Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-06-26

she forgot her lost home under the earth
and every day, when she babe her
husband "good-morning, "she placed in
his hand a precious stone; and he kissed
her, calling her his "dear Moneta," his
hearts jewell" But at last the dia-
monds, sapphires, and rubies were all
gone; and she was also losing the pow
er Of shedding gold-dust. Then her
husband frowned on her, and no longer
called her his hearts jewel,n or his
dear Moneta."
At length she presented him with a
little daughter as lovely as water
sprite, with hair like threads of gold
Now the father watched the babe with q
greedy eye; for its mother had wept
precious tears Of motion gold before she
received the gift of human grief, and he
hoped her child would do the same; but
when he found it was only a common
mortal, he shut his heart against the
babe. Moneta was no longer yellow
and ugly, but very beautiful; with deep
eyes, out of which looked q deep soul I;
yet she had lost her fairy gifts, and her
husband had ceased to love her. The
good woman mourned in secret; and
would have wished to die, only her pre-
cious child comforted her heart.
One day, as she wis sitting by the
shore of the lake, a water-kelpie saw
her weeping, and come to her in the
form of white-haired old man, saving
Charming lady! why do you weep
Come with me to my kingdom under
the waters. My people are always
happy"
Then she looked where he babe her,
and saw, afar down under the waters, q
beautiful city, whose streets we've paved
with red and white coral.
The kelpie said, "Will you 90 down ?'l
mo" sighed Moneta, thinking of the
kind words her husband had sometimes
spoken to her: II cannot go yet"
But at last her husband said:
How often the thought comes to me
If I had no wife and child, all this gold
would be minem and he knitted hi,
brows with . frown.
Then Moneta looked In his face, and
said:
Dear Ivan, have loved you truly
but you no longer care for Mensta. ]
will go away with the little child, anG
all our gold shall be yours. Farewell y
Then she embraced him with falling
tears. His heartwa stirred within him
and he would have followed her, only
he knew not which way she had gone
Soon the water-kelpie came to him in
the form of horse; and ran before him
neighing tiercely, and breathing fire
from his mouth. This is the way KEEL
pies take to announce the fabt that some
one has gone under the water.
So the man followed the kelpie. His
heart was swelling with grief; and al
his love for his wife and child had come
. back to him.
He looked into the lake, and saw tn,
fair city. In a transparent palace Mo
meta was sitting, crowned with pearls
the child sleeping on her bosom. HI
shouted
Come back, O Moneta!" but sh'
| heard him not.
He went every day to the same spot
. never leaving it until the water wa
clear, and he had seen his wife ant
child. He cared no more for his flint
castle and his gold; for the castl,
was empty, and the gold could no
t speak.
ALAS" cried he, ''if I could listen t.
i, the music of Moneta's voice! if coult
J, hold the child in my arms once more y
e Now he cared for nothing but to gaz
+ into the waters at Moheta and her child
d One day. the water-kelpie appeare'
7 to him in the form of an old man.
l "Why sit you here signing like tn
e north wind ?' said the kelpie.
II have loved gold better than my bes
4 friends" replied Ivan; and now m,
2 best friends are taken away from me
! and the gold is left; but love it NJ
t longer"
D "Ah, ah," growled the kelpie; I"
have heard of such men as you; moth
t ing is dear till it is missed. You shoult
! have thought of that before. If you
q lost ones were to return, you woul'
e treat them as badly as ever, no doubt.
mo, no." groaned Ivan; 81 woul
s love them better than all the wealth il
. the void! / would love them bette
2 than my own life! All, the sting it i
e to think of my own ingratitude !"
: "Hold!" said the kelpie; .'grumbl
!; to yourself if you like, but don't We,
g pose | were to bring back Moneta an
e the child-would you give me you
,, chests of gold?"
"That | WILL" cried the man, "righ
e joyfully."
mot SO fast; will you give your cas-
y "Ah, yes, castle and gold; take then
e and welcome"
mot so fast; Moneta and her chill,
d are worth more than these. Will yo1
o give me the castle and gold, and tel
d years of your life ?"
: with all my heart" ~
"Then," said the kelpie, ''go home
$ and tomorrow you shall see Monet
t and her child.n
: When the morrow came, the husban
t and wife wept for joy at meeting one
= more; and Ivan said:
d TAP"
" Moneta had already forgiven him
and the three-father, mother, an
!, child, loved one another, and were con
= tent to the end of their lives; and Iva
Y said:
d "Once for all have found that gol
y cannot make one happy; but, with til
blessing of q clear conscience, war;
q hearts AID loving words are the sweete:
It things in life."