An island story; a child's history of England . hur with him, JNIerlin turned and strode outof the hall, and all the nobles followed him. As theypassed through the streets, the people of the town and thewomen and children followed too. On they went, thecrowd growing bigger and bigger, till they reached thegreat door of the cathedral. There Merlin stopped, andthe knights and nobles gathered around him ; those behindpushing and pressing forward, eager to see what washappening. There was indeed something wonderful to be front of the doorway was a large stone which had notbeen there befor
An island story; a child's history of England . hur with him, JNIerlin turned and strode outof the hall, and all the nobles followed him. As theypassed through the streets, the people of the town and thewomen and children followed too. On they went, thecrowd growing bigger and bigger, till they reached thegreat door of the cathedral. There Merlin stopped, andthe knights and nobles gathered around him ; those behindpushing and pressing forward, eager to see what washappening. There was indeed something wonderful to be front of the doorway was a large stone which had notbeen there before. Standing upright in the stone was asword, the hilt of which glittered with gems. Beneathit was written, Whoso can draw me from this stone isthe rightful king of Britain. One after another the nobles tried to remove thesword. They pulled and tugged till their muscles strained and struggled till they were hot and breath-less, for each one was anxious to be king. But it was altin vain. The sword remained firm and fast in the HE STOOD THERE HOLDING THE MAGIC SWOBD IN HIS HAND THE COMING OF ARTHUR 53 Then last of all Arthur tried. He took the sword bythe hilt and drew it from the stone quite easily. A cry of wonder went through the crowd, and thenobles fell back in astonishment leaving a clear spaceround the king. Then as he stood there, holding themagic sword in his hand, the British nobles one afteranother knelt to Arthur, acknowledging him to be theirlord. Be thou the king and we will work thy will,Who love thee. Then the king in low deep tonesAnd simple words of great authorityBound them by so strait vows to his own selfThat when they rose, knighted from kneeling, someWere pale as at the passing of a ghost,Some flushed, and others dazed, as one Avho wakesHalf-blinded at the coming of a light. Arthur was only fifteen when he was made king, buthe was the bravest, wisest and best king that had everruled in Britain. As soon as he was crowned, he deter-mined to
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Keywords: ., bookauthormarshall, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1906
