FOR THE CHILDREN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2676, 4 December 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN

A very long time ago there lived a rich man who had two little children, a boy and a girl. All his riches were in two big vessels on the sea, v and he was expecting them home. But one day lie was told that both ships were lost, so he had nothing left but a little field. One day be Avas feeling very sad, and was walking in his field, wdien suddenly a very ugly dwarf stood before him and said: “Why do you look so sad?” The merchant replied: “I have lost all my money, and all I have is this little field.” Then the dwarf said : “Don’t trouble an}' longer. If you will bring me in twelve years from now, tlie first thing you meet on the w r ay home, I will give you. as much gold as you like.” “Yes,” said the merchant, thinking that his dog would probably meet him on his w T ay home, “1 wil] do as you ask.” But, to his great sorrow, his little boy ran to- meet him. A month passed, and the merchant thought to himself: “I have not got any gold yet; the du r arf must have been joking with me.” But one day he Avent up -to an old attic, to get some iron he thought he might' sell, and there on the floor was a great Leap of gold. He was delighted to become rich again. Tho years went by, and his little son grew up to be a young man; and then the father, remembering his agreement with the dwarf, grew very sad, and told his son that lie had promised to give him to an ugly dwarf. But his son comforted him. and said: “Father, never mind your promise; I will not let the dwarf take ine away from you.” . So when the time came they went to a little field to meet the dwarf, and the sou drew a round ring on the ground and stood, inside it with his father. The dwarf soon came, and said to the merchant: “Have you brought me what you promised P” But the okl man did not answer, and liis son said: “What do you want here?”

The dwarf answered: I did not come to talk to you, but to your father, and 1 will have wliat lie promised me.” Then they had a great quarrel, and at last 'it Avas decided that the merchant should put his son into a little heat all by himself on a large lake that Avas near.

He thought that his son would be drowned, and went home feeling very sad. But the little boat went on and on, and at last stopped outside a beautiful castle, which was quite empty, for it was enchanted. The young man jumped out of the boat, and went through all the rooms in the castle until he came to one with a white snake in it. Now the white snake was really an enchanted princess, and she was delighted to see him, and said: “You have come at last to save me. I have been waiting for you for twelve years. You must do exactly what I tell you. To-night twelve black men will come with chains hanging all round them. They will ask you wliv you are here, hut you must not answer, even if they heat and hurt you. The second nighttwelve others will come, and the third night twenty-four more will come and cut off your head; but at twelve o’clock on the third night their power is gone, and I shall he free, and will come to you, and will wash you aaiui the water of life to make you live again.” All these things happened just as theprincess had told him, and the third night the white snake changed into a beautiful princess, and married the merchant’s son, and he became the King of the Golden Mountain. They lived a long time together, and were very happy, and the queen had a little soil. One day the king thought of his poor father, and he longed to go and see him again. But the queen did not- want him to go, and said: * : lf you go I know that something dreadful will happen.” But lie would not listen. So the queen gave h> m a wishing-ring. saying: “Put this on your finger, and it will bring you whatever you wish for; but you must promise not to wish for me to be with you when you are at your father's house.” Tlie king promised to do as she asked him, and. turning the ring on liis finger, wished to be near tlie town where bis father lived. But the soldiers who guarded the city would not let him enter it because his clothes were so different from theirs. So he borrowed an old shepherd’s frock, and went to bis father’s house. But his father did not recognise his own son again, and said: “Yon are certainly not my sun, lor he died a very long time ago.” Then the King of the Golden Mountain replied s “I am really your son. Is there-no"mark by which vou can tell that I am your son?” “Yes” said his mother;, *xmr son has a mark like a raspberry under his right arm.” Then he showed them this mark, and they believed that- he was t.heir son. He then told them all his adventures, how he was a king, and was married to a beautiful princess, and had a little boA of years old. . But the merchant said : “You cannot he tellino- the truth. "What king would

travel about in an old shepherd’s frock?” Then the king Avas very angry, Avished that the queen and his little bofmnr Avere with him, and they instanty|lß| stood before him. The queen Avas very angry, and said that he had broken his promise, and that ill-luck Avould come to them.

One day the king and queen Avent for a walk together, and the king showed her the place where he Avas put into the little boat. Then, feeling very tired, they sat down, and he went to sleep. The queen, wishing to punish, him for hav-in-g broken his promise, took the Avishing-ring off his linger, and u'ished herself and her son back at the castle. When the king awoke he found himself alone, and saw that the ring had gone from his finger. He said to himself: “I can never go back to my father’s house; they would say that I Avas a sorcerer. I will go a long journey to discover the whereabouts of my kingdom.” So -lie started off, and Avalked on till he came to a mountain where three giants Avere quarrelling over their inheritance. When they say him pass they said to each other: “Little men have sharp wits; he shall divide the inheritance between us.”

This inheritance Avas a sivord Avhlfdi could cut- off anybody’s head Avfaen the Avearer said “head’s off!” a cloak that made the envner invisible, or gave him any form he pleased: and a .magic pair of boots that took the person who put them on to Avlierever he Avished to go.

Tlie king said to the giants: “I must try these wonderful things first; then I shall be able to decide for you.’’ Then they gave him the cloak, and he wished himself a fly, and he immediately became a fly. “The "cloak is all right,” he said; “now give me the sword.” “No,” said they, “not unless you promise not to say ‘Heads off!’ If you do, avc shall all become dead men.” So the king tried 'its magic power on a tree standing by. He then said: “'Give me the hoots to try, too.” And directly the clever king got all three he wished himselr at the Golden Mountain, and he Avas there. As the king came near his castle he heard merry music, and the -people round about told him that his queen Avas going to marry' another prince. When the king heard this he was A-ery angry, and put his cloak round him, and Avent to the castle. A great feast was being held, and the King sat by the queen, and when anything was given her to eat and drink he took it aivay from her. When the queen saAA* this she -vas a - cry frightened, and went away to her own room, the king folloAving her. “Alas!” she said to herself, “I am .still in the power of some enchant-

meni.” Then the king took the clonk off. and said: “I did save you. but you deceived -me. Have I deserved this bad treatment from you?” . Then he vent out and told all the merry-makers to go, and said the wedding would not take, place, as he was the right king. Then the princes ana nobles laughed at him", and tried to seize him; but the king drew his magic sword and cut off all their heads. So lie became once more King of the Golden Mountain, and happily with his queen and son ever after.