The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-11-18

guest. They had, like good citizens,
abandoned the higher branches to the
robins and the nightingales. The forest,
that had hitherto sung in all its branches,
in all it's leaves and flowers, sang now
with the insects and with the birds.
In short time Simplicity became an
old friend Of the forest. They chatted
SO happily together that it robbed him
of the laet vestige of sense. When he
left the forest to shut himself again
within four walls. whether seated at his
table or lying ia his bed, he was always
dreaming.
At last, one beautiful morning, he
suddenly abandoned his apartments, and
went and installed himself under the
old foliage. There be chose for him
self an immense palace. His salem was
vast glade. Long dark green dI,aperies
orna1nented the periphery; 500 flexible
pillars, interlaced like fine gauzy veil,
and Of the bright hue of the emerald,
lowered high in the air. The roof itself
was one large dome of changeable blue
satin. starred with golden nails. Lis
sleeping room was q delicious boudoir.
filled with mystery and fragrance. The
flooring and the walls were hidden under
under a soft carpet of an inimitable pat
tern. The alcoye, bored through q rock
by some giant, had walls of pink marble
and floor Of ruby powder. He had also
his bathroom, a living fountain of pure
water, crystal bath lost in a bouquet
of flowers. will not tell of the thou
sand galleries which crossed each other
in this palace, nor Of the wondrous land
scapes, nor of the gardens. Ii was one
of those royal habitations that God alone
knows how to fashion. The prince,
therefore, could now be as foolish as he
pleased. His father thought him changed
into wolf, and So sought another heir
more worthy Of the throne.
Simplicity was very busy during the
next few days after settling himself in
his new home. He made friends with
his neighbors, the beetles and the butter
flies They were kind neighbors, with as
much bright intelligence as man. AT
first he had some difficulty in under
standing their language, and he soon
perceived that he would have to educate
himself anew. He learned the concise
language of the insects. 4 sound indi-
Gated a hundred different objects. fol-
lowing the infection Of the voice and
the length of the note. Soon he lost the
habit of speaking the language of his
race, so poor in spite Of its wealth of
words The way of living of his new
friends charmed him. He felt supreme
ly ignorant compared with them, and
resolved to so and study at their
schools
He was more reserved in his relations
toward the moses and the pines. AS he
was not yet able to understand the Ian
guage of the blade of grass and Of the
flowers, his ignorance caused a certain
reserve in his intercourse with them.
But the forest did not eye him coldly.
It understood that he was simple soul,
and that ne held the most aIniable inter
course with the denizens of the wood.
No one hid from him. 1t often CHANGED
that be would surprise, at the end of a
glade. butterfly ruffiing the collar of a
daisy. Soon tlIe hawthorn overcame
her bashfulless, iHst enough to give
lessons TO the young prince. She loving
ly Taught him the language of perfume
and of color. The purple corol1a hailed
leaves told of their wild midnight
dances, the grasshopper confded to him
in whisper that he was madly in love
with the violet.
Simplicity had chosen for his bosom
friend a golden dragonfy, with a slen
der waist and quivering wings. This
beauty was dreadful coauette: she
sported near him, seemed to call to him
then flew lightly from his hand. The
great trees, who saw these maneuvers
rebuked her vigorously and solemnly
whispered that she would come to bad
end.
Simplicity suddenly became restless
The ladybug, who was the first to per
ceive the sadness of her friend, gently
sought to win his confidence. He an
swered sadly that he was as happy a.
ever. He rose now with the dawn, an6
wandered through the glade until dusk
He softly held back the branches
searched the thicket and the shadow!
formed by the leaves.
sWhat is our pupil seeking? de
| inanded the hawthorn of the moss.
The dragonfy, wondering at this de
sertion of her lover, concluded that b,
was mad for love of her. She came enc
roguish1y futtered about him; he dit
not perceive her. The big trees has
/ judged her rightly; she consoled hersel
| quickly with the first butterfly at tn
crossway.
The leaves were sad as they watche
the young prince, questioning each tuf
of grass and searching with an cage
eye the long avenues. They heard hir
complain of the impenetrable thicknes
of the brushwood, and they said, ''Sin
plicity has seen Flower-of-the-W ater,
the Undine of the spring
| Flower-of- the Water was the child o
sunbeam and dewdrop.
She was so impidly beautiful that th
kiss of lover would cause her death
The perfume of her breath was SO swee
that a kiss from her lips would caus
the death of her lover. The forest knee
this, and with jealous care it hid il
adored child. 1t had given her as
sanctuary spring shaded by thic
cluster of trees There, in the siienc
and the shadow, Flower-of-the- w ate
glittered in the midst of her sister
Idly she f1oated with the tide. her sma
feet half hidden by the ripples, her golde
head crowned with liquid pearls. He
smile was the delight of the water lille
and the gladioles. She was the soul {
the forest. She lived without car
knowing naught of earth but her mothe
the dew, nor of the heavens, but tt
sunbeam, her father She knew herse
beloved by the ripple that Graded he