3
It is said, that in the days of the cele-
brated Prince Arthur, who was king of
Britain in the year 516, there lived a
great magician, called Merlin, the most
learned and skilful enchanter in the world
at that time.
This famous magician, who could as-
sume any form he pleased, was travelling
in the disguise of a poor beggar, and be-
ing very much fatigued, he stopped at
the cottage of an honest ploughman to
rest himself, and asked for some refresh-
ment.
The countryman gave him a hearty
welcome, and his wife, who was a very
good-hearted, hospitable woman, soon
brought him some milk in a wooden bowl,
and some coarse brown bread on a plat-
ter.
Merlin was much pleased with this
homely repast, and the kindesss of the
ploughman and his wife; but he could
not help observing, that though every
thing was neat and comfortable in the
cottage, they seemed both to be very dis-
pirited and unhappy. He therefore
questioned them on the cause of their
melancholy, and learned that they were
