| OCR Text |
Show I THE HONEST WOODCHOPPER. '.: One upon ft tims ft kin wished to find out who were the honMt ones anions his subjects. Ths post of treasurer was to ba filled and It was necessary that tha man who held It was ona who waa absolutely honest and true. For In the treasury vaults were piled tons upon ton of golden coins, sack upon sack of irem a, ind on Its wall hunt; crowns and jeweled swords that had b-tonvM b-tonvM to hundreds of ih king's ancestors. an-cestors. Out of this room cams ths motier with which vry on tn tha coun- try waa paid and this moant that each j month it all must pass through tha hands of ths treasurer. So, whan tha ona holding tha post died ths king studied a long tlms to find what to do tn sacura a man whom ha could trust. But In tha midst of this thara cams news thai an army wa coming gainst him from ths north. At tha head of his msn, tha king aat out for a long march. For two wsoks they swept along, and In a battla defeat-I defeat-I ed tha enemy, but as thsy wars coming horns thstr food gars out. Wa must havo com for our horses. , ths head of tha stables told tha king;, "eta thsy cannot llva," Within a few hours ths army entered, a pretty valley, which Waa rich In beau ttful fields of waving , coro. The.ua imarlrtfd on thf broadT greenleavea and the big oars stood up thickly on ths stalks. "Thers Is plenty of corn hers for our horses," said the king. "Iet us gt It." Just at that moment they rams by a small cottaga before which waa an old man fitting smoking. Tha fields around him were not so flna looking as thoss fyrther qp b "My poor horses must be fed, my good man," said tha king, "and to do that I muat nave corn at once. It la neceaaary that J tfc rroP Jrom aoma of ths farm sra about hers. I cannot pay now, I nw -v t bk In tha city. But v am aura you will gladly find for ms the u.Mt u' a who iS willing to front his king, or at least do this much for hit vountr. tihuw ins soma good fields of corn and I will "r any aoidlara to take It for thstr stead a" Tha old man toss and 'bowed ta tha king. ''Tha crop about ma bars la aot , so good." he said, "but follow ma and I will guide you to whers thara Is flna corn and enough to feed your horses. ' -o down ths road went tha man and slowly aftrr him a long Una of cavalry tramping In tha dust. On tha man walked for miles till at last ka paused bafors a. vast field In which waved tha finest of corn. It waa almost as Lali a tha man sitting on their horses. "Dismount and laka what ywa wish, ardared tha king. ; , Ths msn flocked' Into tha field and In two hours they had gathered a vary aar. "Move on!" ordered ths king again ta hie troops; ws muat gat home aa eoon-aa eoon-aa possible, for I have to search for ail honest man la be mv treasurer. I :ut first, tall me to whom this corn belongi., "It Is mine.' replied tha eld man. "The earn next to my bouss belongs to a asry-poor asry-poor neighbor, who could not wait for his ' money, as ha has a large family; but I could. Thla rick fleta wao asms. Vav asked ma to show you a fins crop. I did. 1 ahowad you tha bast thers was ta tba country, whether I .ver gat pay or not." The king smiisd merrily. I am lucky: Indeed," he said, "for you, I sea, ars an hones man. You at. a 11 get not only pay for your corn, but also tha post of imperial im-perial treasurer, for la your hands tn gold will bs safe. - " bo ths ma man, wrio waa amy 4 farm-ar. farm-ar. became ths great lord traaavrsr to ths king for tka raat of his Ufa. tCopyrla-ht, lu. by ths McCturs MswaO rnfr Myndlcsta, Nw Y"rk Clfy ) |
