Never before have l heard
, a goose speak"
Dame burden hurried on. Il am TAX
ing her to the Governor for his Christ
mas dinner" she said. land IL is get
ting late"
, But again the poor goose cried
Help And the page. who had a
tender heart. said: Sell her to me.
and / will save her
Dame burden shook her head at
go without his Christmas dinner" she
asked. Alas. l fear that there is no
love of country in you This must be
killed and cooked and served with
stuffing and gravy. And that is 4
great honor"
And with that she ascended the
steps of the Governors house. with
. the page following. and when they
had come into the great hall. Dame
hny rn ha
ernor, and said. Il have brought a
goose for your Christmas dinner"
And the Governor stood up and
thanked her. 1T is a fine goose" he
said You have served the state
we'll"
And Dame burden tossed her head
with pride. and just then the goose
cried. Help. help"
What" demanded the Governor,
can the goose talk"
Too much" said Dame burden. Sc
verely. You will find that she taste.
better than she talks"
The poor goose lifted her wings and
tapped them against her sides and
turned this way and that. seeking 10
escape.
Take her to the kitchen" ordered
the Governor. 'and cut off her head"
The page of the roses sighed and
>hivered and came very close to the
goose.
Il would help YOU il I could" he
said. And the goose implOred him,
PLUCK out two of the feathers from
under my left wing" And when he
had done it. the goose was changed
at once to a lively lady. all in white.
with golden tresses wound with pearls
The little gray man was a wicked
fairy she explained. as the Governor
and all the people stared at her. He
had me under a spell, but he did not
dare kill me because of the revenge
of my Codmother. who is more power
full than he. so he changed me into a
goose and gave me TO Dame burden.
and there was only one charm thar
would change me back. and to work
that charm kind-hearted person
must pull two feathers from under
my left wing-and | found but one
kind heart" And her eyes rested CRATE
fully on the page Of the roses.
IF I had known" faltered Dame
burden.
IF | had known" sighed the Co
ernor. and all the people sighed. If
We had known. We would have saved
you"
You would not help the poor
goose" said the lovely lady. severely.
none hut this kind heart" And she
held out her hand to the page of the
roses.
And the page Of roses whispered.
I love you. and the lovely lady
blushed and said. Then I will MARRY
you. for surely my life is yours
And while they spoke together
Dame burden slipped away. and
trudged with tired feet toward home
and her ten children.
And when she had gone little way.
she heard call. and there behind
her. running fast as they could.
were the lovely lady and the page of
the roses.
And the lovely lady had her arms
full of toys and the page was laden
with boxes of candy.
Take these" said the lovely lady.
and take these" said the page. we
are so happy that We want every one
to be happy on Christmas Day"
And when Dame burden reached
home. she gave the wonderful things
to the waiting children. and when they
had eaten the candy and had played
with the toys. she told them the story
of her adventure.
And the moral is" she said as she
tucked them into bed and blew out
the light. the moral is. that it is al
is something better-to have kind
heart"