Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-17
THE BEeaAR.s FOUNTAIN.
k kIch Man once Refused an Angel $
 Drink oFSEold Water.

gar's Fountain" and this is It's story: Once upon a time there lived very proud and naughty man, who hated the poor and set himself above all the world who were not as wealthy and well-dressed as himself, and his want of charity was so great that it had be- come proverbial, and a beggar would no more have thought of asking bread at his gate than of asking him for all his fortune.
 There was a spring on his land, a sweet spring of cold water, and as it was the only one for miles, many a wayfarer paused to drink at it, but was never permitted to dos so. A servant was kept upon the watch to drive such persons away. Now there had never been known before anyone so avari- cious as to refuse a cup of cold water to his fellowmen, and the angels, talk ing among themselves, could not be- lieve it, and one of them said to the rest:
 "It is impossible for any but Satan himself! I will go to earth, and prove that it is not true"
 And so tEis fair and holy angel dis guised herself as beggar woman, cov- cred her golden hair with black hood, and chose the moment when~the master of the house was himself stand ing near the spring, to come slowly up the road, and to pause beside the foun- tain and humbly ask for draught of it's sweet water.
 Instantly the servant who guarded the spot refused; but the angel, desir ing to take news of good deed, not of 1 an evil one, back to Heaven, went to | the master himself, and said: Il am, as you see, wanderer from afar. Sec how poor are my garments, how stained with travel! It is not surely at | your bidding that your servant forbids me to drink, and even if it is, I pray you bid him let me drink, for am very thirsty.'
 The rich man looked at her with scornful eyes, and said:
 "This is not a public fountain; you will find one in the next village"
 ''The way is long," pleaded the angel, ''and am woman and weak"
 Drive her away" said the rich man. and as he spoke, the beggar turncd; but on the instant her black hood dropped from her head and revealed focks of ripping golden hair-her un- seemly rags fell to the ground-and the | Su1HueE1uS TOOcS ILldU dnSelS wear shone in their place. For moment she lowered, poised on purple wings, with her hands folded on her bosom and an ineffable sweetness of sorrow i'll her eyes. Then, with gush of music and flood of perfume, she vanished.
 The servant fell to the earth like one dead. The rich man trembled and cried out, for he knew that he had for . | oF o11l +r a1 and horror possessed his soul.
 Almost instantly terrible thirst fell upon him which nothing could assuarc. In vain he drank wines, Sherbcts draughts of all pleasing kinds. Nothing could slake his thirst. The sweet water of the spring was salter to him than the sea. He who never in his life had known an ungratified desire now eXpe- rienced the torture of an cver-unSatis- fled longing; but through this misery he began to understand what he had done. He repented his cruelty to the poor. Aims were given daily at his gate Charity was the business of his life The fountain was no longer guarded and near it hung a cup ready for any one who choose to use it. But the curse if curse it was, was not lifted.
 The rich man-young when the ange visited him-grew middle-aged, elderly old still tortured by this awful thirst 1 despite his prayers and repentance. H. had broken bread for the most misera ble beggars who came to his door.
 And at eighty years of age, bowed with years of infirmity, and weary o his life, he sat. beside the fountain weeping. And To! along the road Il, saw approaching a beggar woman hooded in black, and walking over thu stones with bare feet Slowly she cam, and paused beside the fountain.
 May l drinl<?' she asked.
 ''There is none to forbid thee,' sait the old man, trembling. Drink, poo woman; once an angel was forbidden l here, but that time has passed. Drink , and pray for one athirst. Here is tn 2 cup"
 The woman knelt over the fountain , and filled the cup; but instead of put . ting it to her lips, she presented it t.
 those of the old man. Drink, then,
 she cried, ''and thirst no more.'
 The old man took the cup and emp tied it. 0. blessed draught! with it tn
 torture of years departed, and as h drank it he praised Heaven. And lift : ing his eyes once more, he saw the beg \ gar's hood drop to the ground and he
 rags fall in pieces. For & momen
 she stood revealed in all her beauty o :. golden hair and silvery raiment. an she stretched her hand toward him, a
 if in blessing, and then, rising, vanishe :, in the skies. A strain of music lir , gered, a perfume filled the air, an ' those who came there soon after foun a the old man praying beside the spring Before he died lie built the fountai 7. from which the spring gushes. and i - has been given to the poor forever.
 Such is the story of the "Beggar' 3 Fountain. Little Crusader. . An EntorprlsIng Citizen.
 MT. Gotham-If the European n;
 lions would only take our America