ALFRED THE GREAT
Childhood of Alfred
301. Alfred the Boy. Alfred was born in 849. His mother was a good woman who gave much time and care to her children. Alfred learned early to read and to love books. A story is told of how Alfred won a beautiful book as a prize from his mother for learning to read it sooner than the other children. He spent much time in learning about wise men, in order to become wise himself.
Alfred fights the Danes
As he grew older he found other serious work to do. He aided his brother Ethelred, king of Wessex, to give battle to the Danes, who were moving south. In one battle Alfred led the English "with the rush of a wild boar," and defeated the Danes. Later the Danes drove them back and killed the English king. Alfred now became king of Wessex (871).
The story of the cakes
302. Alfred as King. Soon after Alfred became king his army was beaten and his men fled. With a little band of followers he hid in the marshes and there built a fort on an island. A story is told of how he was lost while wandering alone, and asked for shelter at the hut of a herdsman. The good wife told him to watch some cakes on the fire while she was busy. Alfred was bending his bow and arrows, and forgetting the cakes, let them burn. When she came back and saw the burnt cakes the good wife scolded the king.
"Can't you mind the cakes, man?
And don't you see them burn?
I'm bound you'll eat them fast enough,
As soon as 'tis the turn."
Of course she did not know he was the king or she would not have scolded him.