lack Swan

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

One of the most popular activities of the citizens and visitors was to go to Castle Lake and watch the beautiful swans. They would throw crumbs and take pictures. Artists would even come to the lake to draw the swans.

The Baron believed the old childhood story that when the swans paraded around Castle Lake it was a sign that all was well in Lilliland.

The Baron had a groundskeeper whose job is was to feed the swans and count them and, of course, keep them all happy and healthy. One day the groundskeeper had something unusual to report about the swans. He told the Baron that a black swan had arrived on Castle Lake and joined the parade of swans around the lake. The Baron wanted to see the black swan for himself and invited his fiancée Lady Angela of Alpine Castle to come along with him.

When they both saw the black swan they were delighted how beautiful he was. The Baron could not recall ever seeing a black swan in Lilliland before. Professor Hamblin, the Baron’s chief advisor, was asked to look into the historical background of Lilliland to see if there was any mention of a black swan visiting previously.

The Professor reported that there was a vague mention of a black swan visiting some 50 years ago. There was even some mention in local folklore that when a black swan visited for the entire summer, it meant good fortune came to all who saw him.

Folklore was a made up story told from one generation to the next without any truth to it. But once in a great while a small fraction of truth did occur that made the story worth repeating. What could the visit of a black swan have to do with good fortune? Everyone knew that good fortune came to those who worked hard, saved their money and had a little bit of luck.

The Baron asked the groundskeeper to keep a watchful eye on the black swan to make sure that it was safe and well fed every day along with the rest of the swans.

Someone in a rowboat tried to catch the swan but the swan himself put an end to that idea. He honked loudly and bit the man on the hand. The Baron had his boat impounded and put in storage for the rest of the summer until the owner promised to behave himself.

The summer was finally over and the black swan flew away. Everyone wondered about the good fortune promised in the old folklore story since the swan stayed all summer. The Baron privately turned to Lady Angela and said that he was guaranteed good fortune because he was so deeply much in love with her.