Golden Grain Garnered from the World's Great Harvest-field of Knowledge: Comprising Selections from the Ablest Modern Writers of Prose, Poetry, and Legendary Lore
General
Golden Grain Garnered from the World's Great Harvest-field of Knowledge: Comprising Selections from the Ablest Modern Writers of Prose, Poetry, and Legendary Lore
American literature
Willful witnessed several of these battles, and he was much impressed
with the skill and bravery of the horned tribe.
He learned much of great importance on the art of warfare; and this he
thought was the last of the three lessons. So he turned his journey
homewards and in due season reached his father's palace, where he was
welcomed with joy.
On the day after his return he was summoned to a meeting of the wise
men of the kingdom, and in their presence was asked by the king what
three lessons he had learned.
Then Willful in an humble manner, unlike his former character,
replied:--"These, my father, are the lessons that my observation has
taught me: First,--That even a prince may learn from the smallest of
God's creatures. Second--That a government is strong only when each
citizen has some honest means of earning a living, and receives a
suitable reward for his labor. Third--That it is best to fight only
when attacked, and then to die, if need be, in defense of what we love."
Then the people applauded him, for they saw that he had grown in wisdom
and had become a fit king for his people.
[Illustration]
MISS EDITH HELPS THINGS ALONG!
F. BRET HARTE.
"My sister'll be down in a minute, and says you're to wait,
if you please;
And says I might stay till she came, if I'd promise her never to tease,
Nor speak 'till you spoke to me first,
But that's nonsense; for how would you know
What she told me to say, if I didn't?
Don't you really and truly think so?
"And then you'd feel strange here alone,
And you wouldn't know just where to sit;
For that chair isn't strong on its legs, and we never use it a bit;
We keep it to match with the sofa; but Jack says it would be like you
To flop yourself right down upon it, and knock out the very last
screw.
"Suppose you try! I won't tell. You're afraid to! Oh! you're afraid
they would think it mean!
Well, then, there's the album; that's pretty, if you're sure that
your fingers are clean.
For sister says sometime, I daub it; but she only says that when
she's cross.
That's her picture. You know it? Its like her; but she ain't
good-looking, of course.
"This is me." Its the best of 'em all. Now tell me, you'd never have
thought
That once I was as little as that? Its the only one that could be
bought;
For that was the message to pa from the photograph man when I sat,--
That he wouldn't print off any more, till he first got his money for
that.
"What? Maybe you're tired of waiting. Why, often she's longer than
this.
There's all her back hair to do up, and all her front curls to friz.
But its nice to be sitting here talking like grown people, just you
and me!
Do you think you'll be coming here often?
Oh, do! But don't come like Tom Lee,--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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