THE BELL OF ATRI
In olden times there lived in Italy a kind-hearted king. He was sorry for any trouble that came to his people, and did all he could to make them happy. Because of his goodness the people called him Good King John.
“I wish all of my people to be just,” said the king. “And I wish every one to be treated justly.”
Not all of his people were as good as King John himself. Many did wrongs to their neighbors. And the neighbors complained to the good King.
“I will set up a great bell in the market place,” said the King at last. “If any one is wronged, let him ring the bell. He shall have justice.”
So the King had a large bell set up in the market place, where any one could ring it. Then he appointed a good judge to right the people’s wrongs.
Many people rang the bell in the years that followed. All received justice and went away happy. The bell was used so much that the rope was worn away little by little. At last it became so short that many people could not reach it. Then some one fastened a piece of grape vine to the rope.
Now, there lived in Atri an old Knight. In his younger days he had loved to hunt, and had kept many horses and dogs. Now he could hunt no more, and so sold all his horses except the one he had liked best.
It happened that the old Knight began to think of nothing but money. He wished to be very rich.
“What is the use of keeping this one horse?” he asked himself. “He does nothing but eat and sleep. It costs too much to keep him. I will turn him out to look after himself.”