The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-01-11

AcuS uio otScuBIus I tOrCcu tuybclI
through the bars OF my prison and es-
capped. was saved. Ny wings bore
me to this valley; and now shall try
to prolong my life rs a wild goose,
until winter comes, when shall, per-
haps. find a modest position as snow
goose.
Alheid sighed deeply. and then was
silent.
MY fate" said the ass, lis similar
to yours. Miss Alhei6. Look ut the
black cross which decorates my
shoulder; that will tell you all. am
OF the race of the sacred ass of Jerusa-
lem. and Baldwin is my name. My
pedigree goes back 10 Noah's ark.
Dalaam's ass and the ass with whose
jawbone Samson slew two thousand
Philistines arc my ancestors. The one
of my ancestors who died like phil.
osopller between two bundles of hay, l
will only mention incidentally; nor
will dwell on the worthiest of my
high aspiring forefathes, who founded
the collateral branch of mules. My
parents were convent people, and bore
pious monks on theircrrands of charity.
hy older brothers and sisters became
lay brethren; but the fathers sold me
To the convent miller. and |, Il sacred
ass, saw myself compelled by rough
men To carry contemplate meal sacks.
For Il long time | suffered in silent
submission. But one night, when the
cruelty Of a rough miller's boy drove
me To desperation, burst my letters
and came to this peaceful forest valley,
where found you by the cool well,
most charming Alhcid. Here think
| shall remain for tic present and lead
the contcmplativc life of wild ass"
So the ass and the goose both re-
manned in the meadow valley. They
dwclt apart from each other, as ii be-
came them, but they saw each other
and talked together daily, and at last
one could no longer live without the
other. They were happy and sad at
the same time; happy, because they
loved and found love in return; sad,
because they saw they could never be
long To one another.
"Oh! why was | born goose" be-
walled Alhcid; and Baldwin, the ass,
sighed. IF | were q bird!" and he
knew, too, what kind of bird he
would be.
Thus weeks passed by. The ass grew
perrcptibly thin, although there was
no lack Of nourishing food in the inca
dow valley; and the goose lost the red
color from her bill, and her eyes be-
came dull.
Now. there lived in tho forest, in
hollow stone, an owl, who was the
most clever female anywhere about,
and the beasts often went to her for
advice. The ass told her his distress,
and when the owl had heard his
story. she said THAT l cannot help.
But wait till midsummer Then the
wise Wish Lady comes to the well in
the meadow valley to bathe. Confide
to her your trouble. Perhaps sho will
help you, and change your form; she
is most powerful magician.
Then the ass went away half con-
soled. Ono midsummer eve, when
Alhcid, the goose, had sought her rest
ing place, he concealed himself near
the spring to wait for the wonderful
Wish Lady.
She did not keep him waiting long.
She came flying along in her dress OF
swans feathers, threw aside tho downy
garment, and bathed her white limbs
in the cool spring. Tho ass waited
with an ass patience until she came
out of the water; and when she had
sat down on a stone and was combing
her hair, then Baldwin stepped up to
her, beat his fore hoof three times as q
greeting, and begged the Wish Lady,
most piteously, to change him at once
to q gander
The cnchantrcss shook her head.
That is strange WISH" she thought,
''but can fulfill it, and l will"
And she whispered in the ear of the
MSS, who listened attcntively: Early
tomorrow morning, at sunrise, pick
seven gooseberry blossoms and eat
them silently, then plunge your head
in the well, and you will be changed
10 a fine gandcr. And now you go
your way and leave me alone"
The asa thanked her heartily and |
went away. He never closed his eyes |
all night, and as soon as tho mountain |
tops began to grow red he was up on |
his feet and away to look for the seven |
gooscbcrry blossoms. Then he hurried |
10 the spring and plunged his head in,
delight, he saw in the mirror of the
water the picture of hnndsome-a
most magnificent - gandcr with a
curved neck.
AS fast as he could go he hurried TO
Inc thickct where the goose had taken
up her abode.
"Alheid, my beloved Alheidr' he
cried, where art thou?"
Here, my dearest" sounded from
the thickct, and u pretty little sho ass
came dancing out OF the bushes.
The lovers looked at each other,
dumb with amazement
'Oh, what an ass am" sighed the
yander.
"Oh, what a goose / amr' groancd
the ass.
Then hot torrent of tears poured
from their eyes; and in the midst of
her weeping Alheid told how she had
followed the advice OF the owl, and
sought the Wish Lady, who had
granted her request, and changed her
70 a jenny. Hcrcupon the gander, be-
tween heavy sobs, gave his experience,
and the midsummer sun never shOne