Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-29
TIE ASS SPRING.

heights, a cool, abundant spring, called
ahe ASS Well, has its source. The
spring is inclosed, and covered over
with a canopy, On the top OF which
turns a tin ass weather yane.
Every morning in summer there
sands by the edge of the well pale
young ladies from the city, who, under
NE care of anxious mothers and pro-
Acting aunts, drink the cold water
from handsome mugs. City gentle
men. too, visit the spring, and indeed
not only the sickly ones, but also
healthy youths with brown faces and
bold twisted mustaches, \ warrior,
a with age, who for thirty years
had come and gone with the swallows;
a poetical, incomprehensible young
lady, with long, straw colored curls; a
mysterious widow in deep mourning;
q prestidigitator, who is especially
sought after in rainy weather, and who
makes money vanish and guesses
drawn cards-all these characters are
b be found at the ass well, and there
fore there is no lack of what belongs
30 a So called summer resort. But
watt we had. almost forgotten the
most important feature, tie landlady
Of the Golden Goose. She rules with
unlimited power, cooks well and treats
high and low with an honest brusque-
ness which TO the city people is as re-
frcshing as the, May dew.
There is a great difference of opln-
ion about the origin OF the name the
well bears. Some saw that a thirsty
sssdisclosed the spring by paving with
his hoofs. Others claim that lhe well
is so called becausei-s waters, like ass
milk. are beneficial TO feeble constitu-
tons But both opinions arc NJ fault.
This will become clear as daylight to
all who read this story 10 the end.
Many, many years ago, wien the
mighticst tree in the forest was still a
germ sleeping in a brown acorn,
nothing was known of the healing
W OF the future Ass Well. The
visitors who came TO its brink were the
beasts Of the forest or grazing cattle
and deer; wood cutters, huntsInen and
charcoal burners; and c praised
the cool water, and the beasts did the
same after their own fashion.
One day two stood by the well-one
on this side, the other on that. He
was an ass. and she was a goose, both
in the hirst bloom Of youth. They
greeted each other silently, and
quenched their thirst. Then tie ass
drew near 10 the goose, and asked
bashfully, Young lady, may ac-
company your
She nodded, and would gladly have
blushed, but this she was unable TO
do, and they went together through
the meadow and talked about the
weather. They had gone quite q dis.
lance when the ass stood still and
asked: Young lady, whittier does
your way leadf'
The goose looked sadly at her com
panion askance, and said, quietly:
allow do ! know1 Oh, | am the most
unfortunate creature under the sum-"
And as the ass questioned her further,
and urged her 10 pour out her heart
she related the story of her life.
lam called Alheid. said the goose,
''and am Of good family. My ancestor
vas one Of the sacred geese that saved
the capital. You know the story,
young gentleman"
The ass said, hesitatingly: "Ye-es."
He had really never heard Of the story,
but ed!d not wish TO grieve the goose.
Another Of my maternal ances-
tors" continued Alheid, was on
friendly terms with Saint Martin. She
Is said, according 10 the sad leg,ud. 10
have given her life for him. But |
will not dwell on the history Of my
ancestors, but tell you about myself.
i came to the light Of the world, to-
gether with eleven brothers and sisters.
and, indeed, on a farm, where my
mother as a brooding goose lived a
life appropriate 10 her station. was
my mothers pet, for in our family the
youngest child is always the most tai.
ented.'
Just as il is in ours" remarked the
rs
IL will pass over the years Of my
childhood" continued the goose, the
happy plays in the village pond and
in the lake Of the castle garden, where,
in the company Of the young swans.
/ acquired that elegance Of motion for
which | have been so often admired.
had long before shed the yellow downo Of
youth and had blossomed intothe prime
of life. Then one day there appeared
on the farm a man, who had a very
hooked nose; his temples were adorned
on the right and on the left with two
shiny black curls, and over his shout
der hung a pack. The farmers wife
and the maids locked around him,
and looked with longing eyes at the
bright colorcd ribbons and cloths
which he took out Of his bag. To
make a long story short, | was caught,
and with my feet and wings bound l
was given over 10 the stranger, who
took me In exchange for a blue hand
kerchicf decorated with red roses.
Now came melancholy days. was
shut up in a narrow coop, and given
balls Of barley -four TO fatten me.
With horror ! noticed my circumfer-
ence increased from day 10 day, and
sven my grief over my wretched plight
was unable 70 arrest the evil"
Here the ass cast a look at his com
panionIs figure, and swore that he
never had seen a moro elegant goose.
With a look Of thankfulness al tho ass,
Albeid continued:
LAST night-I shudder : think Of Il
II heard woful cries Of agony, which