HOW ALEXANDER THE KING GOT THE WATER OF LIFE
HOW ALEXANDER THE KING GOT THE WATER OF LIFE[16]
THIS story is part of a longer one called "Alexander the Son of Philip." Alexander, a little bootblack living in modern Athens, is befriended by a blind old schoolmaster, Kyr Themistocli, to whom he promises to come each day and read the daily newspaper. For this service the little "Aleko" is to be helped with his lessons. By way of getting acquainted the old man asks, "Tell me, now, what do they call you?"
"They call me Aleko."
"From where?"
"My mother lives in Megaloupolis, and I was born there and the little ones, but my father was not from there."
Kyr Themistocli noticed the past tense.
"He is dead, your father?"