The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-06-12
The Fountain of YOnth.

1t was on the day of the summer
solstice, and the glow of midday lay
ON the cornfelds. At times fresh
wind swept over from the mountain
forest near Then the stalks bent
low, and the peoples on the edge of
the field scattered their delicate pet
ais. Crickets and grasshoppers chirp
ed in the grain, and from the black
thorn on the roadside the goldman
mer once in awhile let her gentle
call be heard
Through the cornfeld, which eX-
tended from the valley to the noun
tain, walked in the narrow path q
young woman of slender yet strong
figure. She wore the customary
plated skirt, and for protection from
the sum rays a red kerchief. On
her left arm hung basket, and in
her right hand she carried stone
jug.
}, As the go1dhammer in the thorn
hedge became aware of her presence
he futtered to the highest twig and
called softly, Maiden, maiden, how
do you fourish?" But the bird was
mistaken. The blond Greta was no
maiden, but a young wife, and now
was on her way to her husband, who
felled wood in the forest above.
When the fair one had reached the
border of the forest, she stood listen
ing, and soon the strokes of wood
man. ak told her where to turn her
steps. 1t was not long before she
saw her husband, who felled a pine
tree with mighty strokes, and with
joyful voice she called to him.
"Remain standing where thou
art, responded he, Tho tree will
fall directly" And the pine tree
gave deep sigh, bowed itself and
sank crashing to the earth.
r. Now Greta came nearer, and the
sInburnt woodcutter took his young
wife in his arms and kissed her fond
ly. Then she sat down on the trunk
of the tree and took the food from
the basket she had brought. Hero
Hans laid down the bread from his
hand, took his AK and said, Il havo
forgotten something, stepped in tho
direction of the fallen pine and cut
three crosses in the wood.
why dost thou that, Hans?" ask
ed the wife.
THAT was done on account of the
wood sprites, " explained the hus-
band. 1.-The poor creatures have Il
wicked enemy, who is the wild hunt
or. Day and night he waylays them
and hunts them with his dogs. But
If the pursued little women succeed
In escaping to such tree trunk then
the wild huntsman cannot harm
them because of the three crosses. :"
=, The young wife's eyes grew large.
''Hast thou over met a wood sprite?"
asked she, curious.
50 No, They only rarely let them
selves be seen. But today is the sol.
stice, when they become visible. !"
And suddenly he called with a loud
voice into the forest, Wood sprite,
Appearp,,
- He had only done this in order to
tease his wife. but on tho holy mid
summer day one should not jest
about such things.
At once Il little woman n yard
high, delicate of form and very beau
tiful of face stood before the pair
She wore long white garment and
In her golden hair spray of mistle-
toe.
Hans and Greta were very much
frightened. They raised up hastily
from their seats, and Greta made a
bow, the best she could do.
"You have called me at a good
time" said tho wood sprite and
pointed with forefnger to the orb OF
the sun, that stood almost over hei
head, land good deed here the
little woman pointed to the marked
tree stump-'lS the other reason
Gold and silver have l not to give
away, but know of something bet
ter Come with me- 1t will do yor
no harm. and take your jug. Yor
will be able to make use of it"
So she spoke and led the way.
Hans shouldered his woodlands AK,
Greta took up the stone jug, and
both followed the little woman. She
had walk like duck, and Greta
plucked at her husbands sleeve,
pointed to the waddling little woman
and would have whispered some
thing into his ear. but Hans laid his
fOrefnger on her mouth. Nothing