African Americans -- Fiction; Short stories, American
Nobleman after nobleman told of some precious keepsake he had, and its
history. At last they called on the nobleman with the shoe. He was so
slow to respond that he was roundly hissed by the guests, as having
nothing worthy the attention of a king. This was too much for nobility
at a feast. He first told a strange story of how he came into possession
of the shoe. Then he snatched it from his pocket so quickly that it
dropped from his hand and fell plump into the king's dish of soup.
"Soldiers of the king," said Savo, "cast the intruder into prison, and
see that his head comes off bright and early to-morrow morning."
Thus ended the coronation. The guests departed, and Savo retired for the
night. Just after the nobleman was placed in prison the giant Lubercal
passed the palace gate and saw the porter asleep beside his bag of gold.
Knowing what had happened, he took the porter and the bag of gold around
to the prison. There was a huge chimney leading down into the cell where
the nobleman was. The giant reached down and brought out the nobleman
and put the porter in his place. The nobleman and his bag of gold were
carried by the giant to his mountain home.
In the meantime what had become of the cobbler and his two friends?
They were still at the home of the giant, safe and sound, with no fear
of being eaten. What had the giant meant by telling his wife to prepare
the cobbler first? Simply that he had heard the conversation that passed
among the three men in his pockets as he went home, and as he was of a
rather grim but jovial nature he made pretence of devouring his
captives. Of these three we know of the cobbler, but who were the two
friends? One was the captain that Savo had put in prison for bringing
the dwarf. The other was Savoda.
The giant Lubercal thought that Savo might make away with them during
the coronation, so he protected them in this way.
Early the next morning Savo sent word to the jailer to dispatch the man
in the cell and bring the head to him. It was done; but, when the head
was brought, Savo almost fell from his throne.
"My porter! my porter!" said Savo, "you have been dealt with foully. How
dare you, Jailer, to turn the nobleman out and put my porter in his
place? Soldiers of the king, seize the deceiver, and off with his head."
Before the soldiers could carry out the order the giant Lubercal
appeared before the palace and sent his voice through the halls.
"Come, Savo," said he, "it is time to reckon."
The giant first took from his pocket the cobbler, who was red-eyed and
sneezing, and bidding him no longer to fear King Savo, gave him his
liberty. When the cobbler was set free he secured the burnt shoe, that
it might remind him never again to fall asleep over his work, and
hastened to his family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account