The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1919-12-19
THE PRINCES CHRISTMAS GIFT.


golden chair beside his fathers great glistenng
throne and received the hundreds of Christmas
presents that his loyal subjects brought to
him.
They lay scattered on the throne steps
around him. great piles of glittering treasures.
Gold baskets containing rich jewels; yards of
wonderful tapestries designed by the greatest
artists and woven by the best workmen OF the
kingdom; silks, velvets and then jewels and
more jewels.
But as each offering was laid at his feet, the
little princes brow grew blacker and blacker.
and at last his big blue eyes filled with tears.
Take them away" he cried at last with
lordly sweep of his little hand, take them
away" and pretended that something had got
in his eye so that the people would not know
that he was wiping away his tears.
Excitement reigned in the court, for 1t was
very serious thing for the prince to be dis
pleased with his Christmas presents.
Word was passed down the line of high court
officials that the prince was not pleased WIN
the offerings of his people, and that no more
should be presented until they could put their
heads together and decide what he would IKE
But he must be pleased" the first gentle
man-in-waiting said to the next in rank, Our
heads will not stay on our shoulders minute
unless his royal highness gets something lor
Christmas that he likes
SO heralds were sent running in all directions
to tell the people that the little prince did not
like his Christmas presents and big reward
was offered to the person. who could bring
something that would please him.
All over the kingdom in a few hours the
kings loyal subjects were raking their brains
to think of something that would please the 1T
tie prince.
On the outskirts of the royal gardens there
lives an Undergraduate who had large lam
ily of children. Ragged they were most OF the
time, but they had the happiest hearts in the
world. %.
The oldest boy, Ethbert, hearing that the lit
tie prince did not like his Christmas gifts wish
ed with all his heart that he had something 10
offer.
III I could please his royal highness,' he
told his mother Il would be the happlest boy IN
all this wide wide world, and wouldn't want
the gold that the king offers as reward
well" said his mother, as she stirred the
savory stew for her children's dinner. VINO
knows but that the honor Will be yours: true
we have no riches to offer, but the prince Is
after all, just little lad IKE yourSeI; Try
to think of something that you would IKE TO
have for Christmas and perhaps 1t VIII be the
very thing that would please his hlghness, TOO
Little Ethbert took out all his childish treas
ures and considered each one IN turn. But ne
shook his head over them all.
They are not good enough he SAID 10 MN
self lie did not mean that they were not cost
thing to make the little prince forget his other
disappontments. .,.,
While he was considering the weighty sub
ect the silence of the room was suddenly
broken by the cearest chipping and tWltterlhg'
and then the sweetest song ever heard by NOR,
tai ears. 1t was his little bird that he had
found one day fallen from its nest and when
ne had rescued and cared for ever since WIN
his own hands he had built it a little cage,
altho il was so very tame that 1t was allowed
TO fly around as it pleased. -,
AS Ethbert listened to its familiar song, d
happy thought struck him and he clappeo MS
hands in JOY.
The Gift for the prince Mother, mother
have thought of gift for the prince
Hastily his mother prepared him Tor the
visit to the royal palace, ana soon WIN the
cage in his hand he presented himself at the
door of the throne room. -,
Pint such a buzZing of tongues as occurred
when the court digntalies found what II was
that he wanted to present to the prince.
"a bird they said. "A common bird! And
NOT even in a golden cage. Who ever heard OF
such n thfngw Some of them tried to take the
bird cage from him, others tired TO sehu MN
from the room. l. ala
Of every Gift that was offered, and when he
hoard of the bird he ordered that 1t should be
brought to the prince.
AZ Fthbert walked trembling into the great
throne room. the little bird, as tho he knew
the great thing at stake commenced ms gentle
"chiIp. chirp," and "twitter, twtter,' and then
tb,,axr oil his little strength in such burst OF
Golden song. that it seemed as tho great for
est full of songsters were all singing at once
The little prince raised his head. Here IN
deed was something to interest him.
Ethbert opened the door of the cage ana the
little bird hoped out and perched on MS
finger. Ill., +ho ,,o,,oI