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

nme to open the flask. "What think
you, Crete, q drop Of the water of youth
will do you good"
| Hans went to fetch the water, and with
trembling hands loosed the cork; but oh,
woe, woe! the flask fell from his hands,
and the draught of youth streamed upon
the ground.
What should he do? His wife must
not know it. He filed another fash
like the first with the water from the
well and took it to his wife.
"Oh, what strength it gives" said
Crete; taste drop, dear Hans"
Hans obeyed and praised the water,
and every Sunday they drank drop.
Crete bloomed like rose; and Hans was
full of strength and health. He avoided
confet sion of his deed for he hoped
some time to steal away and find the
fountain of youth. But wander through
find the abode of the lady ofthe wood.
Two years passed. A little girl came
to keep the baby boy company, and to
Grete's round face came second chin.
She did not see this, as she had no mir
ror, but Hans saw it, and loved his port
ly wife all the more.
Then came misfortune, at least. Crete
thought it such. Little Peter broke the
flask with the precious water. She fill
ed the jug with common water, and kept
the secret from her husband.
Time passed on, and the couple were
as happy as the day the minister joined
their hands; and every Sunday they
drank of the water. Ore day Hans,
while combing bis hair, found a gray
lock, and thought the time had come to
confess to his wife.
"Grete," he said, "the water of youth
has lost its strength. See, have found
q gray hair. am growing old"
Crete trembled, but composing herself
said with q laugh:
"A gray hair! 1 had gray lock when
l was 10 years old Perhaps some thatch
has caught in your hair. 1t colors the
hair gray. No, my dear Hans, the water
has not lost its strength" Here she
threw him an anxious look. "Or do you
find that l, too, have become old?"
Hans coughed.
"You old? You are blooming as q rose."
and he gave her a kiss.
Whe he was alone he said with quiet
Joy, z,
we are old.
And 80 thought the wife.
That evening they danced gayly at
the inn and felt young. The young folk
made sport of them, but they saw it not.
The next Autumn, one day Crete lost
tooth while eating, and grieved sorely,
for she was proud of her white teeth.
She said to her husband:
"This would not have happened if the
water had not been"
Hans cried:
This water must help everything
Does not a child often lose tooth. You
are as young and fresh as head of
celery; or have you cast your eyes on any
man that the water has lost its strength"
The wife laughed aloud, wiped away
her tears, and kissed her old man 90
heartily that he lost his breath. In the
afternoon they sat on the stone bench
before their house and sung love songs.
The passers by said foolish old people.
Aut the happy old couple heard them
not.
Many years passed. The couple we're
grandparents, and, although alone, were
as happy as on their wedding day, still
drinking the water of youth on Sunday. |
The Summer solstice drew nigh. Hans |
and Crete sat at the door watching the |
bonfire made by the young folks. Dear
Hans" said Gret, e Il would like to 90 to |
the wood once more. But you must |
wake me early if you will CO."
Hans agreed. They went arm-in-arm
next morning, carefully helping each
other. When Hans stepped cautiously |
over q root, Crete cried: "Hans, you |
spring like goat" and when Crete step |
ped over hillock Hans cried: BE care |
full, Crete, jump"
They found the fountain of youth, and
on to each other, looked in aid
saw their aged faces and wept.
"You knew that we were old" cried
Hans.
eyes, yes" said Crete, through her
tears.
"And too" sain Hans.
Then the lady of the wood appeared.
She babe them spring into the foun-
tain to recover their youth; but they de-
cided to retain their age, and, arm-in-
arm, they resignedly walked homeward.