412 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
all over with it, while ice-cold water is administered judiciously 
as a medicine with each meal, They wear cotton garments 
as coarse as sacks next the skin, and have to eat foods which 
abound with nitrogenous proteids, such as meat, cheese, milk, 
fish, peas, beans, and lentils. 
. 
** Time was when reigned a certain King, whose fame 
For playful wisdom has outlived his name ; 
A King, who, ruling seldom with the rod, 
Guided his people gladsomely to God. 
Close upon Candlemas, one happy Spring, 
When Court and subjects gathered round the King, 
He proclamation made, by royal command, 
Which stirred an impulse throughout all the land : 
‘ Know by these presents ’"—spake the sovereign wil!— 
‘ Whoso, by Christmas-tide shall best fulfil 
Our goodly purpose, he shall guerdon bear 
Of golden treasure, and our favour share. 
‘ Whoso with most success shall kindly rear 
What brightest is, and best within the year, 
What we may judge the purest, whitest thing, 
He shall be named the victor by the King.’ 
Such was the edict: and ambition then 
Began to occupy the minds of men, 
Each striving, in his rank, by healthful ways, 
To cherish what might win him highest praise. 
So the realm prospered,—homestead, field, and fold— 
As months passed on, through hope of promised gold 
For him who finally the prize should bring 
Of truest spotlessness to please the King. 
Then Christmas came, whilst yet the land was green, 
And lingering tints of verdure still were seen, 
A bracing spell of sun, and sparkling rime, 
Ere bleakest winter had its hardest time. 
And now, at noon, on the great Noel day, 
The choicest claimants from the large array 
Of all who thronged to seek the King’s award 
Stood proudly eager in the Palace yard : 
A simple workman, who, with loving pains, 
Had lavished on a flower his little gains 
Week after week, now laid a lily sweet, 
With pearly petals, at his monarch’s feet : 
A gentle youth, whose soul was set above 
Mere earthly scholarship, had fed a dove, 
Which, stainless and unsullied from the nest, 
He reverent placed within the monarch’s breast. 
