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MOTTO FOR THE MOTHER

Teach your child that every one
Loves him when he’s good and true,
But that though so dear to others,
He is doubly dear to you.

–Miss Blow’s Mottoes and Commentaries.

Long, long ago there lived, in a kingdom far away, five knights who were
so good and so wise that each one was known by a name that meant
something beautiful.

The first knight was called Sir Brian the Brave. He had killed the great
lion that came out of the forest to frighten the women and children, had
slain a dragon, and had saved a princess from a burning castle; for he
was afraid of nothing under the sun.

The second knight was Gerald the Glad, who was so happy himself that he
made everybody around him happy too; for his sweet smile and cheery
words were so comforting that none could be sad or cross or angry when
he was near.

Sir Kenneth the Kind was the third knight, and he won his name by his
tender heart. Even the creatures of the wood knew and loved him, for he
never hurt anything that God had made.

The fourth knight had a face as beautiful as his name, and he was called
Percival the Pure. He thought beautiful thoughts, said beautiful words,
and did beautiful deeds, for he kept his whole life as lovely as a
garden full of flowers without a single weed.

Tristram the True was the last knight, and he was leader of them all.

The king of the country trusted these five knights; and one morning in
the early spring-time he called them to him and said:–

“My trusty knights, I am growing old, and I long to see in my kingdom
many knights like you to take care of my people; and so I will send you
through all my kingdom to choose for me a little boy who may live at my
court and learn from you those things which a knight must know. Only a
good child can be chosen. A good child is worth more than a kingdom. And
when you have found him, bring him, if he will come willingly, to me,
and I shall be happy in my old age.”

Now the knights were well pleased with the words of the king, and at the
first peep of day they were ready for their journey, and rode down the
king’s highway with waving plumes and shining shields.

No sooner had they started on their journey than the news spread abroad
over the country, and many fathers and mothers who were anxious for the
favor of the king sent messengers to invite the knights to visit them.

The parents’ messages were so full of praises of their children that the
knights scarcely knew where to go. Some of the parents said that their
sons were beautiful; some said theirs were smart; but as the knights
cared nothing for a child who was not good, they did not hurry to see
these children.

On the second day, however, as they rode along, they met a company of
men in very fine clothes, who bowed down before them; and while the
knights drew rein in astonishment, a little man stepped in front of the
others to speak to them.

He was a fat little man, with a fat little voice; and he told the
knights that he had come to invite them to the castle of the Baron
Borribald, whose son Florimond was the most wonderful child in the
world.

“Oh! there is nothing he cannot do,” cried the fat little man whose name
was Puff. “You must hear him talk! You must see him walk!”