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off at once to his father and said； 〃Sir； lo； here is the sword of the stone； I
must be king of the land。〃 But Sir Ector asked him where he got the sword。
And when Sir Kay said； 〃From my brother；〃 he asked Arthur how he got it。
When Arthur told him； Sir Ector bowed his head before him。 〃Now I
understand ye must be king of this land；〃 he said to Arthur。
〃Wherefore I？〃 said Arthur。
〃For God will have it so；〃 said Ector； 〃never man should have drawn
out this sword but he that shall be rightwise king of this land。 Now let me
see whether ye can put the sword as it was in the stone； and pull it out
again。〃
Straightway Arthur put the sword back。
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Then Sir Ector tried to pull it out； and after him Sir Kay； but neither
could stir it。 Then Arthur pulled it out。 Thereupon； Sir Ector and Sir Kay
kneeled upon the ground before him。
〃Alas；〃 said Arthur； 〃mine own dear father and brother； why kneel ye
to me？〃
Sir Ector told him； then； all about his royal birth； and how he had been
taken privily away by Merlin。 But when Arthur found Sir Ector was not
truly his father； he was so sad at heart that he cared not greatly to be king。
And he begged his father and brother to love him still。 Sir Ector asked that
Sir Kay might be seneschal when Arthur was king。 Arthur promised with
all his heart。
Then they went to the archbishop and told him that the sword had
found its master。 The archbishop appointed a day for the trial to be made
in the sight of all men； and on that day the princes and knights came
together； and each tried to draw out the sword； as before。 But as before；
none could so much as stir it。
Then came Arthur； and pulled it easily from its place。
The knights and kings were terribly angry that a boy from nowhere in
particular had beaten them； and they refused to acknowledge him king。
They appointed another day； for another great trial。
Three times they did this； and every time the same thing happened。
At last； at the feast of Pentecost； Arthur again pulled out the sword
before all the knights and the commons。 And then the commons rose up
and cried that he should be king； and that they would slay any who denied
him。
So Arthur became king of Britain； and all gave him allegiance。
TARPEIA
There was once a girl named Tarpeia； whose father was guard of the
outer gate of the citadel of Rome。 It was a time of war；the Sabines were
besieging the city。 Their camp was close outside the city wall。
Tarpeia used to see the Sabine soldiers when she went to draw water
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from the public well； for that was outside the gate。 And sometimes she
stayed about and let the strange men talk with her； because she liked to
look at their bright silver ornaments。 The Sabine soldiers wore heavy
silver rings and bracelets on their left arms；some wore as many as four or
five。
The soldiers knew she was the daughter of the keeper of the citadel；
and they saw that she had greedy eyes for their ornaments。 So day by day
they talked with her； and showed her their silver rings； and tempted her。
And at last Tarpeia made a bargain； to betray her city to them。 She said she
would unlock the great gate and let them in； IF THEY WOULD GIVE
HER WHAT THEY WORE ON THEIR LEFT ARMS。
The night came。 When it was perfectly dark and still； Tarpeia stole
from her bed； took the great key from its place； and silently unlocked the
gate which protected the city。 Outside； in the dark； stood the soldiers of the
enemy； waiting。 As she opened the gate； the long shadowy files pressed
forward silently； and the Sabines entered the citadel。
As the first man came inside； Tarpeia stretched forth her hand for her
price。 The soldier lifted high his left arm。 〃Take thy reward！〃 he said； and
as he spoke he hurled upon her that which he wore upon it。 Down upon
her head crashed not the silver rings of the soldier； but the great brass
shield he carried in battle！
She sank beneath it； to the ground。
〃Take thy reward；〃 said the next； and his shield rang against the first。
〃Thy reward；〃 said the nextand the next and the nextand the next；
every man wore his shield on his left arm。
So Tarpeia lay buried beneath the reward she had claimed； and the
Sabines marched past her dead body； into the city she had betrayed。
THE BUCKWHEAT＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen。
Down by the river were fields of barley and rye and golden oats。
Wheat grew there； too； and the heaviest and richest ears bent lowest； in
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humility。 Opposite the corn was a field of buckwheat； but the buckwheat
never bent； it held its head proud and stiff on the stem。
The wise old willow…tree by the river looked down on the fields； and
thought his thoughts。
One day a dreadful storm came。 The field… flowers folded their leaves
together； and bowed their heads。 But the buckwheat stood straight and
proud。
〃Bend your head； as we do；〃 called the field… flowers。
〃I have no need to；〃 said the buckwheat。
〃Bend your head； as we do！〃 warned the golden wheat…ears； 〃the angel
of the storm is coming； he will strike you down。〃
〃I will not bend my head；〃 said the buckwheat。
Then the old willow…tree spoke： 〃Close your flowers and bend your
leaves。 Do not look at the lightning when the cloud bursts。 Even men
cannot do that； the sight of heaven would strike them blind。 Much less can
we who are so inferior to them！〃
〃‘Inferior；' indeed！〃 said the buckwheat。 〃Now I WILL look！〃 And he
looked straight up； while the lightning flashed across the sky。
When the dreadful storm had passed； the flowers and the wheat raised
their drooping heads； clean and refreshed in the pure； sweet air。 The
willow…tree shook the gentle drops from its leaves。
But the buckwheat lay like a weed in the field； scorched black by the
lightning。
THE JUDGMENT OF MIDAS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Old Greek Folk…Stories； by Josephine Preston
Peabody。 （H