Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07

place where her father had died. This tree,
however, was bewitched, it having the pc
culiar quality to kill everybody who would
look at it. On the day that she planted it
she invited everybody from my country to
be present and see the way she would put
the tree in the ground. Well, out of sim pie
curiosity nearly everybody was there to see
her plant the tree, but no sooner did they
behold it than they all fell at once dead to
the ground. Fortunately 1 did not go my
self, but even those who were not present at
first went afterward to find out what became
of their friends.
So it happened that all died. l, however,
received a letter from Ogo's daughter in
which she stated: "You made me an
orphan when you killed my father. Now
1 have destroyed all your people to give
you taste of what loneliness means. They
are not dead forever, though. Whenever a
poor orphan girl from the upper world can
be induced to come into your country.
and she unroots the tree, then all your sub
jects will be alive again"
This was what Ogo's daughter teld me,
and of course 1 have ever since that time
anxiously awaited the arrival of the orphan
girl, but for long time it was in vain, as
you know. At last 1 hit upon the plan of
planting those violets around the hill,
which is the entrance to our country. I
thought that the peculiarity of our flowers
would attract somebody, anyhow.
Now you know how it happens that you
are here. You need not be alarmed, be-
cause no harm will come to you. Come
along and / will show you the way to Ogo's
tree. dare not come with you, because the
sight of it would kill me, while it will not
affect you in the least.
Bertha then followed the queen, and she
soon saw the tree in the distance. But the
little girl was astonished when she saw
what big trunk it had, and she hardly had
hope that she would be able to unroot such
big tree as that. However, she at once
began to tear up the ground and lay the
roots bare.
/ 1t took her a very long time, but when
she thought of the many people, who were
now laying like dead all over the country,
new strength seemed to come into her arms
and hands, 1t took her a whole week, but
at last she succeeded. All the roots were
now bare and she had only to give the tree
push and it toppIed over on the ground.
The noise which the fall caused was ter
rife, and as Bertha looked around she OBJ
served the people raising their heads from
the ground. But none of them did get up.
81 suppose I must cover the tree up"
said the little girl to herself, because they
cannot stand the sight of it,
Then another task was before her. She
had to rake up all the loose ground in the
neighborhood to cover up the tree. But
she also succeeded with that at last, and
] when all the leaves and branches were
under the ground, behold everybody who
had been dead for the last 1000 years sud
denly got up as if from deep sleep.
Bertha now returned to the queen, who
received her with open arms, and called
her the great benefactress of the country.
& II 10 L..
happy 2" she said to the orphan girl. "Ask
for anything, and if it is in my power,
will do it. +"
'I do not want much for myself, but 1
should like to be rich, that 1 might help all
the orphan children that are now poor
"AIl right" replied the queen. "your
wish shall be granted. Let me lead you
back again into the upper world and YOU
will find very soon what you want. But
before you depart let me give you a bunch
| of our frozen violets as memento of this
your visit to III"
Bertha then left with the violets in her
hand. When she got into the wood again
| she noticed a magnificent castle standing
right before her, and lot of beautiful girls
came to meet her, calling out: "Here comes
Bertha, our kind hearted mistress.
| They led her toward the castle, and she
was soon installed in her new home as the
| lady of the house. From that day Bertha's
life was all happiness. She sent her SER
wants all over the country to look for poor
orphan girls and bring them to her. Under
her care they were all brought up and edu-
Gated to become useful and loveable women.
The fame of Bertha's kindness spread
very soon all over the country, and the king
heard of it at last. One day he and his son,
the prince, came to see her, and the young
man at once fell in love with Bertha's beau
tiful face, her graceful manners and sweet
disposition. He asked her to become his
wife, and when the wedding came off every
| body said there never was such beautiful
| bride as Bertha.
Her hard-hearted aunt and ugly cousins
were never heard of, and no one knows
| what became of them.