Maximilian and the Goose Boy

by James Baldwin

　　

---

One summer day King Max-i-mil´ian of Ba-va´ri-a was walking in thecountry. The sun shone hot, and he stopped under a tree to rest.It was very pleasant in the cool shade. The king lay down on the softgrass, and looked up at the white clouds sailing across the sky. Thenhe took a little book from his pocket and tried to read.But the king could not keep his mind on his book. Soon his eyesclosed, and he was fast asleep.It was past noon when he awoke. He got up from his grassy bed, andlooked around. Then he took his cane in his hand, and started forhome.When he had walked a mile or more, he happened to think of his book.He felt for it in his pocket. It was not there. He had left it underthe tree.The king was already quite tired, and he did not like to walk back sofar. But he did not wish to lose the book. What should he do?If there was only some one to send for it!While he was thinking, he happened to see a little bare-foot-ed boy inthe open field near the road. He was tending a large flock of geesethat were picking the short grass, and wading in a shallow brook.The king went toward the boy. He held a gold piece in his hand."My boy," he said, "how would you like to have this piece of money?""I would like it," said the boy; "but I never hope to have so much.""You shall have it if you will run back to the oak tree at the secondturning of the road, and fetch me the book that I left there."The king thought that the boy would be pleased. But not so. He turnedaway, and said, "I am not so silly as you think.""What do you mean?" said the king. "Who says that you are silly?""Well," said the boy, "you think that I am silly enough to believethat you will give me that gold piece for running a mile, andfetch-ing you a book. You can't catch me.""But if I give it to you now, perhaps you will believe me," said theking; and he put the gold piece into the little fellow's hand.The boy's eyes spar-kled; but he did not move."What is the matter now?" said the king. "Won't you go?"The boy said, "I would like to go; but I can't leave the geese. Theywill stray away, and then I shall be blamed for it.""Oh, I will tend them while you are away," said the king.The boy laughed. "I should like to see you tending them!" he said."Why, they would run away from you in a minute.""Only let me try," said the king.At last the boy gave the king his whip, and started off. He had gonebut a little way, when he turned and came back."What is the matter now?" said Max-i-mil-ian."Crack the whip!"The king tried to do as he was bidden, but he could not make a sound."I thought as much," said the boy. "You don't know how to doanything."Then he took the whip, and gave the king lessons in whip cracking."Now you see how it is done," he said, as he handed it back. "If thegeese try to run away, crack it loud."The king laughed. He did his best to learn his lesson; and soon theboy again started off on his errand.Maximilian sat down on a stone, and laughed at the thought of being agoose-herd. But the geese missed their master at once. With a greatcac-kling and hissing they went, half flying, half running, across themeadow.The king ran after them, but he could not run fast. He tried to crackthe whip, but it was of no use. The geese were soon far away. What wasworse, they had gotten into a garden, and were feeding on the tenderveg-e-ta-bles.A few minutes after-ward, the goose boy came back with the book."Just as I thought," he said. "I have found the book, and you havelost the geese.""Never mind," said the king, "I will help you get them again.""Well, then, run around that way, and stand by the brook while I drivethem out of the garden."The king did as he was told. The boy ran forward with his whip, andafter a great deal of shouting and scolding, the geese were drivenback into the meadow."I hope you will pardon me for not being a better goose-herd," saidMaximilian; "but, as I am a king, I am not used to such work.""A king, indeed!" said the boy. "I was very silly to leave the geesewith you. But I am not so silly as to believe that you are a king.""Very well," said Maximilian, with a smile; "here is another goldpiece, and now let us be friends."The boy took the gold, and thanked the giver. He looked up into theking's face and said,--"You are a very kind man, and I think you might be a good king; but ifyou were to try all your life, you would never be a good gooseherd."

---

---