Year: 1879

Duke LeOpOld'h NtOhe'
There was once great Duke Leopold,
Who he'd wit and wisdom, as VOL "a gold,
And used all three in a liberal way
For the good Of his people, the stories Fay.
To see precisely what they would do,
And how nearly notion Of his came true
He went from his palace one night alone
When brooding storm aud starless skies
Hid lis secret from prying eyes
And set midwsy in the road stone.
1t was not too big fora man TO move
The duke was confident ON that score;
Yet the weight OF the thing was enough toproye
The strength Of one's muscle-and something


more.


Something more, laughed the duke, as be


strobe


Through wind and rain ON his homeward road.
This time tomorrow reckon will show
IL notion Of mine ia correct or no.
From window high In the palace wall,
He watched next day for the passers-by,
Aud grimly smiled as they one and ALL
Where they found the stone, left the stone TO lie
A numbering oI-osrt came along,
And Hans, the driver, was stout and strong;
One sturdy shove with the right intent
Would have cleared the track Of impeachment;
But whatever appeared TO be needless work,
Or work that another might possibly do,
Hans made it point Of duty to shirk.
He stopped his team for minute or two,
Aud scratched his head as he looked about
For the easiest way Of getting out;
Then Lucky for me that the road is vide,
He lszily murmured, and drove aside.
The next that came was gronadior
Bristling in scarlet and gold array;
And be whistled a tune both loud and clear
Bat be took no note of the rock in his way.
When its ragged edges scraped his knee
Thunder and lightning! what's thatP says lie.
Haven't the blockheads sense enough
To clear the road Of this sort OF stuff
A pretty thing for gronadier
To stumble against, and bark his shinsl
II / knew the rascal that plapted it here
Yes, surely! Id make him sec his sins.
He clanked bis sword and he tossed HE plume,
And ho stiuttod away in terrible fumoi
But as for moving the ne-not he!-
1T is Just. said the duke, as l thought il


would be-


A little later, still Watching there,
He spied on their way to the village fair,
troop OF merchants, each with his pack
Strapped on a well-fed ANIMALS back
Now let US SEQ, with a nod OF bis head
And merry twinkle, his highness said.
Perhaps this worshipinl multitude
Will lend hand for the public COED
But alack the company, man and horfe,
Hardly paused in their onward course.
Instead Of cantering four abreast,
Two by two they went east and vest
And when they had left the stone behind
TO think OF thing like that said they,
Blocking the high-road for half day
II never reached the collective mind
In tho ligh. Of matter that implied
Some possible claim on the other side.
30 week, aud two, and three slipped past
Tho rock in the road lay bedded fast,
And the people grumbling went and came,
Each with tongue that was glib to blame,
But none with hand 10 help. At Last
Duke Leopold, being quite content
With tho issue OF his experiment,
Ordered bis herald to sound blast,
And summon his subjects far and near
A word from his high-born lips to hear.
From far and near at the trumpet call,
They gathered about the palace wall,
And the duke, at the head Of glittering train,
Rode through the ranks Of wondering eyes
To the spot where the stone so long had lain.
will leave you to picture their blank surprise,
When he leaped from his horse with a smiling


face,


And royal bands pushed tho stone from lite


place


But the stare OF &mazement became despair
When the duke stopped down with his gracious


air,


And took from hollow the rock had hid
A casket shut with craven lid.
The legend upon it he read aloud
To silent, and very crest-fallen crowd
This box is for him, aud for him alone
Who takes the trouble TO move this stone.
Thon Ee raised the lid and they saw the shine
Ofa golden ring, and purse of gold;
which might have been yours ssid Duke


Leopold,


But now regret to say is mine.
1t was who for reasons Of my own
Hinderod your highway with the stone.
What the reasons we're you. have doubtless


guessed


Before this time And as for the rest,
think there is nothing more to say.
My dear good friends, wish you good-day"
He mounted bis horse, and the glttering train
After their leader galloped again,
With sound OF trumpet and CLEAN OF gold
They flashed through the ranks Of downoast


Eyes,


And the crowd went home feeling rather sold
Perhaps, however, lesson lies
In the story, that none Of US need despise,


st. Nicholas for October.