The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-24
THE PIPE.


4" - .s.#|"
A Legend OF Ancient Days.
One night, as Count OliiTe was riding
through the woods he was astOnished to
see a great light among the trees, where
there was no house. Stopping his horse,
no saw the ground opeu in a vacant space
between two great trees. Steps Of stone
led down to two great iron doors, through
which streancd the light that had first az
tracted him. As he looked, a woman and
a man dressed in white, came up the steps
holding baskets, which they kept carefully
covered. This woman and ina looked
neither to the right nor left. Neither did
they seem to lift their feet but came
toward Count Olife with o slow gliding
motion. F"
Count Olife was terribly frightened. 4
1 cold perspintion started out Of him, his
knees bent under him, and hardly know.
Ing what he did he called out in a loud
voice, "Who are you and what are doing
here?" ra a.i. ,nstul,. 4,
Instantly the figures vanished; SO DID
the steps, the opening and the light.
Count Oliffe rode around and around the
two great oaks, but the ground showed no
trace OF an opening. On the next day he
came again, but saw nothing. lie walked
about the oaks, but could see ny ,plaee
where could be hidden steps or iron doom.
The birds seeing him so busy, began 10
clipper and twitter about him. -.
"What do you want, Count Differ said
a saucy blacEbird. I'D, ,lg.7
"Between these trees" answered the
Count, sis q flight Of steps leading down to
iron doors" ,l.,,I,
no, that is impossible" said the blark.
bird. 81 have lived here ever since ! was
out Of the egg, and | have never zen any
steps or doors" g
the birds. ''The Oldest bee OF, bird in
the forest hos never heard Of such .
thing" afp, I'D naa,1lI
ed. He could think OF nothing but what
he had seen, and he usei TO walk every
day and ride every night through the
forest, hoping to see the wonderful sight
again. -le.lig t,gl,
One night, riding home unsuccessful
rs usual, he met an owl out as late ~
himself. =,
"TIalIo, comradc!!" cried the owl. 81
meet you every night: What are you
hunting-mice or frogsY .WE.,, il.AU.
"Stone steps and an iron door, answer,
ed OlifFe, laughing, "are my mice asAii
frogs" And he told the owl what he had
The owl listened, looked very wise, i.of
ayes, | know" said he, What you
have seen is the palace otTimc. In II are
all the treasures OF the earth. The man
and woman who came out are Day and
Night bringing gifts to men" Nd,
"And how shall / see it again! asked
Count Olife. Il nm determined to find
and enter it." .ag ,i
ITO find it, Count oliffe, You need only
wait by the great oak trees till the ground
opens. Then you must wait till Day and
Night come forth, and be careful TO say
nothing. After that, 20 down the steps
boldly; hut nj the iron doors there sits Il
giant with the key. Beware that YOU
listen to nothing before seizing the keys. n
"If that is all, that is easy enough" an
swered Oliife. ,.. ,,,,g On
SNotso easy as you think" said the owl,
flying away. ..a;, au, sui, lgtI,
%dismounted. There he waited many
hours till the ground opened, aud the man
and woman came forth rs before. lie
watched them in silence, and went boldly
down the steps. At the foot OF the steps
sat d fat jolly giant, smoking q pipe, while
the keys Of the palace hung loosely IN ms
grille. ,.a,g , "
"Giyc me the keys OF the palace said
Olife.
ayes, my son. said the giant, 'if you
will first smoke q pipe with me. lthas
been a great many hundred years since
any one has smoked with me- li! ~
There is no harm in that" thought
Olitfe, who thought besides, thathe should
like to smoke ont OF such a pipe as the
giant handled-ap pipe with a bowl OF am
Der and n stem OF gold.
At first when he saw the doors OF tho
palace open, he did not walk in, yet he
seemed TO enter. He saw splendid halls,
wonderful treasures, and lie said TO HIM
self that he would not take them as yet,
but when he had finished smoking his
pipe. Lu.g.
He smoked and smoked down TO the
very last bit oftobacco in the pipe. With
the last Whit the pipe fell from his mouth
and broke. The iron doors swung to will
a bang. The light, the giant and the steps
vanished. Olifre started to his feet. lie
was standing alone in the forest, and the
day was Just breaking. Something seemed
odd about himself, and, that his cloths
looked worn. He went slowly back to hi,
castle, but he knew nothing there. and
nobody knew him. He was IN old, old
man, He had smoked the best years o.
his life away in idle dreams, and the Gun
ming giant had cheated him out OF enter
ing the palace OF Time, after all. Pool
Count OliIe! s.sOI