Show HEART OF HARE once upon a time on an island in a wide river there stood a great square castle surrounded by a strong rampart at each corner was a tower and from these many a flag waved in the wind A bridge connected the island ish d with the river bank and an d on bridge and tower and rampart a hundred sentinels kept guard and called to one another with hoarse hoam vote voices in this thia castle castie lived a knight a brave and famous fighter whenever he be returned from ft om victory great wagons laden with booty rumbled over the bridge into the castle the trumpets along the battlements blew fanfare tan faral I 1 fanfara I 1 and all the people pl who dwelt along the river bank shook in their shoes there were deep dungeons beneath the castle and in them many prisoners were shut hut up every day these prisoners were led out to work some to keep the ram ramparts parts in repair others to dig in the castle garden among them was an old woman i who was wag a soro sorceress eress she had sworn to I 1 be revenged on the knight for his ill treatment I 1 of her and waited year after year for her opportunity one day as afi she was working in the garden the knight came walking along al and sat himself down on a bench he was tired for he be had just returned from a toilsome campaign so presently his bis eyes closed and be fell asleep the old witch who bad been watching him went to a bed of poppies and gathering some poppy seed in her hand crept up to the knight she scattered the poppy seed over his bis eyes to make him sleep the sounder oun der and then she took an aspen branch and struck him on the breast over his heart at once his breast opened so that you could look in and see his heart as it lay there and beat then the old witch laughed an evil laugh stretched out h her bony arm and with her hooked booked fingers 13 I 1 quietly drew out the knights heart so quietly y that he be never even stirred next she took a hares ham I 1 s heart which she kept hidden upon her cloak put it into the breast and closed up the opening creeping away on tiptoe she ahe hid bid herself behind a clump of bushes I 1 to see the effect of her wicked work the knight was not long in finding out the change the hares heart was making m 1 4 e in him he began to shiver in 0 hia s sleep lee p and turn uneasily from side to side for he who had bad never known fear was beginning to dream horribly he woke wake with a shudder hudder and sat up his forehead was damp with sweat and he be felt as if his armor were crushing him over the wall came the voices of his hounds barking in their kennels once he had bad delighted in the sound and dearly he had lot loved ed their deep baying as he be followed them through gh the forest after the wild boar but now he quaked from head bead to heel and fled out of the garden tor for his life As he ran up the stairs to his bis room the clang angot of hisari his ar mor anor the jingle of his silver spurs the I 1 clatter possessed him with each terror that he be tore them off of fand and flinging them from him sank upon his bed fear followed him even in his sleep night after night the challenge of his sentries entries upon the ramparts the barking of his watch dogs in the court kept him shuddering as be lay on his bed and he be buried his face like a frightened child ch ud in the pillow eight after night he wept to think that he was such a coward and paused in the midst of his tears to shudder and shake at the wind that sang around the castle roof or the sound of the rive as it lapped the foundation walls far below at length a body of his enemies took heart and came to besiege him in his castle the knights lits soldiers eyed their master and waited for hirn him to give the word and lead them forth they could not understand der dar stand why he be delayed but he whose heart had used to swell at the sound when be heard beard the clash of arms the shouts of men and the tramp of horses hoofs fled up and up to the topmost chamber of his catle and from there looked down upon the foroe force and when he remembered his bis deeds in time past his campaigns and combats and victories he be fell on his know knees and clasped his bands ban together and cried out oat aloud 0 0 god give me back my co courage urage give me the old strength and vigor of heart already ray my men have taken the wd field and I 1 L who used to lead them now peer pea out upon the enemy like a girl through the highest loophole give my old self belt back to me ine and send me forth a a man ry in again an AJ he be prayed he be seemed to awake from a dream he ran down to hu hia chamber buckled on his aror armor ar or leaped upon b his IS horse borm and rode out at the castle gate hid soldiers maidle shouted as he came and sounded the tru trumpets pet the knight spurred his bis horse bw and dashed forward with rury but in his hb secret heart he be was afraid and when his men pressed after him and gallantly engaged the enemy his fear grew and grew and he be turned lid and fled even when he was back in his fortress 0 cafe fe behind the thick walls the fear did not leave him jee he tottered down from bb ale IM ran to an inner chamber charn and there quite unmanned sat eat down and waited tor for a shameful hf h f death but as aa it happened he be was safe tor for his bis mm m had bad turned the foe and chased them off the field the guards cheered as they victorious and the trumpets along the hattle battlements but bug when aw came to look for their chief ceef they found bond mm him hiding half haff dead in a deep cellar di tho the unhappy happy knight did not uve live long after this daring the winter he be tried to 1 warm ii r his limbs by the big fireside of his castl castle but they shivered and shook all tha time when spring ca came e he be would open hlf hs windows to the sunshine and fresh air and nd one day a swallow that had bu built ut its not bad under the eaves earea of the roof came wo by and brushed the knights face with its wing As if struck by lightning 3 poor w man fell down upon the ground aal a ta gabort r while died 6 Z X |