The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-12-07

chase the chamois up the m0un tainside
or ghide travellers through its dangerous
passes than spend his time with the finest
of the maids of the hamlet.
His mother often said, "My son, when
wilt thou bring me home daughter and
| thyself wifew
! And Gustavus, smiling and and press
ing a kiss on her forehead, would an
swer;.
"When l find a maid as good as thee,
mother; but want no idle, shrill-voiced
wife TO disturb our quiet home"
But one day his mother said more
sadly and seriously than ever before:
"Gustavus, am growing old and
feeble. can no longer make and mend
thy clothes and keep our home. Thou
must have a wife. Promise me at the
fete next week thou wilt choose one
from among the maidens there"
Gustavus reluctantly gave her the de-
sired promise, but it weighed heavily
upon him. He could think Of nothing
else, and the more he pondered the
heavier his heart grew.
At last he seized his gun and went
out on the mountain, but the perplexing
questions followed him, until at last he
threw himself on the ground groaning,
"Oh, that some wise man would make
this choice for mew
A moment after he looked up and
saw, as if in answer to his wish, the
wizard approaching him.
"Why," he exclaimed to himself,
"did not think of him beforel Surely
he, If any one, can help me-" Then,
with throbbing heart, Gustavas sprsng
up to meet him.
The wizard greeted Gustavus warmly,
for he felt q strong friendship for the
young guide who had taken him safely
through many dangerous mountain
excursion.
And now his sympathetic question,
"Why, what's troubling you, my boy2"
opened the way for Gustavus to pour out
all his perplexity, ending his recital
with the question;
"Canst thou not help me choose a
good wife who will make my life hap.
py9 For now l have given my mother
my promise to find wife at the fete
next week"
The wizard smiled sYmpathetically,
and then thought in silence o little
while before he answered.
"It pure, true heart is united to a
true, pure heart, both lives must bo
happy"
"AlasI" answered Gustavus, "but I
know not which maiden among them all
has the purest, truest heartW
"There will be one such heart at the
iete," answered the wizard, "but you
may fail to recognize it. However, If you
will come to me tomorrow l will give
you charm that will show you this
heart"
Here was comfort, indeed, aud with O
light heart Gustavus thanked his friend
and bounded forward.
Left alone, the wizard continued down
the mountain.side until he came in sight
of the Widow Neur's chalet, where he
found Marie sitting by the spring. Iu-
stead of her usual sunshiny smile, tiny
tear-drops stood In her eyes, and there
was a grieved look about her rosy lips
that made him wish to comfort her.
"Whst is the matter little oneI" he
asked gently.
"Oh, sir, she said, tI want to see
the great fete next week, but l have no
pretty ornaments to wear, and then"
The long curtains dropped over her
shining eyes and the sweet voice sank
almost to whisper.
"The good mother says none of the
young men will care to dance with me-"
"But whyl" asked the wizard in sur
prise.
because 1 cannot talk aud laugh
with them as other maidens do. My
heart beats fast if they do but glance
toward me, and know not what to say,
and o,"-here tear slipped from under
the long eyelashes-"my mother says
had better not CO."
Courage, little one," the wizard an.
swered. "Tell your mother" he added
suddenly, "that 1 am going to lend you
silver belt to wear, aud that my knowl-
edge tells me that the bIavest, hand
soonest youth in all the land will dance
with you quite joyfully."
This happy Marie thanked the wizard
as Gustavus had done, and ran off to tell
the wonderful news to her mother.
Early next morning Gustavus went for
his charm. He found the wizard waiting
for him, and taking him into his strange
room, the wise man said, smiling, as he
had the day before, half quizzically,
half mpathetically:
"Here's the charm, my good fellow.
You see it is magic ring. Put it on
before you 60 to the fete, and be sure
you dance with every maiden there.
When you place your arm about the
waist of the one whose heart is true and
good a strange feeling will run through
you and your hand will cling to her. But
you must be sure that you dance with ALL"
Gustavus, greatly wondering, thanked
the wizard and slipped on the ring.
It was curious circlet of iron, with a
fiat extension, which the wizard bade
him wear pointing toward his palm.
When the fete day came Gustavus was
there among the other young men, eager
to try his charm.
All the maidens of Obgadin were there
also, and on the outskirts of one of the
gay crowds little Marie hovered timidiy
beside her mother.
"WhY didst thou come, Mariel' asked
one of the girls.
'tDidst thou think any youth would !
want TO dance with a mouse to-daym
asked another.
Then seeing the ouick tears tremhlino