THE KING AND THE BEGGAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9840, 28 October 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE KING AND THE BEGGAR.

-.AMOKCk tbe vapprstitious belhfs ourrent among* tho natives' of India one of the most firm is that the first face seen after rising in the morning governs the events of the day. Certain faces- are carefully avoided us being extremelj unlucky, and ! to avoid the evil effects of an evil parson the practice is to go to sleep again and rise a second time. The following story is current in Southern India relating to this belief :*— A certain king got up ; early one raornm'j; and directed bis eyes towards tbe streets of the town. Everything was calm, for the day had not yet quite begun, and all thu people were asleep. No person, therefore, was to be seen except a beggar, W.lio Was „engaged, .engaged in- picking up fruit peelings, &6\ Tha King saw the beggar by accident and tho bsgf^nr saw the King by accident. His Majesty turned v-a»ainv -a»ain to bis room, and while 'in tbe act received a knock on bis head, whioh began to bleed ; profusely.' Suddenly he called his servant? and ordered them to fetch the beggar ; whom be had seen and whom be pointed oat. At once the poor mau was brought.' " Nasty wretch that you are," roared His Majesty. " I saw your face this morning and here is the result, ' pointing to his bleeding forehead. "I do not know how many of my aubjeots. see your faco thus every* morning and suffer from broken heads. So instead of suoh a sinful man living in this world and causing the misery of so many people, it would be better that he lose his life, and thus save co many from their miseries. -We condemn you to the atake.2 • ■.1' : t- / ' Thas spokethe King, and soon a thousand hands seized that unfortauate beggar to drag him to the stake. The man, though a beggar, was a ready wit. The sentence pronounced by the King bad emboldened him and made him desperate. "My most noble Sovereign," said l)f>, "I am condemned to the stake tor having oauoed your forehead to bleed. True. £ enrse my life. Very true. What is tbe uso of this miserable being which your Majesty deems to cause the unisery of so many ' of your innocent subjects. You fenow, sire, that a condemned criminal has certain privileges. In justice I crave that those may be allowed to me, and that I be permitted to speak before I am dragged to the stake. Your Majesty saw early, thia morning this beggar aud received v wound on your kingship's forehead. But this ■ beggar saw your lHajesty.in the early morning, and , as tbo result of it is now being condemned to the stake. So I request humbly your ittajesty to consider a little as to which of ours is the more sinful htad." The King and the- people wore thunderstruck at this au lacioas reply. It was not without meaning, and uduairing the boldness and the ready wit of the beggar, the King pardoned him.