Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-05-16

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 . greeting
with Crete she kept her eyes fixed on
the fower-bed, and when Hans sat in
the inn and pretty Lisi brought him
wine he made face like cat when it
thuncers, aud resolved to remain at
home with his wife that the nAgic water
might not lose its charm.
A year of love and happiness came to
an end, and two became three in the
household, baby boy shouted in his
cradle until his fathers heart laughed
for Joy. Now, thought he, the time has
ome 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 looeed 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 filled 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 a drop.
Crete bloomed like rose; and Hans was
full of strength an6 health. He avoided
confes sion of his deed for he hoped
some time to steal away and find the
fountain of youth. But wander through
I the forest as he might, he never could
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.
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 wster. Ore day Hans,
while combing his hair, found 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
a gray hair. am growing old"
Crete trembled, but composing herself
said with laugh:
"A gray hair! had q gray lock when
I was 10 years old. Perhaps some thatch
has caught in your hair. It colors the
hair gray. No, my dear Hans, the water
has not lost it's strength" Here she
threw him an anxious look. '"Or do you
find that I, too, have become old?"
Hans coughed.
"You old? You are blooming as rose. !"
and he gave her kiss.
Whe he was alone he said with quiet
joy
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
q 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 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 SO
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 81 would like to go 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 root, Crete cried: CLANS, 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
holding on to each other, looked in ahd
saw their aged faces and wept.
"You knew that we were old, "'cried
Hans.
eyes, yes" said Gfete, 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.