And then the sound of the horn was heard, and the king was seen coming towards them. He rode up to the stone, got down from the horse, and said: "My friends, it was I who put this stone here, three weeks ago. It has been seen by every one of you; and yet every one has left it just where it was, and scolded his neighbour for not moving it out of the way. "Then he stooped down and rolled the stone over. Underneath the stone was a round, hollow place, in which was a small iron box. The king held up the box so that all the people might see what was written on the piece of paper fastened to it. These were the words:- "For him who lifts the stone. " He opened the box, turned it upside down, and out fell a beautiful gold ring and twenty gold coins.
Then every one wished that he had only thought of moving the stone, instead of going round it and finding fault with his neighbour.
There are many people who still lose prizes because they think it easier to find fault than to do the work which lies before them. Such people do not usually blame themselves, but think their want of success is allon account of bad luck and hard times.
About the Author.-The name of the author is not known.
About the Story.-Why did the farmer grumble? Had the soldier the right to say what he did say? Were the merchants wise? What does the lesson teach us?
You could make a little play from this story, too.
Lesson 25
TWO LITTLE pLAyS
I.-The Boy That Hated CoWs.
(Scene I.-The living-room of a small farm-house. Time: 5 o"clock in the afternoon. Teddy West is lying on the sofa, reading a picture book.)Mrs. West.-Come, Teddy; it"s time to bring in the cows.
Teddy.-Oh, mother, wait a bit. I want to see what the giant did.
[Five minutes go by. Then Mary West, Teddy"s sister, comes to the door.]
Mary.-Teddy, you ought to get the cows. It"s your turn to-day. You know that as well as I do. Get up, you lazy fellow.
Teddy.-Oh, bother the cows!
[Mary goes out. After a time, Teddy"s father appears.]
Mr. West (sternly).-Edward, the cows!
Teddy (laying down his book, and moving slowlytowards the door).-I hate cows. I wish we didn"t have any. Cows are no good; they"re only a worry to everybody. I hate cows and all belonging to them.
(Scene II.-The dining-room, an hour later. The members of the West family are seated. A round of beef is smoking on the table, but there is no meat on Teddy" s plate.)Teddy.-Father, may I have some meat?
Mr. West.-Teddy, this is beef, and you know you hate cows.
Teddy.-Well, I suppose I can have some bread and butter.
Mrs. West.-No butter, Teddy. We get our butter from the cow, and you hate cows.
Teddy.-Mary, there"s no milk in my tea.
Mary.-Of course there isn"t, Teddy. You wouldn"t have milk that a cow gave you. You hate cows.
Teddy.-Well, if I can"t have butter, I"ll have a bit of cheese.
Mr. West.-Oh, no, Teddy; that also comes from the cow, and you hate cows and all their works.
Mrs. West.-Mary, bring in the baked custard. We"ll all enjoy that, all but Teddy. There"s milk in the custard, and milk comes from the cow, and Teddy hates cows.
Teddy (humbly).-Father, please pass me the cream.
Mr. West.-No, Teddy, I shall not pass you the cream. That is a gift from your foe, the cow.
Teddy.-It"s not fair [rising up]. I won"t sit at the table with you-boo-hoo-oo!
Mr. West.-It"s all right, Teddy. You can come back, and eat what we eat. Only, let this be a lesson to you.
(Curtain)
ii.-TryinG TO please EVerybody.
(Scene.-A main road leading to a market town. A miller and his son are driving an ass before them. They are going to sell it. They meet two farmers.)First Farmer.-Look, neighbour; did you ever see such stupid people? They trudge in the dust when one of them might be riding.
Second Farmer.-You are right, friend. The ass is the only one of the three that seems to have any brains.
Son.-Did you hear what they said, father?
Miller.-Yes, my boy; perhaps they are right. Here, get up on the donkey.
[The son mounts, and the father walks by his side. Soon they meet an old man and an old woman.]
Old Man.-Do you see that young rascal riding while his old father walks?
Old Woman.-Shame on him ! I don"t know what the world"s coming to. Get down, boy, and let your poor father take your place.
Son.-Shall I get down, father?
Miller . - Y e s , m y b o y . W e m u s t t r y t o p l e a s e everybody.
[The son gets down, and the miller rides the donkey. They meet a young woman.]
Young Woman.-For shame, old man! Fancy a big, strong fellow like you taking your ease while your son walks! I"m sure the poor boy is footsore and quite tired out.
Son.-I"m all right, father.
"For shame, old man! "
Miller.-No,no; we must try to please people. W e " l l b o t h r i d e t h e donkey.
[The son gets up be- hind the miller. They meet two schoolboys.]
First Sc h oolb oy . - Here"s a nice thing. Weought to tell the police. See the load they"ve put on the donkey. It"s cruel; that"s what I think.
Second Schoolboy.-Of course it is. They look far more able to carry the ass than the ass does to carry them.
Miller.-Well, well, well! How hard it is to please everybody! But we haven"t far to go; so we"ll carry the donkey.
[They tie the animal"s feet, thrust a pole between his legs, and hoist him on their shoulders. Then they stagger along tillthey com e to the middle of a bridge leading to the town. A newsboy see s them.]
Newsboy. - H i , there, Harry, Jim, Charlie! Hurry up and see these two people carr ying a donkey! Hurry up!
[ A c r o w d gathers, and greets
th e stra ng e sig h t The Donkey Leaps into the Water.
with jeers and laughter and clapping of hands. The donkey, frightened by the noise, struggles free, leaps into the water, and is drowned.]
Miller.-Dear, dear! What a mistake I"ve made! I tried to please everybody; but I"ve pleased nobody, and have lost my donkey as well.
Son.-That will be a lesson to me, father. When I grow up, I"ll do what I think is right and just, in spite of what anybody says.
Miller.-You"re quite right, my son. I hope that I, also, am not too old to learn.
Adapted from ?SOP
About the Author.-The unknown authors have adapted two stories, of which the second is by the old-time Greek slave ?sop.