Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year | Page 5

spot where the farmer had found the "pebble,"
and turning over the white sands with eager fingers, they found, to their
great delight, other 15 stones even more valuable and beautiful than the
first. Then they extended their search, and, so the Oriental story goes,
"every shovelful of the old farm, as acre after acre was sifted over,
revealed gems with which to decorate the crowns of emperors and
moguls." 20
--Stories from Life.
1. What is a legend? Distinguish between "legend" and "story." In what
country is the scene of this legend laid?
2. What is your opinion of Ali Hafed? What happened to his family?
3. Do we have any Ali Hafeds in this country to-day? What do we
mean by "Get-rich-quick" schemes? Illustrate.
4. If you were writing this story in these days of intensive farming, in
what form would you have the "diamonds" come to the farmer?

HOW KILHUGH RODE TO ARTHUR'S HALL
By JAMES BALDWIN
This is a British legend of the days "when good King Arthur ruled the
land." In his castle at Caerleon, according to legend, Arthur had
gathered the most famous of his knights about the Round Table; and
thither every aspiring knight journeyed in quest of adventure.
Prince Kilhugh blushed. The love of Olwen, the daughter of Thistlehair,
filled his heart, although he had not heard her name before. His face
flushed with happiness, and his eyes shone with joy.
"What is the matter, my son?" asked his father. "Why 5 are you so gay
and glad?"
"Father," answered Kilhugh, "my stepmother says that no one but
Olwen shall be my wife."
"Well," quoth the king, "I doubt not there will be trouble enough before
that saying comes true. But do 10 not fear, my son. Thou art first
cousin to King Arthur. Who but he should cut thy hair and be thy lord?
Go to him, and crave this of him as a boon."
To Arthur's Hall, therefore, Prince Kilhugh made ready to go; and his
father chose fifty of his bravest knights 15 to go with him, that he
might present himself to King Arthur in a befitting manner.
* * * * *
So gayly the youth rode forth upon a steed of dappled gray, four
summers old, with shell-shaped hoofs and well-knit limbs. His saddle
was of burnished gold, his bridle 20 of shining gold chains. His saddle
cloth was of purple silk, with four golden apples embroidered in the
four corners.
The war horn slung over his shoulder was of ivory; the sword that hung

by his side had a golden hilt and a two-edged 5 blade inlaid with a
cross of gold that glittered like the lightning of heaven. His shoes, from
the knee to the tip of the toe, were embossed with gold worth three
hundred cattle; and his stirrups also were of gold.
In his hand he held two spears, with shafts of silver and 10 heads of
tempered steel, and of an edge so sharp as to wound the wind and cause
the blood to flow. Two white-breasted greyhounds bounded before his
steed. Broad collars set with rubies were on their necks; and to and fro
they 15 sprang, like two sea swallows sporting around him. The blades
of reed grass bent not beneath him, so light was his courser's tread, as
he journeyed toward the gate of Arthur's palace.
* * * * *
The Wide White Hall of Arthur had been built by Rearfort, 20 the
architect. Eight and forty were the rafters of its roof. It would hold all
Arthur's companions and his nobles, his warriors, his retainers, and his
guests.
While Kilhugh was riding thither, the tables were set for the evening
meal. The king, with his knights, his friends, and his attendants, were in
their places around 25 the board. And the gate of the outer court was
locked.
As the prince rode on, he beheld from afar the walls and towers of
Arthur's Hall. When he drew rein within the shadow of the vast portal,
he saw that the door was closed and barred, and an armed warrior,
stalwart and strong, 30 was standing before it.
"O chieftain," he said, "is it King Arthur's custom to have a gatekeeper
stationed here?"
"It is," replied the warrior sternly; "and if thou dost not hold thy peace,
scant shall be thy welcome. I am Arthur's porter every New Year's Day,
and that is why I 5 am here now."
"And who is the porter at other times?" asked Prince Kilhugh.

"At other times the gate is guarded by four lusty chieftains who serve
under me," answered the Dusky Hero with 10 the Mighty Grasp. "The
names of the first two are Blandmien and Speedguest. The third is
Grumgruff, a man who