FOR THE GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 185, 6 August 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOR THE GIRLS.

THE HAPPY MAN'S SHIRT. A LEGEND OF THE TYROL. My Dear Girls, — I have a delightful once-upon-a-time story for you this week I think when you rend it you will agree with me how approbate it f is to the time we are experiencing to-day. There once was a king who had very bad Health No one could find out what was the matter and the most celebrated doctors could not help him. So they sent for a wise man Irom the Eas., and he found out what was the matter. "Your Majesty," he said, "nothing in the wide world will be of the least use to you except one thing, and tjiat is a s *» r '- But it must have been worn by someone who is perfectly happy and has not a single wish. Put on that shirt and you will be restored to health. So the sick monarch called all his courtiers together out on a journey through his vast kingdom to find someone wno was happy He heard rumours of one and another said to be living in splendauir and honour and health. Making closer inquiries, something was wanting in every case. The man who had healih had no money. The rich man was afraid of thieves. The victorious general was afraid of his fees' revenge. So the king went into the Swiss mountains to the little village of the Lorwsld. Surely the simple folk there would be happy. But the blacksmith complained he had a sick caif. If only it would get better—but it died. They went to the good little woman who looked after the pastor. But no, the hens would not lay, and if they did the fox stole the eggs. Surely the pastor was happy ? He had sound health, was neither rich nor poor, neither master nor servant, everyone loved him. But no, the pastor shook his head; when they asked him why, he made no reply. They went to the schoolmaster, who was a musical genius and was writing a great opera which was soon to be performed. Money and fame were at his door. The schoolmaster must be a happy man. But the schoolmaster said he suffered from palpitations and could not sleep a single night for thinking- of the joy to come. The king was in grer.t pain, his head ached because his crown was too heavy, his chesti was freezing because his heart was cold; so he said, "Let us go up higher." There came a shout of joy down the mountain side. The king's wise man pricked up his ears. "Your Majesty, only a happy man shouts like that!" So they went up as fast as they could and found a peasant making hay on the slope, it was he who was singing and yodelling. They asked him why he was so cheerful. "Why ever shouldn't Ibe cheerful? We have everything we want. We dig the ground for our food, we have sleep and our children. Ottilic is with the pastor, Luzian is in the monastery, the others are all right too, so whatever should, be the matter with us?" They told him to take off his shirt. "I certainly shan't do that," said the peasant. They told him he should have seven bags of duckets. "I don't want one of them; all we want grows in the earth." Well, then, he should have a castle in return for his shirt. "God reward you, but I have my little stone house," and he laughed, and that was his last reply. The king grew angry and ordered his shirt to be taken by main force.! ■ When they pulled off his coarse woollen coat he did not wear a shirt. He did not possess one. So the peasant put on his coat apain and went up the mountain and began to shout for joy. The king was furious. but, your Majesty, said the wise man, "we have learned something after all. The really happy folks on this earth do not possess a shirt at ali. They have no possessions." J f So the king gave up his kingdom and built a hut in « the open country, and lived among simple and I» J unspoiled folk and never required a doctor or a \J^ wise man after that.