THE GUEST

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE GUEST

Hidden"-from the mainland by a shrouding of mist, the treeless promontory of Brean Down stretched like a long stepping-stone far out into the grey 'waters of the Channel, as desolate a place as one could find, tenanted only in that distant day by screaming seabirds and one man, old Oiric tho fisherman, who dwelled in a little daub-and-wattle but, which clung like a limpet to the remains of the old Roman .fort. I Oiric came to the door to watch a Jfleet of Danish ships go by, with their proudly swelling striped sails and grinning dragon prows, to work destruction farther inland. The old man groaned as he saw them pass. A year ago vessels like those Iyad come upon his two young sons fishing in their sca-curragh and their Vikings had slain them.

Because of the Danes Orric was doomed to live lonely for the rest of his days .on the bare, desolate point of Brean Down.

It was Christinas Day on the morrow. What a festival for him! There was better fare in the hut that day than usual, salmon of his catching, a capon, and white bread, mead, too. Edith, his dead son’s betrothed, had tramped from the mainland when. the sands were bare to bring him. those dainties. But there was no one to share the feast. Turning back into his hut, he -prayed. “Send me . a guest, for Christmas,” he pleaded, “to break,the loneliness.” ... There seemed little likelihood of his petition being fulfilled, for at the best of times few men came to Brean Down and at that moment everyone was hiding from the Danes- Still, Orric arose from his knees .with the sure, feeling that it had been answered. He put food and drink on the table, heaped more driftwood on the fire, and over the bed of dry bracken he laid a pillow of ‘seabird’s feathers and a rug of fine Before long he heard the distant crunch of feet on the shingle. The tide had begun to go back, leaving just enough space for a man to creep round the point;' The steps sounded faltering, a fugitive’s. Orric went out; in the dim light his keen’ eyes discerned an armed man in a red coat, with a white boar-helm and a golden scabbard for his short sword. The fisherman knew him to be a thane of the West Saxons. “How went the battle, lord?” asked Orrjc, going forward. “Did a live crow fly in the midst of their hated banner agajn?” . “So- our troops believed,” answered the stranger; “and in truth we are hard pressed by the Danes. But we shall draw , back to charge again.” “There is fire and. food, in my hut,” said Orric. ' “Thou art the Christmas guest for whom I prayed to come.” He drew him into the hut. He took his round- gilt shield from him and his boar-helm;' he knelt to unlace the thongs of his leather shoes. ' . “Father, thou art the host for whom I prayed,” said the weary man; “we shallkeep the feast to-morrow.” Swiftly the charmed hours of the next day went by for Orric. _ The stranger spoke to the sorrow-stricken father sb strengtheningly, so consolingly, at times Orric looked to see a saint’s halo shining behind his head. Then again he was so shrewd, so workaday and interested in the fisher’s craft and doings,. Orric knew him to be a fellowman. . o ■ - '

.’“Why dost thou live in this bleak place alone?” asked the guest. “Thou wouldst be less , lonely, more useful- to others on the mainland.” ; ■

“I can never leave Brean Down,” said Orric. “Many years ago I made a vow to hang out a lantern every night to guide the boats in the dark. When the. Danes go I shall kindle it again.” Ho went to a‘ hole in ■ the thatch ;.and drew out a bronze pot full of tarnished Roman coins.

“I dug these up in the fort,” said he. “I kept them for my sons, but- now I wish, thee to take the treasure to the King, ip help him in his struggle against our foes.”

“The. King shall. have them, I promise thee,”, said the other. , “He will build warships with the .gold.” Even as he spoke, there was a trampling of horses’ hoofs on the shore. The fishermen went out to see who was coming. The tide was at ebb. Along the sands a little company ■of Saxon horsemen came galloping, leading a riderless horse. “Art alone in thy hut, father?” they hailed the fisher.

“A wounded, thane is with me,” the old man replied. “See, here he comes!” Great , was the joy of the riders as they gathered round Orric’s Christmas guest, who was none other than the Shepherd of the West Saxons, Alfred the Great. So the two parted, the King to his many .duties, Orric to his one. •?'. ( , " .■ ■ THE ELECTRIC TORCH. A remarkable school has been opened at Logie, in which all kinds of appliances for the training of boys and girls are driven by electricity. 1 • ' There is a laundry for the girls, fitted with 20 electric washtubs and 20 electric irons. There is a large number of sewing machines driven by electric motors and electric cooking stoves for girls to learn to cook by electricity. / The boys have an engineering shop and a smithy. Everything is driven by electricity, even the brazing hearth for teaching boys to weld. Needless to say, there is a r stage and an electricallydriven cinematograph. , THE TRAMP SHIP. Philip (had come to' stay with Uncle Nat for the holidays. Phil’s people were in India and he always rather hated' the holidays. Holidays to him meant staying with two prim old aunts in Warwickshire, in a house a long way from a village where it usually rained. Phil quite thought Uncle Nat would take him off to another house just like that. You see, since mother went away nobody had troubled much about him. Phil arrived, then, rather pale and listless on Uncle Nat’s doorstep one morning to find Uncle Nat strapping up a big,old-fashioned portmanteau and singing a sea-chanty in his gruff voice. '“.‘Hello! Hello!” he said, swinging around. “Ready for the trip?’’

“Is it to be Warwickshire?” asked Phil) cheering up at tlffc sight of Uncle Nat’s jolly roupd face. ‘Warwickshire? Bless my boots! No, boy. We’re going in a tramp steamer down the Mediterranean; we’re going to fetch conk and olive oil and tinned tomatoes from Naples, and we’re taking out timber. We start to : morrow from Tilbury. At least, only if you like geography and mean to be top next term.” ' -

Phil had always hated that subject, but now that he was going to help real exporters and importers he suddenly felt very fond of it indeed. And he said earnestly: ./“Qh, .Uncle Nat, I’ll love it all, and of'uourse I’ll be top! Fancy seeing Naples, not on a ma®!"

. . THE RING OF FIRE. i On the very top of a steep mountain stood, a noble castle, whose great gates stood wide open all day. In the keep of this strange fortress lay a maiden fast asleep. It was no ordinary sleep that held Brunhilda (for that was the maiden’s name) a prisoner there. The story goes that she had been a Valkyr, a fairy maiden that rode a flying horse among the clouds. But the god Odin had been displeased and had punished •Brunhilda by turning her into a mortal and telling hep that she must some day take a mortal for. her husband. Brunhilda was. terrified that she might have to wed some coward, and so Odin, in pity, carried her to the top of a mighty mountain, and ringed the mountain round with fire; so that he who would win his way to her must needs be a •brave man. .... .. . .. ■ And here. Brunhilda slept and waited year after year for the coming of her unknown lover. But at last he came.

His name was'Siegfried.' He -been' told by the birds, whose language he could understand, that a beautiful-maid-, eri lay asleep on the summit of the Mountain of Hinderfiall, and that whoever was brave enough to break through the rjng of fire that circled tho mountain and wake her should win her for his wife. His horse was named Greyfell, and he was as gallant and high spirited as his- master. Together the two set out for the mountain, and after many days of hard riding they came within sight of their quest. Up the mountain side they toiled till they reached, the fiery .barrier, and here Greyfell paused and took breath, while the flames roared and. crackled and the black smoke shut out the blue sky above. •Siegfried leant forward in the saddle and whispered, a word in Greyfell’s ear, and then the two of ..them dashed forward into the > flames. On, on they galloped until the barrier ;was safely passed and they saw just above, them on xhe crest of the., mountain the shining walls of the castle where Brunhilda lay asleep. Siegfried dismounted, and entered the castle gate. In the 'up e . 1 courtyard he came upon a figure m full armour fast asleep. He approached the sleeping form and gently removed the helmet. It was Brunhilda. She stirred when he spoke to her and when she heard from his own lips how he had ridden through the fire and smoke to find her, she knew at once that this was the hero whom it was destined.- from the beginning that she should marry. , , ’ f That was the greatest adventure ot Siegfried’s adventurous life. And you can be sure that Greyfell never forgot the day when he carried his master through the ring of fire.

NOT TO BE BRIBED. In the reign of Charles H. Hull had for its member of Parliament Andrew Marvell,.the poet, a man of exceptional, honesty and ability. The King had a high.-appreciation of Marvells talents, and was anxious to obtain 'his ; help in Parliament against the people, whom he had hitherto served most faithfully. Unfortunately, the King had not so high an .opinion of Marvell’s honesty jand patriotism as he had of his ability, and he thought it. would be possible to win him to his . side by the offer of a bribe. So he sent the Lord Treasurer, Danby, to Marvell’s humble lodgings in "the Strand to see what he could accomplish in the matter! . - The Lord Treasurer groped up he narrow-stairs leading to the apartment on the seeondvfioor where Marvell resided, and stumbled awkwardly,into his room. He found the statesman at his desk, and, after apologising for disturbing Hm, told him'that he had been .sent by LLfs-Majesty, who had a high opinion of his character and wished to appoint him to some important and well-paid office. Marvell knew quite well that the king could only make this offer to draw him’ aside from his duty to the people who had elected liiih, and therefore, while he.returned? thanks, to the king, he declined tttisoffeh' The'Minister find-. ing that this proposal was of no avail, told him that the king, had given orders for a thousand guineas' td'.'be paid to him as a mark of the. appreciation in which his royal master held him. Marvell declined this offer, too, as he had declined the first, remarking at the same time that he had no meed of such a gift, as his mode of living was quite <rood enough for ’his modest desires. In proof of this he called up his servant and said to him, “IA hat (had I for dinner yesterday ?” ; . “A shoulder of mutton, sir, was the answer. “And what shall I have to-dayT ask--ed Marvell.;- ' - .' - “Some of the remainder hashed, re-, plied the servant.. _ Marvell allowed the servant to withdraw, and then, turning to the Lord Treasurer, said: “To-morrow, my Lord, I shall have the blade-bone broiled.” The Lord Treasurer had sense enough to see that a man so. frugal, so outspoken, and so honest, was not to be won by bribes, and he returned to tell the king what he had seen and heard. As for .Marvell, though he never attained to wealth or to a title, (he remained faithful, to his duty to the last, and he left a name which has ever since been honoured as that of a patriot who valued his character more than all the riches which could be offered him.