The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-28
HOW THE SPELL WAS BROKEN.


It was long, long ago-longer than
you or l can remember. Sweet spring.
with its bright sunshine, its young ten.
der green, had come again. Little
Elsie had watched the transformation.
rs it had crept gradually over the land,
from the window OF her turret chamber,
in which she had been q prisoner nearly
all the winter. For poor little Elsie
was not strong, and her parents had to
be very careful Of her, lest she should
be exposed to cold winds and draughts.
But to-day all was so bright and warm
that Elsie begged to be allowed to 90
out into the air.
Now her parents, the count and coun.
tess, lived in large old castle. The
grounds around were full OF trees,
shrubs, and sweet-scented flowers. A
paved path led from the porch to the
white. gate at the end, and here 1t nd.
Joined wood, part Of which belonged
to the count but another and larger
part TO the baron in the same country.
Elsie was sometimes allowed TO 90 with
her nurse into the beginning OF the
wood. but never farther; for It was very
dense beyond, and considered danger.
Gus.
On this particular day Elsie's nurse
was busy in the spinning.room, and
could not go out with her. So the
child was told she might play about by
herself for little while, but she must
be careful and not get into mischief /;
nor must she go into the wood farther
than where she could always see the
white gate.
Elsie promised to comply, and set of
gleefully. How gloriousiy the sun
shone How sweet and fragrant the
air smelled How fresh everything
lookell Elsie's heart bounded with
pleasure it seemed to her she had
never enjoyed the open air so much rs
now after her long confinement. How
changed everything was, too, from the
time when she had first TO keep her
room Then all looked dead or diving.
and the leaves were dropping from the
trees. Now they were covered with
tender foliage. Purple violets peeped
from among their. sheltering leaves,
ferns.were beginning to uncoil from ont
their shaggy brown scales, hyacinths
scented the air, and tulips raised their
SNOWY heads The cherry, plum, apple,
and pear trees were covered with snowy.
white blossoms, an earnest OF the fruit
to come.
The little girl skipped about, admir-.
ing and enjoying all these beauties,
standing still while TO listen to the
songs ofthe birds. At last, when she
had surveyed all the newly awakened
glories OF the garden, she neared the
white gate and peeped over. II the
garden looked beautiful in its spring
dress, how much more 80 the wood
II seemed to be carpeted with flowers
that grew among the bright grasses (;
and over the whole the sunlight glitter.
ed, dappling the ground with light
Oh, how beautifulp exclaimed
Elsie. III must go in and pick some Of
those pretty flowers for mamma"
No sooner said than done, and Elsie
had passed the gate, and stood upon
the confines Of the wood. White and
purple yiolets, wild blue harebells,
snowy wood.anemones, pale golden
primroses, and modest daisies pied the
ground. She walked on and on, think
ing Of nothing butthesesweet blossoms,
and gathering them as she went, till
her little apron was full. At one spot
the yiolets peeped thickest, in another
grew the finest clumps OF primroses,
and here, little further on, was q mass
OF the elegant wood-sorrel, with its
pretty thin leaves and delicate white
bells.
Elsie plucked them eagerly, and still
the thought Of returning never occurred
TO her. For the farther she went on,
the more beautiful the wood seemed 70
become, and all the trees, flowers, and
birds appeared TO lure her on, and to
say, "Come, Elsie, come. You have
not seen half our loveliness yet
And whenever Elsie felt little tired,
or the idea Of turning back crossed her
mind, she always saw somebrighthower,
some pretty insect, in the distance IA
attract her onward. Now she had pene'
trated unconsciously into the domain o.
q wicked iaity, who tried 10 attract chill
dron into the wood that they NIGH
serve her; for she liked to .be waitet
upon by pretty little boys and girls
ana had long looked on Elsie with I
Jealous eye. But never till to-day hat
she seenany chance Of lnring her hither
lor Elsie had never before been In thI
wood alma ntha aHtld tpaodan..d n,