Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-06-03
No. 90.


Honesfus Woodman's cottage stood
Just BY the margin Of . wood,
Through " hich Q river. deep and slow,
By old trees shaded. used 10 now.
He was not rich. this Mr.. woodman;
But, vet he was an honest, good man,
Who got his living by his labor;
And Mr. Chesthim WAS his neiShbor.
The little Woodman's, though twas cool
For Il Was now quite iste In Autumn
Went daily to = distant school,
Where good lady came aud taught EN-.
Their summer jackets, patched and thin,
(ror Mr.. Woodman did not patch ilD.
Were buttoped up close 10 the chin;
And each because he had no sstchel.
Carried his slate beneath his arm.
That nothing hard might scratch or knock II !;
While nut. and apples from the farm.
And his Young Reader stuffed his pocket.
One morning Mr.. Wocdman rose
Went out; and BY his reddening nose,
Finding il colder grew and colder,
lie took his axe upon his shoulder
FOR In such keen and frosty weather,
His family. II kept together
Weed slmo., freeze, and that he knew well,
Without good supply oil fuel.
So out he went. and near the brook.
His stand beside = tree he took.
And long the sturdy Woojmxn's strokes.
A. on its trunk with force they fell,
Through all the forest echoed well.
Al last = good deal out OF breath,
Though not ~ boys say, tired TO death.
Honestus Woodman thought II best
To stop little while and rest
But turning 10 sit down he tripod
Against his axe and In IL slipped.
Down, down II sunk: his axe was gone
And thus aloud he made HE moan
Alas alas. nv axe IL lost
An axe valued As = brother
An axe that much money cost
All. me. where shall get another
Perhaps, my reader. ought !. know.
That these thing, happened long ago.
In dsy. OF fsble-those old times
That poets tell Of IN their rhyres-
When sviphs rode round on every breeze,
When or, sd. danced on elf aud mountain,
When crysds dwclt in hollow trees.
And naiads lived in brook and fountain.
Now. when the wster-nymph that drank
Just where the axe Of " Goldman sank,
Heard his lament. she took her clothes,
And put them on. and gently rose;
And " hen she saw him. looking nj her.
She asked him what could be the matter"
lie lofl sotdA
NV friend" said she, Il do not doubt II.
| heard II plunge; and, though II lies
Below the reach OF MORT. eyes,
Be Of good courage, never mind II.
I'll down, and see If can find it."
She sank, almost As quick =. thought,
She rose gain, and with her brought
An axe Of silver. The rich prize
She beid up before WooinAB's eyes,
And with smile and courtesy.
is this the axe you lo.iF' said she
"Oh no >" said he. aud shook his he .d;
w ell. then, the smiling nAizd said,
Here on the bank Jet this remain
And I'll SO down and try Again"
She sank and, instantly. behold.
Up came she, with an axe Of gold!
Pure, solid gold-the kelvr-the head:
'ls this the axe YOU lostg she said
.Oh. no, no, no. the man replied
This is not nv old axer-and sighed:
This is Of very different ore,
And worth, no doubt = great..dsal more;
And much more brightly dose Il shine.
But It's not nllne-no, lis not mine.
Indeed :" said she. well. let thi, lie
with tina, one and once more III try"
She sunk she rose shove the Tide,
''Ah! that Is my axe" v goldman cried,
As soon - she could rsi>e and sho" 1t.
] know IL Is said she Il know il,
thought ysur honesty TO try;
And since you cannot tell q lie
Al least. sir since you have no, told one
The steel, the silver axe. and solo one,
Are MI your own TO ali the tree
You're welcome for your honesty"
She ceased. and sank aud Woodm.n gave
His last look al the closing wave.
Then home~Ard turned. His n.ighbor Cheat
him
Glanced. ere he reached his home too meet
him;
And having seen the rare,.iau. lost
Aud learned by whom it WAS bestowe i,
He though; bed 60 and lose his axe.
SO following in his beighbor'- tracks.
He reached the tree-~iihout ouos sto ppi re-
That Nj. Wooiman had been chop ping.
He cut away s~ bile, then stopped
And, looking round. his axe be dropped
Into The stream Down, down II went.
And down sat C6ssihim 10 lament;
In loud and ~ell-dissembied tone,
Repeating Woodmsn's very moan.
''Al2s Alssi my axe il lost,
An axe valued = brother
An AZ that 30 much money cost,
Ah, me. where shall get another
Scarce hst he finished. when behold,
Prom the deep stream that WAS cold
BY this time, that K almost froze,
The beAuteous wafer spirit rose
be asked him why loud he cried:
He znswered-'Oh, in this deep tide
I've lost an axe, ma ana, that prize.
Ay-As I do my very eyes.
And - the weather Is 30 cold
And AID getting rather DID,
fear 10 plunge into this river:
The thoughts enough 10 make me shiyer.
Ny axe ali sadly shall rue II,
II some oBs will not help me to il:
Can you not now. my dear good nAi.d
Go down and get the axe that ] hadt-
''Ill see,7 replied the nsiad fair
She sank-she rose and high 10 air,
Held up IN axe Of purest gold.
"Ah that's nv axe said he. Hold. hold ~
The Genius Of the river cried,
II An not cheated, though YOU yelied.
Tbs axe 10 mine; Is for your own,
Which you 90 pieously bemoan,
II ever you again would view IL,
No doubt you'll II ind il where ysu threw /,
Nine ! shall lay upon my shelf,
And you may dive for yours yourselfr
TAns> 70