KING ALFRED AND THE BEGGAR


At one time the Danes drove King Alfred from his kingdom, and he had

to lie hidden for a long time on a little is-land in a river.



One day, all who were on the is-land, except the king and queen and

one servant, went out to fish. It was a very lonely place, and no one

could get to it except by a boat. About noon a ragged beggar came to

the king's door, and asked for food.



The king called the
servant, and asked, "How much food have we in the

house?"



"My lord," said the servant, "we have only one loaf and a little

wine."



Then the king gave thanks to God, and said, "Give half of the loaf and

half of the wine to this poor man."



The servant did as he was bidden. The beggar thanked the king for his

kindness, and went on his way.



In the after-noon the men who had gone out to fish came back. They had

three boats full of fish, and they said, "We have caught more fish

to-day than in all the other days that we have been on this island."



The king was glad, and he and his people were more hopeful than they

had ever been before.



When night came, the king lay awake for a long time, and thought about

the things that had happened that day. At last he fancied that he saw

a great light like the sun; and in the midst of the light there stood

an old man with black hair, holding an open book in his hand.



It may all have been a dream, and yet to the king it seemed very real

indeed. He looked and wondered, but was not afraid.



"Who are you?" he asked of the old man.



"Alfred, my son, be brave," said the man; "for I am the one to whom

you gave this day the half of all the food that you had. Be strong and

joyful of heart, and listen to what I say. Rise up early in the

morning and blow your horn three times, so loudly that the Danes may

hear it. By nine o'clock, five hundred men will be around you ready to

be led into battle. Go forth bravely, and within seven days your

en-e-mies shall be beaten, and you shall go back to your kingdom to

reign in peace."



Then the light went out, and the man was seen no more.



In the morning the king arose early, and crossed over to the mainland.

Then he blew his horn three times very loudly; and when his friends

heard it they were glad, but the Danes were filled with fear.



At nine o'clock, five hundred of his bravest soldiers stood around him

ready for battle. He spoke, and told them what he had seen and heard

in his dream; and when he had fin-ished, they all cheered loudly, and

said that they would follow him and fight for him so long as they had

strength.



So they went out bravely to battle; and they beat the Danes, and drove

them back into their own place. And King Alfred ruled wisely and well

over all his people for the rest of his days.



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