Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-05-28
THE FOUNTAIN OF THE AN.
GEL.

There is in Italy fountain over
which is statue of beggar drinking at
the spring. 1t is called "Beggar's Foun-
tain, and this is lis story Once upon
a time there liyed-so says the legend
a very proud aud naughty man, who
hated the poor, and set himself above
all the world who were not as wealthy
and as well dressed as himself; and bis
want of charity was so great that il had
become proverbal, and beggar would
no more have thought o! asking bIead
at his gate than OF asking him fol all
his fortune.
However, there was spring on his
land-a sweet spring OF cold water
and rs it was the only ore for miles
many wsyiarer paused TO drink OF il,
but was never permitted to do so. n
servant, well armed, was kept upon tue
watch 10 drive such persons away.
Now, there never had been known
before any one so ayaricious as 10 refuse
a cup of cold water 10 his fellow-man
and the angels, talking amongst each
other, could not believe il; and one OF
them said to the rest
1T is impossible tor any but Satan
himself. l will 60 TO earth and prove
that il is not true"
And so this fair and holy angel dis
guised herself as a beggar woman; COW
cred her golden hair with black hood,
and choose the moment when the mas
ter Of the house was himself standing
near bis spring to come slowly up tho
road, walking over the stones with bare
white feet, and pause beside the fountain
and humbly ask for draught Of his
sweet water.
Instantly the servant who guarded
the spo. interposcd the pike ne carried;
but the angel, desiring 10 take theme
of a good deed, not OF an evil one, back
to heaven, tarued TO the master himself.
Sir" she said, "I am, as you see,
wanderer from aiar. See how poor my
garments are, how stained with travel.
1t is not surely at your bidding that
your servant forbds me 10 drink. And
even if it is, ] pray YOU let me alone,
for / am very thirsty"
The rich man looked at her with
scorniul eyes and laughed contemptu-
ously.
This is not n public fountain" he
said; you will find one in the next vii
lage."
"This way is long" pleaded the an.
gel, land | am u woman, and but weak.
"Drive her away" said the rich man,
and as he spoke the beggar turned, but
on the instant her black hood dropped
from her head aud revealed floods of
rippling golden bair-her unseemly rags
fell To the ground-and the shimmeriug
robes that angels wear shone in their
place. For a moment she lowered,
poised on purple wings, with her hands
folded on her bosom, and incfablu
sweetness Of sorrow in her eyes. Then,
with gush of music aud flood of per
fume, she vanished.
The servant fell 10 the earth Ike ono
dead The rich man tremblcd and cried
out, for he knew that he had forbidden
cup of cold water TO an angel, aud
horror possessed his soul
Almost instantly, also,a terrible thirst
fell upon him which nothing could as-
suage 10 vain he drank wines, shcr-
bets, draughts of all pleasant kinds.
Nothing could slake his thirst The
sweet water in the spring was salIier 10
him than the sea. lie who never !n his
life had known an ungratified desire,
now experienced the torture of an ever
dissatisfied longing; but through his
misery he began 10 understand what no
! had done. He repented bis cruelty 10
the poor Aims were given daily at his
gate. Charity was the business OF life.
The fountain was no longer guarded
aud near it hung ever a cup ready for
! any who chose 10 use. Bot the curse
If curse il were-was never lifted.
The rich man-youug when the angel
visited him-grew middle aged, elderly,
old, still tortured by bis awful thirst,
despite his prayers and repentance. He
had given away his substance; he him
self had broken bread for the most mis-
cradle beggars who came TO his door.
and at eighty years Of age, bowed
with infrmity and weary of bis life, no
sat one day beside the fountain, weep
ing And 10! along the road he saw
approaching beeear woman, hooded
in black, wearing sord:d rags, and walk
ing over the stones with her bare feet
Slowly she came on, aud paused beside
the fountain.
"May | drink ?" she asked.
"rhere are none TO forbid thee" said
the old mao, trembling. "Driok, poor
woman. Once an angel was forbidden
here. but that time has passed. Drink
and pray Tor one athirst. Here is tho
cup"
The woman bent over The fountain
and filled the cup; but iDsteaL Of putting
it to her own lips she presented il ~
those Of the old mar.
"DiDk, then" she cried, "and tbirst
no more"
The old man took the cup and emp
tied it. Oh blessed draughil With it
the torture Of years departed; and ab he
drank il, he praised Heaven, and lifting
bis eyes once more, he saw the beggars
hood fall TO the ground and her rags
fall to pieces. For a moment she stood
revealed in all her beauty of snowy skin
and golden hair and silyery raimeui;
and she stretched her hand toward lin,
as iD blessing, aud then, rising on pYr.
pie piniors, vanished in the skies. A