Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-16
OUR BOYS ;
and GIRLS 5
AGO+O+O+O+O+ C+O+o*o+
GOOD PRAxEL'S QUEST

Back in the time when the world
was Just emerging from the twilight
stage and fairies lived in every wood
and high adventures betell every man
who ventured upon the highroads,
there lived king,
Now, this king had daughter who,
after the approved manner Of prime
esses, loved man whom Ter father
disliked, and one day she ,ran away
and married him. OF course. the king
was furious, for he had had other
plans for the princess, and he deter
mined TO do away with his hated son
in.law by fair means or foul.
From this you will know just how
wicked an old wretch the king was.
In those days it was quite the fashion
to make man work hard for the
hand OF his bride, and the Old king
did nothing unusual in setting the
young man one difficult task after
another until his invention was eX-
udublGu u Hio dlNnPVih
ment, Praxel failed in nothing that
was set him to do, for he had, UNI
known to his fatherinlaw, two pow
erful fairy godmothers.
Finally in desperation the king con
suited y wicked, grabbed old counselor,
NJ cunAing as himself, who suggested
sending the young man on long
quest Which would have for its object
two golden hairs from the beard of the
sun himself The king laughed Il
cackline, cracked old laugh when he
heard be plan Of the grabbed old coun-
selor and gave lin big reward, and,
rubbing l. 8 bro n hands in glee, 5 mt
for Praxc,
Now it is not TO be deli2d nat
when PraXel heard this latest task
that had been set for him, he was con-
siderably cast down. But he was young
enough TO have taste for adventure,
and so it did not need a great deal OF
persuasion to make him undertake
this latest quest.
One sunny morning he set out from
the castle gate and walked out upon
the white highroad that wound shin
ing toSard the river For days and
days he travelled and finally struck a
river
How am ever TO cross this
streams" said Praxel to himself, "for
] know not how to swim"
He shadded his eyes with his hand
and presently little way down the
stream he spied ferryboat coming
toward the shore. He lost no time in
hailing the ferryman and asking to be
taken Across, Landed safely on the
other side, he paid the man and was
about to go on when the ferryman de-
sired to know his business in those
parts and whittier he was bound.
When Praxel had told him that he was
In search OF the sun, he babe the
young man ask the sun how long he
would have to spend his days ferry
Ing hiD craft across the river. This
PraxeFpromised to do. and the man
waved him friendly farewell and
bade him godspeed.
Praxel had not gone very far upon
the road before he met a man who
upon closer inspection, proved to be
a crowned king, who walked detected
~, trailing his royal robes in the dust
and weeping bitterly. He also stopped
Praxel, and upon learning his destina
tion babe him ask the sun, why the
tree of perpetual youth had stopped
bearing its lifegiving fruit This. al
80, the kind-hearted youth promised tc
do,
After months and months Of travel
Praxel came one day to great shin
Ing golden palace which he recognized
at once as The dwellngplace of the
sun. So grand was it, and SO imposing
that it was long before he could sum
mon enbugh courage to cross the
threshold. He might not have been sc
shy had he known, what he soon fount
out. thxt the sole occupant of the
place Was an old, bent, wrinkled won
an busily engaged in spinning.
A fey moments OF conversation
with her revealed, to Praxels wonder
and great delight, that she was one o.
his two fairy godmothers and was, o.
course, prepared to help him out b.
every means in her power.
Aftersthey had talked for time the,
heard he sun coming. Concealed
Praxel watched him keenly as he can't
in and ate his enormous meal. Pres
emily the sun grew weary and Ia,
down ID rest The fairy godmothel
proceeded at once to cast a spell owe
him, and when he was fully enthante,
she pulled hair from hls beautiful
golden beard and. at Praxtel's request
asked Hin how long the ferrymaI
would Nave to row his craft over tn
stream. Without waking up, the SUI
answered.; -"As LONG as he holds III,
t.ss.e.