Part 21 (1/2)

Once upon a time, a Tortoise lived in a pond with two Ducks, ere her very good friends She enjoyed the company of the Ducks, because she could talk with them to her heart's content; the Tortoise liked to talk She always had so to say, and she liked to hear herself say it

After , the pond became very low, in a dry season; and finally it dried up The two Ducks saw that they could no longer live there, so they decided to fly to another region, where there was ood-by

”Oh, don't leave ed the Tortoise ”Take me with you; I must die if I am left here”

”But you cannot fly!” said the Ducks ”How can we take you with us?”

”Take me with you! take me with you!” said the Tortoise

The Ducks felt so sorry for her that at last they thought of a way to take her ”We have thought of a hich will be possible,” they said, ”if only you can h We will each take hold of one end of a stout stick, and do you take the middle in your mouth; then ill fly up in the air with you and carry you with us

But remember not to talk! If you open your mouth, you are lost”

The Tortoise said she would not say a word; she would not so rateful So the Ducks brought a strong little stick and took hold of the ends, while the Tortoise bit firmly on the middle Then the two Ducks rose slowly in the air and fleith their burden

When they were above the treetops, the Tortoise wanted to say, ”How high we are!” But she remembered, and kept still When they passed the church steeple she wanted to say, ”What is that which shi+nes?” But she ree square, and the people looked up and saw the a Tortoise!” they shouted; and every one ran to look The Tortoise wanted to say, ”What business is it of yours?” But she didn't Then she heard the people shout, ”Isn't it strange! Look at it! Look!”

The Tortoise forgot everything except that she wanted to say, ”Hush, you foolish people!” She opened her round

And that was the end of the Tortoise

It is a very good thing to be able to hold one's tongue!

ROBERT OF SICILY[1]

[1] Adapted froend says that there was once a king nareat Pope of Ro, and very proud; he cared more for his pleasures than for the needs of his people, and his heart was so filled with his own greatness that he had no thought for God

One day, this proud king was sitting in his place at church, at vesper service; his courtiers were about hiarments, and he hi the Latin service, and as the beautiful voices swelled louder, the king noticed one particular verse which seeain He turned to a learned clerk at his side and asked what those words meant, for he knew no Latin

”They hty froree,'” answered the clerk

”It is well the words are in Latin, then,” said the king angrily, ”for they are a lie There is no power on earth or in heaven which can put , as he leaned back in his place

Presently the king fell asleep, while the service went on He slept deeply and long When he awoke the church was dark and still, and he was all alone He, the king, had been left alone in the church, to awake in the dark! He was furious with rage and surprise, and, stureat doors and beat at the for his servants

The old sexton heard soht it was so the service He came to the door with his keys and called out, ”Who is there?”

”Open! open! It is I, the king!” cary voice froht the sexton; and he was frightened He opened the doors carefully and stood back, peering into the darkness

Out past hiure of a man in tattered, scanty clothes, with unkempt hair and white, wild face The sexton did not know that he had ever seen hi at his wildness and his haste

In his fluttering rags, without hat or cloak, not knohat strange thing had happened to hiates, pushed aside the startled servants, and hurried, blind with rage, up the wide stair and through the great corridors, toward the room where he could hear the sound of his courtiers' voices Men and woot into the palace, but Robert did not even see the banquet hall he rand feast there

The great hall was filled with lights and flowers; the tables were set with everything that is delicate and rich to eat; the courtiers, in their gay clothes, were laughing and talking; and at the head of the feast, on the king's own throne, sat a king His face, his figure, his voice were exactly like Robert of Sicily; no hu could have told the difference; no one drea's royal robes, he wore the royal crown, and on his hand was the king's own ring Robert of Sicily, half naked, ragged, without a sign of his kingshi+p on hiure of hi on the throne looked at him ”Who art thou, and what dost thou here?” he asked And though his voice was just like Robert's own, it had so in it sweet and deep, like the sound of bells