The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04
Three Golden Apples.

There was once a famous old garden
called the Hesperides. II was a beautiful
place. hedged in with a wall, and full
OF all sorts of Towering plants and fruit
trees. Among the trees there was one
that bore apples of gold. real yellow gold
that sparkled In the sunlight only as this
precious metal can There is not, / sup
pose, a graft of that wonderful tree in
the whole world now, and even in that
marvellous, half-forgotten time there was
only one tree, and that bore but three
apples.
The garden was owned by a woman
named Juno. They called her a goddess
then; ! suppose that was only because
she was very beautiful and very rich
6he owned many other gardens. but there
was none like this one of the Hesperides
And, of course what Juno most valued
In II was the tree that bore the golden
fruit and the three round apples on IT.
She took the greatest care of them, for
she would not have lost the apples for
all the world.
The garden was guarded by giant
q great and terrible giant he was, too.
He had a hundred heads; fifty of them
slept while the others kept watch. No
one could get into the garden without the
giant's knowing 1t, and IL any one at
tempted 1t the giant always killed him.
for he was a fearful monster. Besides
his hundred heads and sleepless eyes.
no had hundred hands, and each one
was armed with formidable club. When
he was angry his eyes glared like fire, and
his breath became thick and oppressive
smoke.
great many sought TO obtain the
golden apples, and lost their lives. l
think the apples were hardly worth all
this, but anything that is gold seems
TO have a wonderful attraction, and these
golden apples did not grow on every tree.
So people came from far and near, young
men and old men, to get, II possible.
the wonderful fruit but they never sue
ceeded for. as l have said, the hundred
headed giant killed them all.
One day a young man walked up 10
the gate; he was different from all the
rest. He was stout and strong, and look
ed as though he would not be very easily
frightened. He was dressed only In
lions skin. A golden culver OF arrows
hung at his shoulders. long bow was
slung over his back, and he carried
huge knotty club In his hand. This man
had come long way to see If he could
get the golden apples.
HIS name was Hercules and he was
prince in his own country. In truth he
should have been a king. He was the
elder of two brothers, but the younger
one by some chicanery had gained the
crown. Fearing trouble from his brother
n he were allowed TO remain at home,
he sent him away to undertake many
daneerous enterprises Hercules very
willingly attempted all that his brother
desired. In all his labors he was uni
formly successful, although many OF
them seemed beyond the power of mortal
to accomplish But nothing that he had
undertaken was so dangerous as the at
tempt to secure the goddess three golden
apples
AS have said, Hercules walked boldly
I'D before the gate, Just as II no hundred
headed giant were there. Now there was
" ~. ~ 49, ca-ao- - no" loco nod
and lowly and luxurant. In this meadow,
as Hercules appeared. were four young
rosy-cheeked girls, who were playing
among the flowers They were distant
relatives OF Juno. but were not on the
best of terms with the goddess. When
they saw Hercules they hailed him and
asked him what his business was.
The young prince told them that he had
come 10 get possession of the golden ap-
pies. The maidens were very sorry when
they heard this and they tried TO dis
suade him from making the attempt, tell
ing him that he would certainly be killed.
Hercules laughed and shook his curly
head. He had met and overcome many
dangers. he said; he should not turn
back from this. He was very brave
and strong; he was not afraid Of the hun
dred-headed giant.
However, they persuaded him TO rest
until the morning. They had taken a
great fancy 10 him. and they set before
him q bountiful supper. and woye gar
lands and crowned his golden hair with
them. In his turn the prince sung for
them. playing on a seven-stringed Tyre.
which charmed them very much.
In the morning. seeing that he was de-
terminsd 10 venture his life for the APP
pies. the four maidens gave him each a
present. The Oldest gave him magic
looking-giass. In II he could see every
thing IN the world. even the giant behind
the garden walls guarding the golden
aUples. The second gave him a golden
~ With which he could unlock the gar
een safe. The third gave him q little pet
~ The youngest and fstrsst one gave