FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15613, 20 May 1914, Page 12

FOR THE CHILDREN.

"BADGER IN THE BAG." There was a rr.our.d outside PwylTe palace at Narbetb. which had a magical quality. To anyone who- sat upon it there happened one of two things— he received wounds and blows, or else he saw a wonder. One day is occurred to Pwyll that he would like to try the experience of the mound. So he went and sat upon it. No unseen blows assailed Pwyll, but he had not been sitting long upon tho mound before he saw, coming towards him, a lady on a puns white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold around her, riding very quietly. He sent a man on foot to 'ask her who she was; but, though she seemed to be movincr so slowly, the man could not come up to her. He failed utterly to overtake her, and she passed on out of sight. The next day Pwyll went again to the mound. The lady appeared and this time Pwyll sent' a horseman. At first, the horseman only ambled along at about the same pace at which the lady seemed to be going; then, failing to get near her, he urged his horse into a gallop. But, whether he rode, slow or fast, he could come no closer to the lady than before, although she kerned to the eyes of tliosa who watched to have been going only at a foot's pace. Tho day after that Pwyll determined to accost the lady himself. She came it the same gentle pace, and Pwyll at first rode easily, and then at the horse's topmost speed, but with the same result. At last, in despair, h«i called upon the mysterious damsel to stop. "I will stop gladly," said she, "and it would have been better for you if you had asked me before.*' She told him thai; her name was Rhiannon, daughter of Heveydd the Ancient. The nobles of her -realm had determined to give her in marriage against her will, so she had determined to seek out Pwyll, who was the man of her choice. Pwyll was delighted to hear this, -for he thought that she'was the most beautiful lady he had ever seen. Before the;,' parted they had plighted troth, and Pwyll had promised to appear on that day twelvemonth at the pal-.ee of her father, Heveydd. Then she vanished, and Pwyll returned to Narbeth. At the appointed time, Pwyll went to visit Hevevdd the Ancient, with a hundred foiiowem. Ho was received with much welcome, and the disposition of the feast put under his command, as the Celts seemed to have done to especially honoured guests- . , _ ... As they sit at meat, with Pwyll between Rhiainon and her father, a tall, auburn-haired youth came into the hall, greeted Pwyll, and asked a boon of him. " Whatever boon you may ask of me, said Pwyll thoughtlessly, " if it is in my power, you shall have it." Then tho i.uitor threw off all disguise, called the guests to witness Pwvils promise, and claimed Rhiannor. as ms nnoc. Pwyll was dumb. (> "Be silent as long as you will, said Rhiannon; " never did a man make worse use of his wits than you have done. "Lady," replied the amazed Pwyli, * knew not who he was." , "He is the man to whom _ they would have given mo against my will." sHe answered. " Gwawl, the son of Ciud. \ou must bestow me upon him now, lest shame befall you." _ " Never will I do that," said Pwyll"Bestow iaa upon him," she insisted, "and I will cause that 1 shall never he his." ~ So Pwvll promised Gwawl that ho would make a feast that day year, at which lie would resign Rhiannon to him. The next vear the feast was made, ana Rhiannon sat by the side of her unwelcome bridegroom. But Pwvll was waiting outside the palace, with a hundred men in ambush. When the banquet was at itheight, he cime into the hall, dressed in coarse, rigged garments, shod with clumsy old shoes, and carrying a leather bag. i»ui the bag was a magic one. winch Kniuimou had given to her lover, with directions » to its use.' Its quality, war- thai, nowever much was put into it, it-could never be- filled. "I crave a boon, ho said w Gwawl. ... •'What is it?" Gwawl replied " I am a poor man, and all 1 a.* J to have this bag filled with meatGwawl granted what he said was a request within reason," and ordered his to' lowers to fill the bag. But the more bey put into it, the more room in it iww seemed to bo. , , , v v Gwawl ms astonished, ana asked wnj this was. , i, a Pwvll replied that it was a bag - could never be filled until "■>«£,!£, sessed of land ana riches should trad food down with both his feet. " Do this for the man," Mid Rhianuoc tO Sv I will," replied he and Put both his fee. into the bag But no .scone, had he done so than PwyU slipped U - JJ over Gwawl's head, and tied it uat M mouth. He blew his horn and his fo lowers came in. . ~ , „ «. ..i-.j " What have you got in tho bag. asheu each one in turn. "A badger," replied Pwyll- £ Then each, Mho received Pwvls answer, ; ■-. kicked tho bag or hit i with a J..., "Then," savs the story, "was the pfl» : .;■ of Badger in the Bag first played. ■ Gwawl was released from the bag « condition that he gave up all claim upon_ Rhiannon.