THE FISH AND THE RING.

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 71

THE FISH AND THE RING.

Once upon a time there was a mighty baron in the English North Countries who was a great magician, and knew everything that could come to pass. So one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the Book of Fate to see what would happen to him. And to his dismay he found that his son would wed a lowly maid who had just been born in a house under the shadow of York Minister. Now the baron knew the father of the little girl was very, very poor, and he had five children already. So he called for his horse, and rode into York. He passed by the father’s house, and saw him sitting by the door, sad and doleful. So he dismounted and went up to him and said, “ What is ' the matter, my good man? ” And the man said, “Well, your Honour, the fact is, I’ve five children already, and now a sixth’s come, a little lass, and where to get bread from to fill their mouths that’s more than I can say.” “ Don’t be downhearted, my man,” said the baron. “If that’s your trouble, I can help you. I’ll take away the last little one, and you won’t have to bother about her.” “ Thank you kindly, sir,” said the man; and he went in and brought out the lass and gave her to the baron, who mounted his horse and rode away with her. And. when he got to the bank of _ the river Ouse he threw the little thing into the river and rode off to his castle. But the little lass didn’t sink; her clothes kept her up for a time,, and she floated and she floated till she was cast ashore just in front of a fisherman’s hut. The fisherman found her, and took pity on the poor little thing and took her into his house, and she. lived there till she was 15 years old, and a fine handsome girl. One day it happened that the baron went out hunting with some companions along the banks of the River Ouse, and stopped at the fisherman’s hut to get a drink, and the girl came out to give it to them. They all noticed her beauty, and one of them said to-the baron: “ Yon can read rates, baron; ■whom will she marry d’ye think ? ” “ Oh! that’s easy to guess,” said the baron., “ Some yokel or another. But I’ll cast her horoscope.

Come here, girl, and tell me on what day you were born.” “ I don’t know, sir,” said the girl. “ I was picked up just here after having been brought down by the river about fifteen years ago.” Then the baron knew who she was, and when the others went away he rode back and said to the girl: “Hark ye, girl, I will make your fortune. Take this letter to my brother in Scarborough, and you will be settled for life.” And the girl took the letter, and said she would go. Now- this was what he had written in the letter:—

Dear Brother, —Take the bearer and put her to death immediately, Yours affectionately, Albert 1 . .

The girl set out for Scarborough, and slept for the night at a little inn. That very night a band of robbers broke into the inn and searched the girl, who had no money and only the letter. So they opened and read it, and thought it a shame. The captain of the robbers took a pen and paper, and wrote this letter:— Dear Brother, —Take the bearer and marry her to my son immediately. Yours affectionately, Alberti And then he gave it to the girl, bidding her be gone. So she went on to the baron’s brother at Scarborough, a noble knight, with whom the baron’s son was staying. When she gave the letter to his brother he gave orders for the wedding to be prepared at once, and they were married that very day. Soon after the baron himself came to his brother’s castle, and what was his surprise to find that the very thing he had plotted against had come to pass. But he was not to be put off that way; and he took the girl out for a walk, as he said, along the cliffs. And when he got her all alone he took her by the arms, and was going to throw her over, but she begged hard for her life. “ I have not dbne anything,” she said. “If you will only spare'me I will do whatever you wish. I will never see j-ou or your son again till you desire it.” Then the baron took off his gold ring and threw’it into the sea, saying, “Never let me see your face till you can show me that ring,” and he let her go. The poor girl wandered on and on, till at last she came to a great noble’s castle, and she asked for some work to be given to her; and they made her the scullion girl of the castle, for she had been used to such work in the fisherman’s hut.

Now, one day, who should she see coming up to the noble’s house but the baron and his brother and his son, her husband. She didn’t know what to do; but thought they would not see her in the castle kitchen. So she went back to her work with a sigh, and set to cleaning a liugli fish that was to be boiled for their dinner. And as she was cleaning it she saw something shine inside it, and what do you think she found? Why, there was the baron’s ring, the very one he had thrown over the cliff at Scarborough. She was right glad to see it, you may be sure. Then she cooked the fish as nicely as she could, and served it up. Well, when the fish came on ’ the table the guests liked it so well that they asked the noble who cooked it. He said he didn’t know, but called to his servants, “ Ho, there, send up the cook who cooked that fine fish.” So they went down to the kitchen and told the girl she was wanted in the hall. Then she washed and tidied herself, and put the baron’s gold ring on her thumb, and went up info the hall. When the banqueters saw such a young and beautiful cook they were surprised. But the baron was in a towering temper, and started up as if he would do her some violence. So the girl went up to him with her hand before her with the ring on it; and she put it down before him on the table. Then at last the baron saw that no one could fight against Fate, and he handed her to a seat, and announced to all the company that this was his son’s true wife; and he took her and his son home to his castle, and they all lived as happy as could be ever afterwards.

TO ALL. Dear Little Folk, As you are all fond of animals, and each possesses some kind of pet, 1 wish yoii to read the following, which was written by a contributor to Pearson ’s Weekly. It strikes me as being very important, as so many of us can be almost cruel to our pets without knowing that we are being so- The writer says:— “ A friend of mine who prides herself on her kindness to animals, recently lifted up a puppy for my inspection. She was horrified when I told her she was hurting the little animal. “’But everybody lifts a puppy by the scruff of the neck! ’ she protested. “ The truth is, however, that this is a terrible strain on the little animal. If this manner of lifting is indulged in fairly frequently, the little creature, whose bones are pliable, is pulled out of shape. “The correct way to lift or carry a. pup or kitten is to place the hand under the fore part of its body, its front legs passing between your first and second and third and fourth fingers respectively. In this way the animal’s “ chest ” rests in your palm. “ Another popular idea is that a rabbit should be lifted by its ears. This is a cruel method, since a rabbit’s ears are quite sensitive. The pain suffered by a heavy animal lifted thus must be excruciating. “ Small rabbits should be lifted by gripping them round the back just under the front ‘ shoulders,’ with one hand, while the other hand supports the rest of the body. “ If guinea pigs cannot be lifted by their tails, pet mice and Tats can—and often are, by thoughtless children. Not only is this a painful method, but soon causes the tail to peel. The correct way is to grasp the skin at the back of the neck between finger and thumb. “Great care should be taken by cage bird owners when they desire to lift their pets. The hand should be quietly’ and yet swiftly placed over the body to keep the wings down and leave the head freeThe birds should be grasped quite lightly. Any undue pressure on the delicate body will cause internal injury.” It is very interesting, is it not —as interesting indeed as several of the excellent letters you have sent. to me this week. Children, yoii arc improving wonderfully, and I am extremely pleased with you! Your letters are a credit to you. Those I wish to mention specially this week are from Golden Star of Westland. The Story Girl. L’lnconnue, Deerslayer, Lincoln Green, Rose Ashes, and Queen of the Rooks, who seem to have tried most hard to live up to our motto. But all are good. —Your loving DOT.

A THOUGHT IN WINTER. Oh! to wake on a summer morn, And hear the blast of a shenherd’s horn And feel the jolly old sun and breeze, As they frolic amid the lofty trees. —Meddlesome Matty.