The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-09
THE FLOWER MAIDEN.'

filmv "cils Of mess lroppcd from
Tie houghs OF the trees and Sprcading
upon tho ground made IL like vclvrf
Tor inading feet There many lovely
flowers bloomcd. and when the moon
hadc the dew gli>tcn ON these and ON
the hlmy wells of moss. St looked like
"a ioiVst ono sees lu dreams.
Into that dream forest mono dared
venture after nightlall. On IT'S out.
skirts many had seen an airy form
Hitting buSily to and fro. 4 country
fellow told how. returning from late
ieNclricS, he came face 10 face with n
moiidcn whose beauty made him dizzy
and dumb.
Seeing him Standing aghast. she
laughed silvory uncarthlv LAUGH and
vanished into air. But he declared I'm
that ono moment he stool there she
drew ms heart from his breast bv n
Sell woven Of the rays Of the moon.
Weeks after nc went signing and pin
ing. then lac changed greatly. From
q silly clown me became a right SER.
ous farmer, who minded his crops and
no moro returned singing from late
revels. Of surety. they said. the
forest was haunted by a witch who. i'm
tho rriso al n beautiful maiden. stole
mon hearts and brcwcd witches broth
Of them Simplctous,
Nowiich was shc. but pure simple
spirit whose whole delight was I'm
doing good. Skilled i'm the art of heal
lur with herbs She ghdcd into the
homes Of the country folk and I'M
known o. them cured their ailing chill
Oren with her simple remedies often
times sitting 40 The bedside of a sick
child, shc laughed softly to hear her
self spoken of MS the beautiful witch
who stole mems hearts i'm the moon
light Through the night She fitted
ln and out of the cottages. then inst
before thc moon and stars began 10
pale spocdcd to her rest within the
forest beautiful Her home was one
al those marvellous flowers that bloom
by night and remain closed through
ont uAe 9ay- Sinking into Its cup ere
The first sign of dawn, It's petals closed
gently over her. and there She slept
tai darkness once more Ovcrsprcad the
earth BIt when the moon S first Sill
Yer wand touched the flower it opened
Sud Stealing from ITS heart. the maid
ou would speed through the forest ON
hcr mcrcifui crfand
Now 1t CHANGED that lately i'm her
visits 90 the sick She had seen much
ola 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 10y The dying. and DO was she
who effected those marvellous cures
which made him famous In the land.
Stealing behind him while hcmiXcd
DAD, medicines. she squeezed the juice
of ana herb iuipthc cup. and even the
physician himself would feel startled
ai The wonderful effect Of his potion.
Tho gentle Hover maiden loved little
children. ONE touch Of hor band when
they were Do did more for them than
90 world at medicine
s. poor littlc child was once very
sick with fever The third time the
ronng physician was sent for be tried
li, most powerful remedies and sat nap
with the anxious parents to watch
their effect, but his medicine. which
always worked Ikea charm, WAS given
this time to no purpose After an
hour thc great black eyes Of the clfish
looking child CLEANED brighter than
ever his checks were flushed. and hc
tossed rcsiics,iv from side 10 side Il
want my nurse g he screamed shwllv
81 want my pretty nurse with the
cool hands
Tho physician looked qucstioningly
go the parents
"Who is This nurse hc talks OFF,
The child raves. They said; THE
fever Is gaining ON him.
Il want my nurse. Your hands /
afo aI. bot, ! want ms nurse with |
the COOL cool hands My nurse My |
nurse
Iho physician lam his fingers upon /
tho ch.lds burning brow
Thou vert dreaming, my child!' |
Do said WiNug.v.
"1o away the child screamed. +
'ta.o away those horrid warm fingers /
IAc baud oi my pretty white nurse Is /
like 10 snowflake. / want her. where /
is she my nurse my nurse"
Suddenly they al wondered 30 soc q /
smile hrcas over the little face. Then /
tao foti lush dyed from his cheek, /
Boz. cyr Posed and Doe slumbcrcd |
peacefully The. worried physician /
drew assign nl'cf
elbow uof dcrfuIiv the good physi
clan raImel Oboe fever whispered The /
anxious wn lis Iut the physician +
lad nothing to do with d. The child
had seem tac lower maiden at the foot
az lH. couch smiling at him, with her
finger 0n beer lips.
lH the summcr months there was
mu0l sickness in the village The
young pny clan gave himself no
ie.l SD hours of the day and night
found lim 40 his post Ills eyes grew
hollow and his cheeks palcd for want
0i Sleep Unknown 10 him. DE had a
cDmrlie boo Dis duties. one airy and /
light az foot who lifted nightly with
Mm through every cottage door, who
hr.r0d hm mia every daughi, and
watched his sct. weary face across
every couch with loving, plying eyes.
THE suffering poor poured blessings
Oh llm and thc simple flower maiden
blessed bun, too for his deeds Of char
Hy Every word Of healing or pity
ta.i le. from hs lips she took rs a
I.Hn anI treasured ln neg heart. soon
heart became filed with these jew
ct IHoa DO daw1cd upon the tender
spirit that ,he loved the young physl. |
cen wiiha love that was beyond the
power of words
.As he B, loved bv me se.would ] /
d. loved by him. They &lc witch
Aat marvellous bcauty'-here she
laughed e.ccully-" perhaps it will |
seffcas "a charm and win his heart. /
"ui reveal myself TO him tonight,
though f Ac loved me ! would il were
ior myself and not my bcauty's sake.
lnte Ai.sc. the blue eyed golden
iHri pride OF The village had caught
iAc fever For days and days She
Aaa moancd IN pain. The young I
physician babe thc weary parents rest,
INu .If himself ia ,yafch beside her