The Jester and His Bird.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 25, 21 December 1907, Page 47

The Jester and His Bird.

Once upon a time in a palace far away, there was born to a king and queen a very ugly son. So ugly indeed was he, that as he grew up and his plainness became more marked, notiody had a good word to say for him. and though he had a kind heart and was always ready to help those in need, not one person would admit that he was of any use in the world. Evon the king and queen turned from him with a shudder. They had other sons and daughters, who were beautiful, strong and straight, and fair to look upon, so in time they almost forgot that the sad-looking youth they saw about the palace belonged to them, while if they noticed a wistful, lonely look on his ugly face, they would shrug their shoulders and say. if they thought about it at all:—“Oh. he wants his dinner, that is all that is the matter with him.” And they were right, too. in a way. for that was the trouble. He was hungry, very hungry, indeed, but not for the food which was supplied to satisfy his wants. He was craving for a few kind words, or a little affection, and if the queenmother or one of his sisters would have taken the trouble to give him a good hug and pet him up a little, they would have been surprised to see his gratitude. They would not even let him have a nice long name, like the rest of the princes, but everybody called lihn Neppo when they spoke to him. which was so rarely that it did not seem to matter much what he was called. One loved him. however. He had one faithful friend. possessing a devotion which was beautiful to see. and though the courtiers made mock of the bond, it W’as a bond none could break. It wa« a bird—a big grey parrot —who was Neppo's constant companion, and though I expect you will say, “Pooh! what is the love of a bird, indeed?” the love an I 11list of a heart, even of a parrot’s heart, which is, of course, very tiny, is of value so long as it is genuine. and the love of this parrot for hi.* master was very genuine indeed. Thev had been together a long white.

for Neppo was quite a lad when ho went to the rescue of the parrot, who was held firmly in the mouth of one of the royal cats. And after that he nursed and tended the bird, until the wounds on her .body had healed ami -she was able to fly without pain or dUticulty. But when Neppo opened the window - of the room so as to give her her freedom.*she (just went a little way across the lawn and as the young man, thinking she had gone for good, followed her into the garden, she Hew' down and perched on his shoulder and never left him*afterwards. As time went on, however, Neppo felt he could not longer remain at the palace, .where he was scorned and made fun of, fo he sought the queen-mother and told her of his desire to see other places. “Perhaps in distant lands 1 may find those as ugly, or nearly as ugly as myself,” he said hopefully, “but here everybody is so beautiful, and I am lonely.” “Oh yes, go away if you wish to,” the queen answered him, ‘but 1 can’t spare much money now for your travelling expenses. Your sisters are to be married and ] must buy, besides new clothes for them, a fresh robe of gold to wear at the wedding. So don’t ask me for much, I beg.” “1 ask for nothing.” Neppo answered, “nothing, at least, but what you will readily spare. Let me take the parrot, niy dear, faithful friend, and 1 shall be content.” “Certainly, the bird is yours,” replied the queen. “But what a strange youth you are! I low will you and your bird live? Are your pockets now full of gold ” “No, indeed,” Neppo said. “But I could not take your money, Mother dear. That would be too bad. Besides, 1 intend to work. 1 shall go to a palace far away and find some employment.” “And what work do you think you could do?” asked his mother. “Who will engage you?” “1 shall go as a jester, with cap and bells,” replied Neppo. “One is always well paid for being the cause of mirth in others. They need only look at me to smile.” “If you decide to be a court jester, why not remain here?” asked the queen, who now felt she would like to talk more .with her odd son, but the young man jßhook his head. “My jests would not be jests here,” he told her. “and no one would laugh. 4. am too well known. No, 1 must wander far away.” So Neppo departed, and true to his Word he took with him nothing but a cap and bells and the parrot, who would not have consented to remain behind, even if such a thing had been desired. And from early morn until nightfall they walked. Sometimes the bird fiew on (ihead, but at other times she perched herself on her master’s shoulder and during the hot sunny afternoons she would •have a good sleep while he trudged on steadily. After many days they came to a palace built on the summit of a hill, so that it commanded a view of many miles, and there Neppo decided to try his luck. Accordingly lie climbed up the steep road that led* to the drawbridge, ami then he slowly entered tin courtyard. There in front of the great door of the palace was the royal carriage, and Neppo could see at once by the number of the outriders and attendants waiting that it was only a princess who (Was to be taken out. not a king or queen. lAnd as he stood wondering to himFelf what she could be like, the doors were Hung open and the young and most beautiful Princess Volta appeared. No words can describe liqw lovely she was. nor in what her great charm consisted. Perhaps it was in her glorious eyes, or her wavy hair, or. again, in the graciousimss of her smile, which, however, only app<‘are»l when she caught sight of Neppo and his strange companion. “ Oh —h! What a funny pair! ” she exclaimed, and then, fearing her frankness had given offence, she looked sorry. “ 1 ex|>cct you are very weary,” she Baid, “ for you look as though you had come many miles —you and your pretty bird. Are you not afraiti she will fly a wa y ? ” But Neppo shook his head. “ Her love for me keej»s her at my side,” he explained, and the princess nodded. “Are you travelling for pleasure?” Bhe inquired, but as she spoke she caught Fight of his cap and l>ells, so she asked another question. 4 ‘ Perhaps you come to Jhis palace with a message,” she went on; or. maybe, you are in the service of another king?” “ No,” said Neppo. <; I have left my own court far i>ehind me, and 1 have set •ut in seal ch of aork,”

“Work?” queried the princess, “work as a jester? That would be good news, indeed, for our court jester has become so old that lie is past jesting nowadays. If he attempts to do so, either the jest is one we know so well we could weep to hear it again, or, if it is a new one, he mumbles it so that all its point is lost. He has been pensioned off now—so there is work for you and a home for you and your bird, if you will stay.” So Neppo stayed in the palace that was the dwelling-place of the Princess Volta, and at length he began to count as a blank any day on which he did not win a smile from Iler Royal Highness, or a tender glance from her bright eyes. She was always so good and considerate to him, and never once did she appear to notice the plainness of his face nor the sadness of his voice, which, as time went on, became very sad indeed, for poor Neppo learnt to love her dearly, and yet he knew it would be useless to speak of his attachment. It was true he was a prince of royal birth, so that in rank he was quite her equal, but he had neither great wealth nor a tine position to offer, and whilst he was receiving a weekly wage from the royal purse for his efforts to make her laugh, how eould he tell her of the feelings hidden within his heart? Even the parrot showed her wisdom by fluttering round the pretty’ princess whenever she could get near, and Her Royal Highness rewarded the bird’s devotion by many a tit-bit saved from the court banquet expressly for her. But although the chief pleasure Neppo had consisted in serving the princess and sometimes making her smile, he was sure at last it would he right for him to go away, as lie knew the affection he felt towards her eould never be returned; so late one night, when all were asleep, lie stayed up and collected the few treasures he had amassed during his stay at the palace, and holding his bird gently in one hand, he crept away, and was soon on the hard road again, without, however, money or friends—at least, so he thought. And he went on and on, until after much wandering he came to a small village on the edge of a forest, and the people there, when he attempted to move on after a short rest, entreated him to remain. “ Stay with us as a teller of fairy tales,” they begged. “We have no palace here, so you cannot be the court jester, but when our work is done we have many- hours of idleness. We will each pay you a little, so you shall not starve, and yonder is the forest where you can roam when seeking a fresh idea with which to interest us. You and your bird shall be greatly honoured.” Neppo’s heart was so heavy that he felt all places were alike to him while he was separated from his beloved princess, so he accepted the invitation of the villagers to dwell among them, and it was, as thev had suggested, a constant pleasure for him to wander in the forest, and while his bird perched on the branches of a tree near, to sit among the flowers and arrange another story with which to gladden his listeners. But one day, as lie returned as usual to his cottage, he was surprised to see smoke arising from the chimney, and the clinking sound of china told clearly that somebody was laying the tea—his tea, that he always took alone. Hurrying forward, he stared in at the door, and how much more he stared when he saw that his visitor was none other than the Princess Volta, who was herself making the toast —just as though she quite enjoyed it, too. •‘Your Royal Highness! ’’ cried Neppo. “ Oh, how glad I am to see you! ” “ You see," she answered, with a saucy toss of her head, “ you went away from me, but I had to follow you.” ”1 went. Princess,” he explained, “because 1 loved you, and had nothing to offer you but myself.” “ And 1 came after you because I loved you,” she said, gently. “Do not send me away-” “ Will you marry me and spend your life in this cottage, weaving fairy tales for the people? ” he asked. “ It. is no life for a princess, dear.” “ But it is,” she insisted, “ if the princess marries —as 1 am going to—the prince whom she loves.” “How did you know I was a prince?” lie asked her, and she laughed as he drew her face close to his. “ Because I heard the parrot call you by your name one day when you were asleep in the garden.” Neppo looked at the bird reproachfully. “Oh. Pollie. did you?’’ But the parrot’s eyes were shut.

Myra Hamilton.