Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-05-14
The Waters of Youth.

One summer noon young, blooming
peasant wandered through q corntield
holding in one hand a basket and in the
other q stone jar.
She Was going to meet her husband,
Q wood cutter, whom she soon espied.
Stand where you are" he shouted,
"the tree is falling"
The fir tree gave deep sigh, bent
over and fell to the ground with crash.
The wood-cutter then embraced his
young wife, and they sat down to their
midday repast.
Il have forgotten something" said
Hans, raising, and he cut three crosses
in the tree.
"Why do you do that, Hans?" asked
his wife.
"The lady of the wood commands it,
he answered THE crosses protect her
from the wild hunter"
The young woman opened wide her
eyes.
"Did you ever meet the lady of the
wood ?" she asked, curiously.
mo, She rarely allows herself to be
seen. But day is the summer solstice,
and she will show herself" And Hans
suddenly called out into the wood ;
LADY of the wood, come forth"
He did 1t to please his wife but on
the holy solstice day we should not
make light of such things.
Suddenly before the couple stood q
little woman, no higher than your finger,
with delicate form and beautiful face.
She wore q long, white robe, and in her
golden hair spray mistletoe.
Hans and Crete were frightened.
They sprang up quickly, and Crete made
. courtesy as well as she could.
"You called me early" said the little
woman, pointir G to the sun just over
their heads. land one good Decd" she
said, pointing to the tree, deserves an
other. Gold and silver have l not to
give, but know something better. Come
with me. No harm will befall you.
Bring your jug with you, for you will
need it."
Saying this, she walked on. Hans
shouldered his ak and Crete took her
Jug, and both followed the little woman.
They came to the house of the lady of
the wood, buried in the fir trees and
nailed together with the thorns of the
rose-bushes.
The lady led her guest behind the
house, and pointed to brook whose wa
tiers silently flowed over the dark earth.
This is the fountain of YOUTH" she
said, "A bath in it makes the gray haired
man boy and the gray-haired woman q
girl. But if one drinks the water one
will retain youth until death. Fill your
jug and bear it home. But be prudent,
one drop every Sunday is enough to
keep you young. And once for all, Hans,
If you cast your eye on q strange woman,
and you, Crete, on q strange man, the
water will loose its power. Remember
that, now 60. and fare you WE'LL"
So spoke the lady of the wood who re-
fused the thanks of the lucky couple and
went into her house.
When they reached home Hans bot
tied up the preciovs water until the day
should come when he sighed for youth.
When the young forester came into
their garden to exchange q greeting
with Crete che kept her eyes fixed on
the dower-bed, and when Hans sat in
the inn and pretty Lisi brought him
wine he made face like q cat when it
thuncers, aud resolved to remain at
home with his wife that the magic water
might not lose its charm.
A year of love and happiness came to
IN end, and two became three in the
household, baby boy shouted in his
cradle until his fathers heart laughed
for joy. Now, thought he, tho time has