Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-02-26
New Series, Vol. 81, No 8

linen freQQy thanked the cuckoo, ,Wh(
flew toward the forest, with swift flap
d ping of the wings.
r When the seven colors of the rainbow
glistened in the waterfall, the water.
sprite really came out of the deep. He
q had little red coat on and white col
l lar. His hair was green and hung over
. his shoulders like a shaggy name. He
: sat on stone which raised itself over
the mirror the pond, let his feet hang in
the water and began to comb his hair
, with his ten fingers. This was trouble
: some work, since sea weed, water-lentils
, and little snail shells hung in the snarls,
and the water-sprite distorted his face
painfully in the attempt to smooth his
hair.
This is the right time to speak to the
water-sprite," thought Freddy. He
plucked up his courage, came forward
from behind the alder hedges which had
concealed him up to this time, took off his
hat and said: "Good evening, Mr.. Wa
ter-Sprite."
At the sound of his voice the water
sprite plunged into the water like
frightened fish, and dived under But
pretty soon he raised his head above the
water and said in isurly tone, "Wkat
do you want?"
"With your permission, Mr.. Water
Sprite," began Freddy, 81 am a practi-
cal barber, and it would be great hon.
or to me if l could comb your hair"
"Oh," said the water-sprite as he
sprang out of the water, 'you come to
me very opportunely. What trouble
and bother l have had with my hair
since the Lorelei, my amt, basely left
mel What have not done for the un-
grateful creaturel And one morning
she went away and my golden comb
went too, and now | hear that she sits
on rock in the Rhine and has an at
traction for sailor in a little boat
There the little golden comb will soon
be squandered away"
With these words the water-sprite
took his place on stone. Freddy drew
out his BARRIERS bag, put white cloth
around the water er-sprites neck and
combed and oiled his hair till it was as
soft as silk; then he made a straight |
part which went from his forehead to his |
neck, took the cloth off, and made low |
bow as he had learned to do from his |
master. The water-sprite stood up and |
gazed at himself with satisfaction in the |
mirror of the water "What do l owe
you," he asked.
Freddy had on the end of his tongue |
the customary phrase "What you please
but he remembered just in time that |
one must seize an opportunity and |
strike the iron while it is hot. So he |
cleared his throat and told the water
sprite the story of his life.
$50 you would like to be a musician?"
asked the water -sprite, when Freddy |
stopped speaking. "Take your fiddle
in your hand and let me hear what your
skill is"
Then the apprentice took his violin, ,tun-
ed the strings, and played his best piece,
"When Grandfather Married Grand
MOTHER" and when he had finished with
a delicate flourish, he looked expectant-
ly at the water-sprite, who distorted his |
face into grin, and said "Now hear me, |
too" Then he reached down into the |
weeds and drew out violin and bow,
and sat down Alright and began to play.
Such music had little Freddy never
heard. First it sounded as if the even
ing wind was playing in the rushes,
then like the roaring of a waterfall, and
at last like gently gliding river. The
birds in the twigs were silent, the bees
stopped their buzzing and the fish lifted
their heads out of the fish pond to listen
to the sweet tones. Bright tears stood
in the young boys eyes.
"Mr. Water-Sprite," said he, with up
raised hands, when the bow was still,
"take me under your teaching"
s'That will not do," answered the
water-sprite. "On account of my grown
up daughters it won't do. However, it
isn't necessary. If you will let me have
your comb you shall be fiddler without
a rival
"My whole barber's bag if you wish
it." cried Freddy, and offered it to the
ater-sprite, who quickly snatched the
proffered bag and disappeared in the
water.
"Waitl waitl'' cried Freddy, but his
call was in vain. He waited an hour,
he waited two-but the water-sprite {
would not hear him. G
Poor Freddy heaved deep sigh, since >
it was clear to him that the false water
sprite had deceived him, and with
heavy heart he started to go, where, he t
did not know. Then he saw the water |
sprite's fiddle bow lying on the bauk of .
the fish pond at his feet. He bent to-
ward it and as he held it in his hand he /
felt thrill which went from the ends '
of his fingers to his shoulder blade, and t
~ ,,rraI him t0 trv tho how
He was going to play "Good Moon, !
thou goest so gently" but it was as if =
an invisible power controlled his hand; I
from the strings came tones so sweet |
and silvery as Freddy had heard but +
once before in his life, when the water q
sprite had played the fiddle. The birds '
came flying around and sat listening in +
the branches, and the fish sprang over 6
the water, and out of the forest came the
stag and the deer, who looked at the a
with wise eyes. And Freddy | I
did not know what had happened to C
him. Whatever moved his soul and q
stirred his heart found its way into his 4
hand, and out of the hand into his play Il
ing, and sounded forth in sweet tones. a
The water-sprite rose out of the fish v
pond and nodded his head approvingly. il
Then he vanished and did not show him A
self more. h
And Freddy strolled out of the for q
EST, fddling, and went through all the o
kingdoms of the earth and played before ii
kings and emperors. Yellow gold rain n
ID into his hat and he would have been a
, very rich man if he hadn't been true n
musician. But true musician doesn't
become a rich man.
He had given away his BARRIERS bag
50 he let his hair grow rs the strong
samson did once upon time. The 9TH q
sr musicians initiated him, and they :
nave worn from that time to this day, 8
ong tangled hair. t