The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 19, 1899, Page 32

fore them and that the third was hidde: “How has the knowlec gether. brothers?” unces did not know so brave surrounded as they were ed them, ng Atrophole h placed the words: ds o d up a globe:o IN YOUR JS THE ed into fi school and at college w then th e was a spell placed upon it ving in the street s and cities. Then throug! where At Black Rob in the oc: ing to n, Alfred show how T killed before the ey i and the globs was Snough, enougt ROUND, chubby- faced boy—a dear little specimen of his kind—hesitated a long while and then knocked at the ferryman’s cot- tage door. The ferryman's wife hearing the knock besirred her- self. “Dear me, who can that be!” she exclaimed aloud, and opened the door eagerly, for she was of a socla- ble nature and enjoyed a visitor or wo. i “aGould I stop and rest a bit, lady, by your fire, as it's cold and I'm very tired?” asked the boy, looking longing- ly in from the threshold. “Come in, come in, and most welcome, PRVID o AL = of magic gained since we were last to- asked King Atrophole. This was a challenge for all the magicians to do their greatest obe on the banquet table and addressed it in PRID d their childhood; then they were few of the kingdom of the good and the a the Three Princes see the peril of the Lady of the a scene showipg Egbert upon his lonely rock 1 his dungeon under ground and Arthur flounder- out of the deadly quicksand. Egbert knew that he must break the globe or it would presently 7 he got into the Kingdoms of Zykobar and then he would of all tbe black dwarfs. shattered into one thousand pieces. good Atrophole, of that,” said Egbert. e the greatest of magicians. EDITED @Y HE feast of the three Kings of Zykobar was ready. All the great magicians were the Arthur half-famished, for had not eaten for many hou looked on hungrily from hiding place in the case of a great, old-fashioned clock, peeking through the keyhole. He could see and hear all that was said. He saw through the disguise of his brother Egbert, who was now a King. He also saw and knew his brother Al- fred, who was dressed like a farmer. Egbert and Alfred here met for the first time since the Three Princes were separated. Both wondered what had become of Arthur, and beth naturally wondered at the strange chance that had brought them together under such conditions. They said nothing and no one of gthe black dwarfs dreamed that two of their enemies were be- n in the same room. to us.” “I will show you our three whether t that they di ) their enemie had been found not even start— none of whom the pit and the quicksand. tered by more of the Three Princes, for they must surely be dead. They never could have escaped—not being magicians as we are—from the rock, Let us see what our brother can show Atrophole would have been very angry had he not been so flat- gbert, who saw that he liked flattery. Forth then stood King Atreus to give proof of his skill in magic. “I am the King, indeed, now give proof. harvest is ripe, I reap ever Balthazar, stand forth.” Now carried off by a Three Kingdoms. As Balthazar wa of magicians,” 1 plant weeds in the field Balthazar wa Roc_when_ Prin Alfred stood forth in his place. f red liquid and set fire to it. There was ere as young men—setting out by the wicked Atoll—with the mals running wild came the scene upon_ the cliff Alfred, One blow with his “We Let us think no O g aCa SO SRR s o astray on such a day,” replied the fer- ryman’s wife. She was instantly de- lighted with the tiny stranger, and somehow, in a way she never could ex- plain, this little boy, looking up at her with his bright eyes, quite won her heart. Was there ever a nicer boy than this cne? she asked herself. Noth- ing could prevent her taking him in, right then and there, and doing every- thing she could him within her nar- row means. He was not lost appar- ently, judging from his happy, content- ed manner. But where did he came from and whither was he .going? He didn’t tell, and she, odd as it may seem, forgot to ask. The boy, evidently, soon felt at home and allowed the ferrryman’s wife to make him as comfortable as she want- ed. He made friends quickly and chat- ted busily and pleasantly, in a way quite old and wise, too, for so small a boy. He made the sober ferryman’s wife feel gay and young again. She listened and laughed and wondered and time sped on. He sang a little song, so sweet and beautiful was it that she A deep bowl of water was “Two sHarp swords.” “Bring the swords for Balthazar, were brought. “I will grow “which shall grow as never before plant has grown. show you fruit such as never has been seen in all the Three Kingdoms, and you shall all feast to your content. Lo, the time of growing and the time of showing is here.” Saying these words Prince with water a handful of “Well done, Balthazal who can stay the growth “What have you grown this year, Balthazar, asked King Atre s. “You shall see.” DEPTHS I'D SF Alfred had in one of his pockets the seeds of a - = mighty vine, which is proof against most ma Gl LRy found in the desert. v bubbles, and every bubble “Water—a dish of pure water.” eds. said King Atreus. vou orl about. A reel thing it seem- ed like while it lasted. at Goldin Gait Park along with my Sister Susie, who has been 'studdying = = - ) | <\ id King Atreus, and, ason a new and strange STl hen the Ho, breathe. Ev the name of that black dwarf who had been Alfred so strangely reached the s not there to come forward Prince seed?” and These seeds he had placed before Prince Alfred. » commanded the King, and they vou a plant before your very eves,” said Prince 1 will Alfred cast into the deep bowl filled % “I will give to him of this plant my crown and my kingdom. There is none who can kill the plant when once it has taken root.” ment when the plant, taking root, suddenly shot long arms in all directions. Like a devil fish the arms clung to everything that they touched and with the strength of steél wires. So rapidly did the devil fish plant spread that before King Atreus could give the signal for the bowl to be broken the plant had wrapped itself around the arms of his friend, who was to have helped him to fool the other magiclans. Yes, more than that, it had in the space of a minute bound its steel wires around fifty magicians and did not spare King Atreus, who was now fettered by so many bands that he could hardly 1ds squeezed harder. All the ans tried to either overturn the bowl or kill® the plant. All in vain. Alfred, who had become a master of masic, stood by, smiling, and the plant did not come near him. No other person could safely near the bowl for the magic plant drew in and made a prisoner of every one that it could reach. How it spread! Soon half the banquat hall was filled with its waving arms that were feeling for new vietims. The magicians saw with fear and with °r that whenever they cut off one of the arms of the plant the m falling upon the floor of the room at once took root and from it a new plant sprang up with doz £ devil fish arms. Amid the excited throng only two persor t unmoved. These were Prince Egbert and Prince Alfred. “We are lost.” The cry resounded through the room. “Who will save us from this dreadful plant, that will overrun all the Three Kingdoms and s gle us all?” “I will do t " said Prince Alfred, “if the King will renew his promise to give to him who can kill the plant his crown and his kingdom.” It urs, for I am helpless; only kill the plant at once, good Balthaz So spoke King Atreus to Alfred. “I will take your piece of the Black Robe and your crown and scepter before I do my part of the wor » answered Prince Alfred, “for you might change your mind, as Kings have been known to do before.” Alfred took the crown and placed it upon his own head, it having fallen from the head of King Atreus. Then he took up the scepter and, with his own hands, drew from under the bands that held King Atreus a prisoner his piece of the Black Robe. This having been done all the magic that had belonged to King Atreus was his. Then, at a whispered word, which the magicians tried in vain to bear, Alfred spoke to the vine, which withered as before a fierce fire. From its withering branches fell its fruit, rich and juicy. There was h for a royal feast for all who were in the banquet hall. “Hail to King Balthazar. Long may he rule as our mightiest magician.” The cry filled the palace with noise. Queen Atoll, listening in her underground dungeon, in the palace of Egbert, ground her teeth together in helpless rage. But so much had Egbert learned of magic in the Three Kingdoms that he was in no fear that she would be able to escape. Filled with joy now was Egbert; proud and happy was Alfred. The two brothers were Kings of magicians and had proved themselves to be more powerful than any of the bla¢k dwarfs. But, in their moment of triumph, they were still troubled, for they knew that, until they could find the Lady of the Black Robe and take her to their father, the good King, the spell would still make the kingdom unhappy. It was now Egbert's turn to prove his magic. The black dwarfs watched him eagerly as he began to work his charm. Soft and sweet music was heard. Louder and louder it grew until now it was a march—the music of the march played whenever the good King, the father of the Three Princes, had, in the old, happy days, come home from the wars in victory. What was that? From the old clock case—from the clock which had not made a sound for black dwarfs. They knew then that their brother must be in the tlock, ringing the bell. “I have captured,” said Egbert to the dwarfs, suddenly changing his plan, “a son of the good King and have him a prisoner in the clock case. With my own hands will I bring him forth that he may be thrown into a dungeon. How I have worked this magic I will not gay; but—here he is!” Egbert, saying this, opened the door of the clock case, and out stepped Arthur. The sons of Atrid drew their swords and would have fallen upon Arthur had not Egbert, who had thought out all his plan in an instant, called to them: “What ho! Stand back! harm him at his peril.” The dwarfs stopped to listen. “I have a fancy, brother King Atrophole,” said Egbert, coolly, “to teach this foolish man a lesson. He has dared to come into our kingdoms to seek for the Lady of the Black Robe. Let us turn him into the wilderness. He mocks us. We will mock him and his father, the good King, bitterly. Give me your piece of the Black Robe, that I may work my will. The beasts, seeing him with only a piecé of the Robe, will tear him to pieces.” King Atrophole, not dreaming that there was danger to himself in what he was about to do, mockingly placed on the form of Arthur his piece of the Black Robe. Now, at last, the Black Robe was all held by the Three Princes. ady of the Black Robe,” said Egbert loudly, “I command you to arise.” Before the surprised eyes of all the dwarfs the Lady came into view. At that instant there was a noise like thunder at the gate. The dwarfs opened the gates only to see before them the three good giants who had been the friends of Alfred in the desert. They This man is my prisoner. Let no one forced their way through the crowd of dwarfs and, bowing low, made themselves a bodyguard for Arthur, nor did any of the dwarfs dare to trouble Arthur then. “To the gates. Let us go at once,” said the Lady of the Black Robe to Egbert. 5 “At once; forward,” answered Egbert, Alfred and Arthur in one reath. Then the dwarfs for the first time knew that the Three Princes stood before them with the Lady of the Black Robe. Swiftly flew they to the dungeon of Queen Atoll and struck off the chains that bad held her so long. The Three Princes and the Lady of the Black Robe had passed out through the gates, which were closed behind them. “They flee, but shall not yet escape us,” screamed Atoll LIONS OF THE THORNY WAY, LIONS OF THE DESERT PATH, LIONS OF MOST AWFUL WRATH, SEE THREE PRINCES FOR YOUR PREY! ‘When these words had been spoken scores of fierce lions suddenly appeared and were running toward the Princes and the Lady when the Lady of the Black Robe said: “Quickly, now, my robe restore. I will make it whole once more.” The Three Princes quickly gave their pieces of the Black Robe to the Lady and the pieces knit together and the Lady threw her Robe over her shoulders. Then all her magic was hers once again. The roaring lions were turned to stone. The black dwarfs dared not open their gates to pursue. Atoll, pursuing, was changed to a crocodile and has remained a crocodile ever since. Soon the Three Princes were in the kingdom of their father once again. The spell that had troubled the kingdom was removed. Prince Egbert was married to the Lady of the Black Robe. They reigned .when the King died and had one son, who was—Prince I Don't Care. As I was looking through a trunk full of queer things from Arabia the other day I found a writing which told me something about the further adventures of Prince I Don’t Care. and shele Ik you.” That's what I sed to Susie, and Susie sed to me, “Oh, don’t do that, and I'll ¢ri.” Now Susie is a good gurl. and wood bee orl rite if she hadn’t gone and learnt slite of 53— orful skared when I saw that he had a buffler’s hed on him. His club was out for trubble, but poor man, he had trubble of his own that time. I offen herd about puttin’ a hed on a ~ perleeceman, but I never seen it dun z slite of hand. Suddinly Susie sed, sed she, ‘“Agrameno, Sagramento, Dass. Heads off, please!” With that the heads came off en the bufflers and the grizzli and the dears (not gerls, but reel dears), and the ipequhannah and the duks—oh, it was orful! If you'd a bin out thare, Mistur Editur, you'd a cried like Mis- tur Johnsing at Sakramenter when hand. T gess she tride tew hard when che put the heds back on the animiles, for they were orl mixt up. Just ask Mister Brownstrup to make these little picktures of mine into reel sure enuff noowspaper vews, for I «made them ruff on the spot. This is the way the animiles looked with their He roared orful, and butted befoar. his hed agenst a telegraff pole until he made the splinters fli.” “What's yure naim?”’ I asked him. Then he roared agen and yelled out “Embarmed beet,” and I ran off. I suppose it orl kaim about because I et minse pi. ANNIE NIGHUS. HE four animals and one tree at Golden Gate Park pictured as a puzzle last Sunday were: (1) aca- cia, (2) chipmonk, (3) deer, (4) groundhog, (5) ‘“‘grizzly.” No one gave the correct answers to No. 4. “Why, Allie, dear, is that the way to begin your dinner?”’ asked a mothey of her little dau /hter, as she began with the pie. “Well, I declare, mamma, I was go- ing to eat my dinner all upside down “I shall certainly have to buy a whip to punish you with if you don’t quit behaving so badly,” said a mother to her naughty 4-year-old son. “All right, mamma,” replied the precocious young- ster, “and after you've whipped me f o e e e e R Sa S e S e e e s e e s el B S e e e e o b eoo@® gl 1 e after the melody in those tones lingered in her memory. How came this little boy by so wonderful a voice? The clock struck the hour and she rose with great agitation from her old wicker rocker, exclaiming: “Why, boy, I've forgotten the ferry- man, a thing that has never happened before. Deer me, how could I? A half hour ago L should have been down at the bank to see if he was coming across.” In a quick, nervous way sh2 threw a large shawl over her head and shoulders. “May I go with you, lady?” asked the hoy, jumping up in lively fashion. Ha was always ready for a change and, besides, was nicely rested by this time. “Yes, come. If the ferryman is near enough it will surprise him to see a guest is at the cottage,” replied she. And she was very glad to have him with her, for she was half afraid he might disappear if she left him. The child. You are too small a boy to be sat as if bewitched. For long years .HWvMWM—W4+@~W®W.M@M+H@W+Q Answer to Irwin Bare’'s Amusing an : HOW Early you are up, FRANK LINsay! fof school go and pick some apples can fix that up, too. The next day at 2 im the answer. “PUT NAMe on check list, Ida,’ e {:':{XSI};II\G TONYy, who had fallen in the mud. The deckhand on the steamer JON home his_mother was " Frank. The next day the boys went wrath of the captain, ‘the WEST, POINTed out Cherry Island and said: CHESA PEAK East of you. Look RENdered it useless.” When Frank in the VALLEY, FOR GEorge is ill. d Instructive Revolutionary War Names Puzzle. People never get up early. Before you 1éARN OLD lessons The CORN WALL IS broken, and you school the teacher, Mr. Woo, asked ADAM Some of the good WAR Does. A on_an excursion. v as veiling, “Bring me some BRANDY, WINE is no good.” et 3 “Ida, CHARLES, TONy and Adam are there. TOWNSs are nothing c?mxared to it. s 1, at New YORK! got home he told his mother, “LOUL ’ said Mr. WOO STERnly. “CAN ADA go and play with me?” asked ‘When Frank came EScaped barely the Frank, looking toward There, too, is In early times WAR NA and Nell had a fine time.” T RAN boy slipped his hand into hers and skipped along by her side. On reaching.the bank tne old wife looked with anxious eyes across the river to see if her husband was coming. Yes, far, far on the other side she saw him slowly making his way. Auo old bent man with long gray beard, he was, but though his figure was bent he seemed strong and muscular, as indeed he was. Satisfied that all was well, the ferryman’s wife returned with her Jittle guest. “We'll have a nice, cozy supper to- gether, you and 1,” spoke she on reach- ing the cottage kitchen, “as the ferry- man doesn’'t come home tlil late to- night. He has been rowing great num- bers of people across tq-day. Something must have happened on the other side.” “Does he blow a horn, lady, to let you know when he lands?” the boy asked, thinking if he did he would run down to meet him. “Dear me, no,” replied she. “The ferryman comes and goes at any time and so silent and quiet is he that I often do not know when he is around. Noise of any kind disturbs him and the dipping of his oars in the water s the only music his ear enjoys.” “Strange old ferryman!” exclaimed the boy thoughtfully. He ate the simple supper the ferryman’s wife prepared and after this both lapsed into an un- usual silence which was quite soothing to the boy. for he was soon nodding drowsily. His hostess saw this, touched him gently and bade him follow her. Into a small. soft bed he crept, and GEUTTLEVISITOR.. @ARAMALTER =T A 7 nestling there was in short time fast asleep. “Such a beautiful boy to be wander- ing so,” thought she, smoothing the pretty curls, and then left him with a sigh. But the boy wasn’'t to slumber as peacefully as it looked he might. He had = dream, and such a dream! This is how he himself told it next morning to the ferryman’s wife: “Lady, it was so very,very strange,” he began. “I thought I was with the ferryman and “elped him row such odd little people across an awful river. The water rushed onward, continuously on- ward, wi'h mighty motion, and the dis- tant, opposite shore was dim, always dim. “The ferryman had grown very old and white-looking and his long, thin, wrinkled hands shook with age. He looked as if hundreds of years had passed over his head and so feeble that I wondered how he managed to row. But his boat glided on and on, swiftly and surely. “None of his passengers ever spoke nor smiled nor did they seem to hear when I spoke to them. Their eyes with hope:ul joy were looking at something I couldn’t see far away. What was it? I wondered. Could it be that ever dis- tant opposite shore that they were watching? I asked this, softly whisper- ing to a little creature beside me, but my question wasn't heard. I asked it of each one and not one knew I spoke. “At last I turned to the old ferryman, but he was like all the rest and I saw roof, In his heart was black despair, He looked aloft, he looked aloof, No power could save him there. And soon around that fearless youth The firemen aimed a stream, But it was useless work forsooth— The water turned to steam. Then through the horror-stricken crowd A man began to grope; There's always life, he cried aloud, ‘Wherever there is soap (hope). Then picking up a large-sized cake He held it up on high; “Play on that soap for goodness sake, That poor boy must not die!” And on that bar of yellow soap The water soon did gather, And then the boy with new-born hope Slid safely down the “lather!” Another time that self-same lad Stood on the burning deck, may I have the whip with?” A bright little girl of 4, who was watching a balloon ascension, suddenly exclaimed: “Mamma, I shouldn't think the Lord would like to have that man come up to heaven alive.” to play horse [ B e aom s e e mom e sle et St oot o g creeping into his eyes the same far-off look of hopefu! joy and peace. I grew half afraid, but I must keep my fears to myself. I tried to stop the motion of my oars té rest my tired arms, but couldn’t. Then I called to the ferryman to stop his boat, if only for a mi :te, but my voice didn’'t sound at all. We just glided on an on in the sa..e unceasing, never-ending, noiseless way. I noticed with astonishment that the little crea- tures around me grew more and more beautiful and their eyes almost d. me. They grew so wondrously lovely that I looked at them in awe, but still they neither spoke nor smiled. I tried to take my hand from my oar to touch one, but this ‘me neither would my hand leave its work. I must always row, it seemed, but so tired had I now become I felt nothing but pain, pain. 1t made no difference, I must ever con- tinue. “What would happen, and would this journey never, never end, I thought wearily. My h d inside seemed to whirl, and finally, with great effort, I awoke. “Oh, with what joy, lady, did I find myself in that comfortable bed, and how glad to be under your roof and once more awake.” He sighed as if he never could feel relieved enough. Now this King was wicked. He wished only to make the other I will begin to tell you Kings envious of his power and he had planned with one of his fol- many years—came the voice of a deep-toned bell, beating time to the about them soon, if you wish. D. H W. lowers to overturn the water bowl at a sign. What was his astonish- music. Egbert and Alfred were as much astonished as were the (The End.) A o S et ol e ai e ol i o S s n anCat SR S o o o e o o dn ot ol B S S B e e s you seen then poor dumb oroots heads mixt up, and yew bet I weeped SAD MIX UP you seen then poor dumb oroots heads mixt up and vew et I weered J REAL UP-TO-DATE CASABIANCA. AT THE PARK -susie, Susie,” sed I, “don’t be meen. Susie just Jan orf, and orl the — krewel. Put heds on orl them animiles animiles chased after her likKitikut to HAD an oreful dreme the uther gt wunst.” But Susie allowed that she beet the band. While I looked along BY EUGENE A BEAUCE nite, Mistur Editur, wich I wil tel just coodent. “Tll tel yure ma now, kaim a park poleeceman, and I was HE boy stood on the burning His outlook now is more than sad, He'll soon sink with the wreck. But hope has been renewed again Just when all hope seemed lost, And now to him with might and main A bar of soap is tossed. The boy for life begins to cope, He will be saved once more, For grabbing up that bar of soap He washed himself ashore. A Sweet Washday in Candy Town. But he was too happy and light- hearted to bother much about anything and when he waved good-by to the ferryman’s wife as she stood at the cottage gate watching Fim, it was with the same bright joyous face that had looked in at her dcor the day before. She fcllowed the boy with eyes full of longing and regret. She saw him greeted with glad, loud shouts by some tiny children in the distance, coming from she knew not where. He joined the merry group as if he belonged to them. Turnin-® he waved a parting farewell to the ferryman's wife. She smiled in - aswer and smiling, sobbed and tears fell fast and many, showing how sadly she felt. “Such a beautiful boy, such a beau- tiful boy,” she murmured. ‘When her eyes cleared enough to see again they had all disappeared into the- deep dark woods. She stood meditatively for awhile after he had gone, then gave herself a little shake. Thoughtfully she drew her hand across her eves, saying, ponder- ingly, aloud, “Is this all a dream? Have I been sleeping or am I awake?” No answer came and che returned methodically to her work. She never quite knew what to think of this little child who came apparently from no- where and Went—where?