Part 22 (1/2)

And the Great Being made answer in a sweet human voice: ”I hate thee not, O Brahreed

But this thing I do Each day I pay a debt which is due--each day I grant a loan, and each day I store up a treasure”

Now the Brahmin could not understand the words of the Buddha (because true wisdom had not entered his heart) and he said: ”I pray thee, O Wondrous Bird, to make these words clear untomade answer: ”I carry food to er seek that food for themselves: thus I pay s are yet ungrown When I am old they will care for me--this my loan to the, who need the aid of the strong, for theive in charity”

Then was the Brahmin much moved and showed the love that was in his heart ”Eat thy fill, O Righteous Bird, and let thy Kinsfolk eat, too, for thy sake” And he wished to bestow a thousand acres of land upon hi would only take a tiny portion round which were set boundary stores

And the parrot returned with a head of rice, and said: ”Arise, dear parents, that I may take you to a place of plenty” And he told them the story of his deliverance

From ”EASTERN STORIES AND LEGENDS”

THREE STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN[53]

THE SWINEHERD

There was once a poor Prince He owned a Kingdoh to allow him to marry, and he was determined to marry Now, it was really very bold on his part to say to a King's daughter: ”Will you marry me?” But he dared to do so, for his name was known far and wide, and there were hundreds of princesses ould willingly have said: ”Yes, thank you” But, would _she_? We shall hear what happened

On the grave of the Prince's father, there grew a rose-tree--such a wonderful rose-tree! It bloomed only once in five years, and then it bore only one rose--but what a rose! Its perfuot all his cares and sorrows The Prince had also a nightingale which could sing as if all the delicious melodies in the world were contained in its little throat The rose and the nightingale were both to be given to the Princess, and were therefore placed in two great silver caskets and sent to her The Ereat hall where the Princess was playing at ”visiting” with her ladies-in-waiting--they had nothing else to do When she saw the caskets with the presents in them, she clapped her hands with joy

”If it were only a little pussy-cat,” she cried But out caantly it is made,” said all the ladies of the court

”It is ant,” said the Emperor, ”It is _neat_

”Fie, papa,” she said, ”it is not made at all; it is a _natural_ rose”

”Let us see what the other casket contains before we lose our temper,”

said the E so sweetly that at first nobody could think of anything to say against it”

”_Superbe, superbe_,” cried the ladies of the court, for they all chattered French, one worse than the other

”How the bird reminds me of the late E ”Ah, me! the same tone, the same execution”

”The very same,” said the Emperor, and he cried like a little child

”I hope it is not a real bird,” said the Princess

Oh, yes! it is a real bird,” said those who had brought it

”Then let the bird fly away,” she said, and she would on no account allow the Prince to come in