Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-22
"THE FLOWER MAIDEN"

the DOugnS OF tne trees anu spreading
upon the ground made it like velvet
for treading feet. There many lovely
flowers bloomed, and when the moon
babe the dew glisten on these and on
the filmy wells of moss, it looked like
q 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 to and fro. A country
fellow told how, returning from late
revelries, he came face to face with a
maiden whose beauty made him dizzy
and dumb.
Seeing him standing aghast, she
laughed 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
spell woven of the rays of the moon.
Weeks after he went signing and pin
ing, then he changed greatly. From
q 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
tho guise of beautiful maiden, stole
mems hearts and brewed witches broth
of them Simpletonsl
No witch was she, but pure simple
spirit whose whole delight was in
doing good. Skilled in the art of heal
ing with herbs, she glided into the
homes of the country folk and I'M
known to them cured their ailing chill
dren with her simple remedies Often
times, sitting at the bedside of a sick
child, she laughed softly to hear her
self spoken of as 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 that bloom
by night 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
till darkness once more overspread the
earth. But when the moons first sill
yer wand touched the flower it opened
and, stealing from It's heart, the maid
EN- would speed through the forest on
her merciful GRAND.
Now it CHANGED that lately in her
visits to the sick she had seen much
of 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
at 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
world of medicine.
A poor little child was once very
sick with fever. The third time the
young physician was sent for he tried
his 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 elfish
looking child CLEANED brighter than
ever, his cheeks were flushed, and he
tossed restlessly from side to side. 81
want my nurse !'he screamed, shrilly.
~ 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; ''the
fever is gaining on him."
II want my nurse! Your hands
are all hotl l want my nurse with
the cool, cool hands! My nurse! My
nurse
The physician laid his fingers upon
the child's burning brow.
Thou vert dreaming, my child2'
he said pityingly.
go away" the child screamed
stake away those horrid waRn fingers
The hand of my pretty white nurse il
like snowtlakel | want her; where
rs she, my nurse, my nurseT
Suddenly they all wondered to see {
the fever flush died from his cheek
peacefully. The worried physician
drew a sigh of relief.
How wonderfully the good physi
clan Gained the fever" whispered thu
anxious parents. But the physician
Ildu hotlililB W 10 WIFI III. Inc cnllt
had seen the flower maiden at the foo
of his couch, smiling at him, with hel
finger on her lips.
In the summer months there wa.
much sickness in the village. TIL,
young physician gave himself n,
rest. 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 to him, he had
comrade in his duties one airy ant
light of foot, who fitted nightly Will
him through every cottage door, wh'
helped him mix every draught, anc
watched his set, weary face acros
every couch with loving, plying eyes
The suffering poor poured blessing
on him, and the simple flower maidel
blessed him, too, for his deeds of char
ity. Every word of healing or pit,
that fell from his lips she took as