Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-04-05
The Enchanted Horn.



lived simple wOod-cutter, he was very poor.
and it required the greatest economy and in
dustry upon his part. to provide his family
/ even with The necessaries Of life. lie had set-
eral sons, but with one exception, they were
lazy aud indolent fellows and proved rather a
burden to the wood-cu,ter, than a blessing
Fritz the youngest son, was the only worthy
one among them and were it not for the aid
and assistance lie gave to the family, the father
would have been discouraged altogether.
One cold, bleak day, Fritz having accom-
panied the Wood-cutter far into The depths Of
the forest, by some circumstance, they became
separated from each other. The young man
wandered about for long time, and fnally
became bewildered aud lost.
At last be came to an odd looking stone hut
that to all appearances hnd long been deserted.
The bushes and briars had grown up abont it
in such manner as to nearly conceal It from
view. Fritz made his way shrough them
however, and entered the lonely, low building.
There was nothing about tie interior that
either pleased or interested him, and he turned
to leave it. As be passed out Of the low door
way, he saw an old horn that lay half buried
in the earth, he picked it up bit found it so
much filled aud cogged with dit that it
would emit no sound. He was about to cast II
away from him in disgust, but upon second
thought he concluded to carry It alsng with
him, thinking that he might make use Of it in
the future A short time after he came upon
a well-traveled road leading through the forest
which, though unfamiliar to him, seemed to
lead out Of the woods.
Following this Tor long distance he came
ed the earth out of the horn and, upon putting
! the instrument to lis mouth, lie discovered
that it was capable Of making singular
sound when blown upon, that produced q re-
markable effect upon all surrounding objects.
The rushing and falling Of the water sounded
like a person inordiuatcly laughing. The
trees swayed forward and backward, the birds
fitted about in the air as If something possess
ed them and the little animals Of the wood,
jumped and skipped about upon the ground
with the most odd and fantastic movements.
Fritz was delighted, and for a considerable
time he continued to amuse himself with
his wonderful horn. At last he rose up
aud in lively spirits resumed his journey. He
soon came 10 an open and thick ySettled
country, and upon questioning those whom he
met, he was told that he was near the kings
castle.
Now, it was the FIRST day OF the year, and
the king had made great preparations for
feastins and mcrry-making, but when the
morning Of the New Year dlwned, although
it was a bright and beautiful one, there was Il
weird and oppressive sense of gloom and mel
ancholy that troubled and haunted all those in
and about the kings household. In vain did
the court testers repeat all Of the witty things
they knew Their every efforts to be gay
SCtlltA W lllhhS NNti NuI AphAN bhStit lilDlt
wretched aud miserable and the entertain
ments and pleasures that had been prepated
for the great holiday, seemed all likely to be-
come failures.
In the midst of this dismal scene, Fritz was
brought into the kings presence, who re-
garded him with a stern and sullen frowu.-
The.queen sighed, the princess wiped her eyes
with her apron, the fools groaned, the attend
auts wruug their hands, and the dogs howled.
Fritz putting bis magic horn TO his lips,
played to the company lively air The
banrsrs over head began to wave. The
torches in the hands Of the kings attendants
began to fare Tue king broke into a loud
laugh The queen smiled and looked extremely
silly. The fools burst into loud roar and
shook their sides with rrepressibls delight
The fair princess dried her eye. and commence
ed to dance up and down the hall 10 a most
lively fashion, and was Immediately joined in
her fantastic and sprightly movements by the
kings confessor and high chamberlain. The
grave, old men of the court looked pleasant
and The children happy, and even the very
dogs skipped about The room and would have
laughed outright if they could have done So
without wholly sacrificing thei- dignity.
The day was ono OF ihirth; fea:tng, and Joy
as we'll as many other days were that followed
it. And when, at last, Fritz was permitted to
return to his home. The king so literally re-
warded him that he had the means Of making
his aged parents happy and comfortable to the
end Of their days, and this was all in a horn.
MORAL
Happiness is often found at times and 10
places when and where it is least expected
The meanest and most Insignificant things
that we stumble upon as they lie in our way
may often be the means Of our greatest pros
perity. Never despise or cast away anything
that comes into your possession, however
worthless !! may seem to you in appearance,
until you are certain that it is incapable Of
serving any useful purpose. Eageae 2. HdH.
smile costs tie giver nothing, yet i; Is be-
yond price to the erring and relenting, The sad
aud cheetleSs, the lost and forsaken. 1t dis
arms malice. subdues temper, ttrns enmity to
love, revenge to kindness, and paves the dark