San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-06

grasses, all these flowers, sang; an mlu-
gled and pressed closely together to
gossip more at ease, to whisper low to-
gether of the loves of the corOlla. A.
breath of life foated low down in the
Swallowed coppice, giving voice to each
sprig of moss.
The forest held high carnival. The
ladybirds, the beetles, the dragonhies,
the buttertiies-all the beautiful lovers
of the Towering hedges-had gathered
at the four quarters of the forest.
There they established their little re-
public; the footpaths were their guards;
the streams, their streams; the forest,
their forest. They lived luxuriantly at
the foot Of the trees, on low branches, in
the dried leaves; lived there as though
| at home, quietly and by right of con-.
quest. They had, like good citizens,
| abandoned the higher branches to the
robins snd the nightingales. The forest.
that had hitherto sung in all its branches,
IN all its leaves and flowers, sang now
with the insects and with the birds,
IN a short time Simplicity became an
old friend of the forest. They chatted
so happily together that it robbed him
of the last vestige of sense. When he
left the forest to shut himself again
within four walls. whether seated at his
table or lying in 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 he chose for him.
self an immense palace. His salon was
vast glade. Long dark green draperies
Ornamented 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. His
sleeping room was a delicious boudoir,
filled with mystery and fragrance. The
flooring and the walls were hidden under
under soft carpet of an inimitable pat
tern. The alcove, bored through a 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, a crystal bath lost in bouquet
of flowers. Twill not tell of the thou
sand galleries which crossed each other
in this palace, nor of the wondrous land
scapes, nor of the gardens. 1t 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 he'll
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. A sound indi.
Gated 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
| ldSC, 81 pun III SpltC VI lIo wealth. VI
words. The way of living of his new
friends charmed him. He felt supreme.
ly ignorant compared with them, and
resolved to go 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 certain
reserve in his intercourse with them
But the forest did not eye him coldly
1t understood that he was simple soul
and that he held the most amiable inter
course with the denizens of the wood
No one hid from him. 1t often CHANGED
that he would surprise, at the end of a
glade, butterfly ruffling the collar of a
daisy. Soon the hawthorn overcame
her bashfulness, just enough to give
lessons to the young prince. She loving
ly taught him the language of perfume
and of color. The purple corolla hailed
Simplicity on his awakening. the green
leaves told of their wild midnight
dances, the grasshopper confided to him
in whisper that he was madly in love
with the violet.
Simplicity had chosen for his bosom
friend a golden dragonfly, with a slen-
der waist and quivering wings. This
beauty was a dreadful coquette; 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-