THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501200097
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Tell me a Story
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
Tell Me A Story is a series of tales, adapted by Amy Friedman and illustrated by Jillian Gilliland, that are suitable for children to read with their parents, friends, or alone.
ONCE UPON A TIME a generous and kind man wished to reward his servant for years of faithful service. And so he gave him his freedom, and also gave him a ship full of spices, food, clothes and jewels. Then the man said to his servant, ``Sail away with these treasures. Sell your goods, and whatever you receive from them is yours to keep.''
The servant boarded his ship and sailed away across the wide blue ocean.
He had not been at sea long when a storm came up and blew his ship onto the rocks. The ship crashed into pieces, and the cargo floated away. The servant was unhurt and managed to swim to an island nearby. There he collapsed on the sand.
When he awoke he was terrified and lonely, with nothing left of his treasures but a small sack of food and a jar of water. He began to walk across the desolate island, looking for signs of life.
At last he came to a beautiful city. He walked through the gates and began to wander the narrow streets. At first, no one noticed him, but the streets began to fill with people.
Suddenly one young man called, ``Welcome!'' Others joined his call. ``Welcome! Our king has come!'' they cried. ``Long live our king!''
Before the servant knew what was happening, the people brought a gilded chariot drawn by two prancing horses. They lifted him into the chariot and led it to an exquisite palace. Many gathered and bowed low to him. ``We are your servants,'' they said, and they dressed him in fine garments.
The people called him king. ``We are obedient to your every wish,'' they said.
The man was amazed and confused. In the middle of the night he awoke and stared at the glittering dome of jewels on the ceiling above him. ``I must be living in a dream,'' he said to himself, sinking into the soft, warm bed and then falling into a deep and restful sleep.
He was wakened in the morning by footmen walking through his doorway, carrying silver trays of fresh fruit. He leaned against his pillows and smiled happily. ``If this is a dream,'' he said to himself, ``I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts.''
But days passed, and each day was more wonderful than the one before. Musicians played beautiful music for him. Servants read to him. Footmen fed him the finest foods. He began to believe he must be living real life.
``It seems this dream will never end,'' he thought, and he called to his bedside an adviser he had come to trust.
``Friend,'' he said, ``please tell me how this can be happening. I am only a poor wanderer, a former servant. No one here ever saw me before I landed on your shore and happened upon your city. How can you make me your king? I feel as though I must be living in a dream, yet each day the dream seems more real. Why is this happening?''
His adviser bowed to him and smiled. ``Dear king,'' he said, ``this island is inhabited by spirits. Long ago our people prayed that a son of man might come to rule over us. When you landed here, our prayers were answered. Every year a son of man comes to us. We place him on the throne and treat him as well as we are able. But when the year is over, the power is lost. At the end of this year, we will take your robes and put you on a ship, and you will travel by sea to a faraway island. When you reach the island, you will have no friends. You may live a lonely life. As for us, we will select a new king.''
The man listened carefully; he believed his friend. All that had happened had seemed a dream, and like all dreams, this one, he knew, might end. ``Who was king before I came?'' he asked.
``Many have been king, and everyone who came before you was careless. Each enjoyed his power while it lasted. But they did not plan wisely or well. They forgot that the year would come to an end.''
All that day and the next, the former servant thought over his adviser's words, weighing them carefully. He felt sad that he had wasted these past few weeks. Again he called his adviser to his bedside.
``Please tell me how I can prepare for the future.''
``You came to us in old clothes,'' said the man. ``You will go to the desolate island in old clothes. But for now you are king. For now you may do whatever you please. I suggest you send workmen to the island to prepare a home for you. They will turn bare soil into fruitful fields. They will build themselves homes and shops. They will create a new kingdom, and when you come, you will be welcomed. You must use all your energy and strength to prepare for the future. You must use your great power wisely and well.''
So the king sent people and materials to the desolate island. He had other people begin building a fine sailing ship. Before the year had ended, the fields on the island were plowed and sown, and the people had built homes and shops.
While the king waited for his year to end, he looked forward to his future with pleasure, for he knew he would live a life he had made for himself.
The year came to a close. At the end of the last day, the people came to the palace. They demanded that their king shed his robes. They took his crown. They gave him his old clothes and sent him away.
Then he boarded his new ship and set sail for the faraway island.
When he came to the shore, he saw the people he had sent waiting for him. They waved and called out their greetings. Music played, and they danced with joy.
The former servant landed upon the island, and new friends greeted him and welcomed him home. ILLUSTRATION: B\W Illustration
by CNB