The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-11-12

Young Folks.
THE DOVE MAIDEN.
A CATSK1LL FAIRY TALE
(C0Rtinued.)

land. she received 1t with delght, coolng
,ycr it in her own tongue, just as if she had
never learned another language.
Oyo found them talking together and
,ade her catch the dove but this she would
not do, so the bird flew above the boys
reach.
"If it comes again l will shoot it with a
gum cried Otto, shaking his fist angriy.
Then the dove child wept, and tc her
mate what the naughty boy had said and
the dove went away, not daring to turn.
The little girl begged Otto to restore her
chain.
"No, indeed" said he. "Your father
must be great king or prince, from your
appearance. When he comes to take you
away in gilded chariot drawn by splendid
horses, he must give me ten chests of silver
to make me rich. Then he may have you,
and the chain also"
The dove child looked at him sadly.
"You seem to care more for money already
than your own good"
81 wish to have my own way" cried Otto.
ayes, and will have it always"
She ran to Aunt Katrine, who always
petted and soothed her, entreating her with
many tears to find the chain which Otto had
concealed so long ago.
"What strange enchantment binds you,
poor childY" asked the good woman, hoping
to hear a story of magic. The stranger only
shook her head sorrowfully and looked away
into the clear sky where the other dove had
flown. After this she grew discontented and
unhappy. Often would she watch for her
mate. but the other never dared to appear,
for fear Otto's bullet should pierce its tender
breast.
Aunt Katrine decided to find the chain
and release the child, whatever the result
might be. She was an amiaDle old lady and
she rather dreaded Otto's ill temper, so she
asked him nothing about the matter, because
she feared he would only hide the chain
somewhere else. Besides, he was already
growing to be tall, stout lad, and would
soon become master of the house. Accord
ingly she chose an hour when the banking
and sweeping were done for the day, the
children away at school, and, putting on her
spectacles, deliberately began the search.
First she examined the chamber where
Otto slept, but there she found nothing be-
sides few playthings. Then she remembered
that the boy came down the ladder from the
attic after he had run away with the chain
on the day when the dove child was found /;
so up thecreaking ladder wentAunt Katrine,
and it was not long before she placed her
hand directly on the chain as it lay coiled up
suugly on the beam behind the bird trap
She returned to the kitchen with the treas
ure, and, seating herself by the open win
dow, admired the delicate chain, polishing
the jewels on her sleeve the while, just to
make them sparkle and glitter.
A tiny black dwarf crept through the
window like spider, and perched on the
back Of Aunt Katrine's chair, without her
being aware Of his presence. The dwarf
nodded and chuckled as he peered over her
shoulder. After awhile he drew bit of
folded paper from his girdle, which grew in
size to large fan, ornamented with strange
figures and smelling of sweet perfume, and
began gently to fan Aunt Katrine. The
perfume, was thus waited from the paper and
presently she bobbed her head twice, and
sank back in the chair fast asleep. Oh dear!
she had done more harm than good with the
best intentions. Down hoped the dwarf to
the floor, and snatched the chain from her
lap. She opened her heavy eyes just as he
reached the door, where he took the chain in
his mouth; then wings unfolded from his
sides, and he few away in the shape of the
large black hawk which had first pursued
the doves.
There was no end of mischief done. Aunt
Katrine wrung her hands over her folly in
taking the chain from the safe hiding place
and now some evil fairy had made of
with it.
The children were crossing the meadow al
that moment.
"See the hawk up yonder with something
in its mouth" said Sophia,
at must be frog or a snake" returned
Otto, not dreaming that the precious chain
was gone.
Aunt Katrine said not word, like the
cowardly old body she was. What was the
use? Otto would sulk for month and the dove
child weep herself>tb death TO think that she
could never be restored to her own people
wherever they might be.
Now the hawk was wicked fairy, SkimE
by name, who felt malace toward every one,
When the fairy kings third wife died, leav
him an interesting widower, ,Skimp expected
to be asked to marry him. Instead Of tha
he chose her young maid of honor anC
Skimp's temper was soured, so she wen
about in many shapes, not only tormentne
the other fairies, but any chance mortal be
sides. In this way she made the acquaint
ance Of all the giants and hobgoblins in th'
universe.
"BefOre | had the chain where it can no
easily be found, | must do trifle more mis-
chief" she thought, and paused near a grea
city, where the smoke could be seen curling
up from the chimneys, and the church spire
were outnumbered by the masts of the ship
ping in the harbor. Here she changed he
hawk dress to the costume of country girl
a broad hat shaded a rosy, innocent face
she carried herselfshyly and awkwardly; anc
no one could have believed that the simpl,
lasse was shrewd, wicked Skimp, so perfec
was her disguise.
She entered dingy building where youn.
men were busy counting money and writing
in books. She wished to see their maste
the broker, and soon she was showing tn,
wonderful chain, which she declared sh,
desired to sell OF course the broker wanted
it he would give his head for the diamond
clasp alone but he did not say so oh no
he only shut one eye, and sighed that h'
could not offer more than two gold pieces fo
it-such triile Skimp had been insid,
his brain, and whisked around twice to dis
.,,,..r hil thouobts oltbnu,,h abn uaotna1 .,