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A SoutH ATFRICAN STORY FOR CHILDREN.

NCE upon a time, when the fairies were still m this Jand, and the black man had not been driven inland away {rom the sea-shore, a mighty King called all his chiefs together te witness a contest between the four strongest, bravest, and handsomecst of the young men of all his subjects. The prize was the King’s

youngest daughter—the black-cyed Lala-—

and the one of these four who should throw the assegai the furthest should win her for his bride.

Many princes and chiefs and their followers assembled at the King’s village by the sea, and many days went by m feasting and mn choosing four from all that host, who were at the same time the strongest, bravest, and most handsome there.

At last these four were chosen. Three of them were sons of great chieftains, but the fourth was only a poor herdsman. Yect the Princess Lala, who stood at her father’s hut, thought him the best of them all. A sandy plain that stretched between the mountains was chosen, and the four champions stood n a row ready to throw. The first threw his assegai so well that it fell upright into an ant- hill far, far away. The second assegal stood

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quiverimg m the bark of a young fir trcc many paces beyond the ant-hill.

The spear of the third pierced the Dreast of a gold and green sugar-bird that was fluttering over a tall aloe Dblossom still further away. But the herdsman, who was fourth, threw his assegal so vigorously that 1t flew like a flash of lghtning up into the heavens, and struck a hawk that was soaring there 1n search of prey.

Loud were the acclamations of the people, and they adjudged the fourth the winner. The Irincess wept for joy, but the great King, who did not wish his daughter to wed a humble herdsman, sard :—

“Jet them throw again with spears that [ shall give them. This man’s weapon was surcly bewitched.”

So on the morrow the King sent for fresh spears of gold. And to the princes were oiven splendid, equally-balanced ones; but the herdsman’s was clumsy and untrue. Again they threw, and agamn the herdsman’s assegai out-distanced those of the others. This time it flew into the clouds, and was lost to sight n their whiteness.

But the King was unjust, and sad: “ Not till you have found the spear, and bring it to my feet, shall you win my daughter, the beautiful Lala. Go!l”

The Princess clung to her father and wept, saying she loved this gallant herdsman; but the King took her arms from round his neck, and bade her go. To disobey the King meant death, and the girl went.

Thus Zandilli, the herdsman, set out in scarch of the royal assegai. He wandered