Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-03-29
"THE FLOWER MAIDEN

EAlAlN 4 VI AAOoo AitIINA AiPAAA
the boughs Of the trees and spreading
upon the ground made ii like velvet
for treading feet. There many lovely
flowers bloomed, and when the moon
babe the dew glisten on these and on
the ilmy wells of moss, it looked like
a forest one sees in dreams.
Into that dream forest none dared
venture after nightfall. On its out
skirts many had seen an airy form
fitting buSily 10 and fro. A country
fellow told how, returning from late
reyelries. he came face 10 face with q
maiden whose beauty made him dizzy
and dumb.
Seeing him standing aghast, she
laughed a silvery unearthly laugh and
vanished into air. But he declared in.
that one moment he stood there she
drew his heart from his breast by q
spell woven Of the rays Of the moon.
Weeks after he went signing and pin
ing, then he changed greatly. From
silly clown he became a right seri-
Gus farmer. who minded his crops and
no more returned singing from late
revels. OF a surety, they said, the
forest was haunted by witch who, in
the guise Of a beautiful maiden, stole
mems hearts and brewed witches broth
of them. Slmpletonsi
No witch Was she, uut / pure simple
spirit, whose whole delight was in
doing good. SkilleI in the art of heal
ing with herbs, size glded into the
homes Of the country folk and un-
known 10 them cared their ailing chill
den with her simple remedies. Often
times, sitting at the bedside of a sick
child she laughed softly 10 hear her
self spoken of rs the beautiful witch
who stole mems hearts in the moon
light. Through the night she fitted
IN and out Of the cottages, then Just
before the moon and stars began TO
pale speeded to her rest within the
forest beautiful. Her home was one
Of those marvellous flowers hat bloom
by niyht and remain closed through
out the day. Sinking into its cup ere
the first sign Of dawn, its petals closed
gently over her, and there she slept
I'll darkness once more o~verspread the
earth. But when the moons first sill
yer wand touched the flower il opened
and, stealing from Its heart, the maid
en- would speed through the forest on
her merciful errand.
Now it CHANGED that lately in her
visits TO the sick she had seen much
OF a young physician and felt kindly
toward him because of his noble face
and gentle ways with his patients.
Unknown to him she shared his
watches by the dying, and it was she
who effected those marvellous cures
which made him famous in the land.
Stealing behind him while he mixed
his medicines, she squeezed the juice
of an herb into the cup, and even the
physician himself would feel startled
e the wonderful effect of his potion.
The gentle flower maiden loved little
children; one touch of her hand when
they were i'll did more for them than
aworld of medicine.
A poor little child was once very
ick with fever. The third time the
young physician was sent for he tried
bis most powerful remedies and sat up
with the anxious parents TO watch
their effect; but his medicine, which
always worked like a charm, was given
this time TO no purpose. After an
hour the great black eyes Of the elfsh
looking child CLEANED brighter than
ever, his cheeks were flushed, and he
tossed restlessly from side 10 side. II
want my nurse l'he screamed, shrilly,
II want my pretty nurse with the
cool hands"
The physician looked questioningly
at the parents.
"Who is this nurse he talks off"
The child raves" they said; 'thc
fever is gaining on him."
II want my nursei Your hands
are all hotl | want my nurse with
the cool, cool handsl My nursel My
nursep
The physician laid his fingers upon
the child's burning brow.
Thou vert dreaming, my childY'
he said pityingly.
go awayl" the child screamed,
stake away those horrid warm fingers
The hand Of my pretty white nurse is
like a snowfakei 1 want her; where
is she, my nurse, my nurser"
Suddenly they all wondered TO see O
smile break over the little face. Then
the fever flush died from his cheek,
his eyes closed and he slumbered
peacefully. The worried physician
drew a sigh of relief.
'How wonderfully tho good physi
clan Gained the fever" whispered th'
anxious parents. But the physical
bad nothing TO do with II. The chill
had seen the flower maiden at the foo
Of his couch, smiling at him, with he
finger ON her lips.
In tho summer months there wa
much sickness In tho village. TIL
young physician gave himself NJ
Iest. All hours Of the day and nigh
found him at his post. His eyes grew
hollow and his cheeks paled for wan
Of sleep. Unknown 10 him, he had
eomrade in his duties; n airy an,
light Of loot who fitted nightly will
him through every cottage door, VIII
helped him mix every draught, AM
watched his set, weary face acros
every couch with loving, plying eyes
Tho suffering poor poured blessing
on him, and the simple flower maidei
blessed him, too, for his deeds Of char
ity. Every word OF healing or pitt
fhat fell from his lips she took ~ |