Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30

lows end Cazed sadly over the fields, look
ING 20 white in the soft moonlight As she
rAas Eat, an cid woman with hooked
ras- sc saappiDg black eyes, approached
ElG s1id:
You are as charming as ever, little
uvUph, bat why are you so sad this beauti-
fv' night, and why are you not chasing the
waves over the pou6?"
The uymph greatly disliked the old witch,
vl5 had Q very evil nature, and answered
WITHOUT looking Up:
Il an very lonely here in this pond, and
i D. net know why my father gave me this
Lcme so far away from my brothers and sis
t5-s. When the children used to play on
Che shore, l could hear their merry voices all
day, and ar night, while playing with the
waves, 4 could sIGg the songs they had sung,
EuE they DO not come here any more, and I
wait Ia vain Tor them"
THAT is because the farmer and the mil
Ter have had foolish quarrel" I" said the
witch, "Iou know that am guardian of
the wdea: field, and all my beautiful grain
IS going to waste just because the miller will
nCy grind the farmers wheat Tomorrow T
shall set the field on fire and, il little
Martha L. among the wheat, the miller will
lose Lis daughter. But if you ere SO lonely,
why do you not persuade Conrad, the
farmers son, to go with you to your home
under the water? Your crystal palace
would have such q charm foy him that he
would soon lose all desire to return to his
humble home and the parents would bs
punished for their foolishness in not allow
ing 3heir son to play with his little friend.
] am sure that he will come to the shore in
the morning and then you can carry him
ST"
With these words the old witch disap-
at ha he
about to bring upon the two neighbors.
The next morning, when the farmers
wife thought that Conrad was playing in the
held the boy stole away to the mill pond.
He had scarcely arrived there when the
water uymph. her beautiful face wreathed
IN smiles, glided over the water. and, draw
ing near, said to Conrad:
why have you stayed away so long7 1
have been very lonely without you''
The boy was SO astnnished over the lovely
creature and her sweet voice that be could
lind no words to reply to her question.
Come with me-" continued the nymph,
81 have long wished to show you my crys-
tai palace, nlled with the choicest treas
UreS."
She then took Conrad's hand and led him
uuQer the water The boy had thought to
zee wondrous beauties, but he was in no
way prepared for the enchanting scenes
which spread out before him. There were
broad avenues covered with pearls and bor-
oered with flowers of many CAV colors.
HaTps, touched by the gentle breeze, pro-
duced the sweetest music. Through the
trees could be seen the fairy palace, gleam-
ing and glstening as if made of precious
stones. When Conrad, accompanied by the
nymph, had examined and admired the
beauties and treasures of the palace, the
nymph said;
"Now, dear Conrad, 7 want you to stay
here, and when in a year go to my fathers
home in the deep sea this palace and all it
contains shall be yours.'
The boy looked thoughtful for moment,
and then replied:
IF Martha, the miller's daughter, were
here to play with me, think could stav,"
4 shall go to the shore, and watch for
Ter, and bring her here, said the nymph,
and she then hurried to the top of the
pond, where she was met by the witch of
the wheat field, who said:
$50 ycu have carried the farmers son to
7oUF nome, and have taken the millcr's