The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-06-27
BEDTIME STORIES
AiFOR LITTLE
FOLKS
THE PEASANT AND THE KING.

4 ~ y 1NSrfNt SNfNO U n Z NltSo.
Once upon a time there lived a very
old and very poor peasant on the great
estate of the King. The man man
aged TO make living by working his
garden and selling the vegetables, for
his wants were few and he did not re-
! quire much to meet them.
| SO he lived alone, doing his work
well and treating his neighbor kindly.
! One day there came down the road
great cavalcade of troops, and as they
marched by his humble cottage he saw
| il was the King himself passing on the
way to the place where his army was
encamped There were soldiers in ar
NOR and great cannon numbering in the
dust, hundreds of men on horses, COW
! cred with gold cloth, and dozens of
pages and heralds riding on white po-
! MES and clad in suits of silver and
green. Last of all came the King,
gentle-lOoking man, in his robes Of
state. In spite of the splendOr of his
coach the peasant saw that his ruler
was of a noble heart and knew that
| he wished above all for the good of
| his people.
After the King had passed there
came crowds TO bring him presents.
Some took their jewels and others
their gold, while many brought in
! their herds of cattle. But the King
told them he had plenty of the earth's
riches, yet he would like to find among
| his people the gift of the worlds most
precious value. But the people shook
| their heads and went home wonder.
| ing what the King meant. He did not
want their wealth, but something far
greater-what could it be?
That evening the King put on cloth
ing that belonged to one of the COM
mon soldiers and slipped out down the
road to see what there was 10 be seen.
| No one knew him, and thus he could
4
walked along in front of the old peas
ants cottage he heard a cry and saw
that a little child had fallen. Then
| the door swung open and out rushed
the peasant. Tenderly he picked up
the weeping boy, wiped away his tears,
and gave him a bit of cake. Smiling,
the child went on his way down the
path.
But hardly had the child gone when
the King, who had seated himself I'M
der a tree to way.<s-sAsaw woman tot
ltering on with a load of faggOts on
lher shoulder. The peasant also saw
her from his window and came out.
Let me help you with your burden,
said he, and, lifting the wood, he placed
lit on his back and carried it to The
wOman's home.
AS soon as the man was back in his
cottage the King tore his own clothes
into rags, shook dust over his coat and
made his whole appearance that OF a
man in great trouble. In this plight
he knocked at the peasants door.
'Wnl you let me in for while?"
said the King, when the peasant open
ed the door. Il am an old soldier, but
have fallen among thieves, who have
stolen my money and beaten me up
badly"
The man did not hesitate for mo-
ment. He helped the King-thinking
lit was a poor soldier-to the bed.
washed off the dirt and brought him in
plate of bread and cold meat
my friend" said the peasant to the
King. ''if you will wait. ] will go to
the shop and buy you bottle Of wine;
YOU look i'll. and it will help YOU"
Have you no wine in the house?"
asked the King.
81 have nothing more in the house"
ireplied the peasant. Il have just Civ
len you my last bit of food"
But the King is in his camp and
Iexpects his subjects to give him the
most valuable gift on earth" continued
the King. Can you give him moth
ling?
The old peasant flushed and looked
embarrassed. 81 love our good King