| Show A FABLE OF FORTUNES FAVOR S I II If I You have read perhaps the story of the Three Princes James John and Richard who Journeyed Into the Battle of Life with Wealth Power and the Gentle Art of Making Friends us their respective and chosen gifts It was the Gentle Art of Making Friends that brought Its possessor Richard to Happiness Hap-piness while Wealth and Power carried only Sorrow in their train The following story occurred sometime some-time before the Princes Journeyed Into the Battle of Life Their father King Beneficent was a wise and worthy sovereign One day there was a great fete in the I castle in honor of the eldest son Prince James A courtier approached the King Sire said he while we have been making merry surrounded by Luxury and Pomp there Is a poor old man starving at the City Gates He lives in a Hovel at the foot of the royal hill and Is dying of Hunger and Sicckness Give me I pray you some Gold that I may relieve his Distress King Beneficent summoned his sons before him and repeated the courtiers message Go my children he said and do as to you seems best James became angry and refused Why should I he cried I a Prince I be alllicted with the importunities of a Beggar If he be poor it is his own fault he should have worked harder when he was young and saed his Money for a Rainy Day Besides It wl1 spoil the party So he turned away and resumed his dance with the Princess Beatrice I John the second son also became angry I wont go he said as he stamped his footon second thought though I shall This will be a good chance to earn the gratitude of my people peo-ple I may need them some day So he ordered a golden carriage to be brought which bore a gilded legend Here goes Prince John who deprives himself of his pleasure to help the needy Surrounded by eight knights In sliver armor he journeyed down the principal street of the city and went to the hut He opened the door and flung In a purse of gold Take that you dog he said t Theres some charity for you And he Vent back to the palace S When Richard the youngest son heard of the poor beggar his eyes filled with tears He summoned the royal cook Give me a basket filled with bread and meat and a bottle of wine Then he took off his splendid robes and donned a simple suit of gray cloth Had you seen him alklng down the street with the basket on his arm you would never have suspected his Identity When he reached the hovel he found the old man weeping and moaning Do not weep good fatherhe said 7 kindly I am my fathers youngest son and so I have no money But I have brought you something good to eat and to drink While tho old man was eating eat-Ing and drinking the young Prince opened the windows and let In a little fresh air Then he tidied up the place and made it neat and wholesome Cheer up good father he said when the old man had finished his repast whim you get well I will have my father give you some work to do in our garden If you are a good gardener you will provide for yourself a good home and all the comfort you deserve When Prince Richard reached the palace he met John John laughed at him They tell me you went down to that hut with some bread and a bottle for f-or wine Umph I gave him a hundred hun-dred florins All the people saw me and tonight they will pray for me and thank Providence that they have such a charitable prince Think of Ita hundred florins to a crust of bread An old man came toward them They recognized the old man of the hovel Is this the young man who promised me work in his fathers garden 7 he asked turning to Richard I have come to work Richard called to his father Father he said this is the poor man you sent me tq ho wants work and I have promised him that you will mako him one of your gardeners John sniffed contemptuously I gave him a hundred florins he said Yes and there they are said the old man handing them back You called me a dog and you came to my home parading your charity before the world This young man turning to Richard brought me only a crust of bread hut with It a kind word And what is more he showed me how to help myself That is the true charity II When the boys and gone the old man removed his cloak To his astonishment astonish-ment the King beheld the Wizard Wiseman I I wanted to test them said the Wizard And I found out what I wanted S |
