THE MAGIC STONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 September 1928, Page 18

THE MAGIC STONE.

In the days of the Crusades against the Saracens, a brave knight was taken prisoner after a battle, and was thrown into a duugeon. As he lay there, pining for freedom, and wondering whether he should ever see Britain again, a nightingale came arid perched in a tree near his window, cheering him with its song. Every day the bird eaine, and' soon the knight came to look for liis little visitor, who showed no sign of foar. He used to talk to the nightingale as if it had been a human being who could understand all he said; and one day, sadly thinking of the many weeks that had passed since he had been thrown into prison, he sighed, "Ah, little friend, if only you could help me to escape!" At once the nightingale flew away. As it did not return for three days the knight began, to foar that a hawk had caught his pet; but on the fourth day he bird flew into the dungeon carrying a stone in jts beak. For a moment it hovered over his head, and then let the stone fall on to the iron fetters which bound the knight: to his surprise and joy the chains fell off! Taking the stone, he touched the door of the dungeon with it, and immediately it flew open. Then the knight lost no time in escaping to Britain, the little nightingale accompanying him. In sratitude for the "bird's timely help, the knight built a golden cage in the garden of his castle; there was no door to this cage, and so the nigbtipgale was at liberty to pass in and out as freely as it pleased. There was once a parrot on board" a snip-wreck. The water was rapidly filling the boat. The sailors anxiously asked, "What shall we do to be saved V The captain answered, "Pump, you fools, pump." Of course, the parrot thought it a great joke, and took, in every -word.' Whether the ship sank or not, we do not { know, but the wise old parrot flew ashore, and perched in the raft of a church. ■ i Sunday morning came along, and soon; the minister was preaching. In one verse; he \ras repeating the "What shall we do to be saved?" The parrot thought it was now his | turn to speak, so , he proudly shouted: i "Pump, you fools, pump."