San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-09

"Dtdst thou call me, my father"
the summit of the highest mountain,
and did they but brush against tree
on their passage it remained bowed and
bent to all eternity.
They were nourished with milk from
bright eyed does, and instead of horses
they rode winged stays, which wings,
though powerless to raise them aloft in
the air, lent much swiftness to their
movements.
This gigantic race was ruled over by
good old king, very old and wise. His
great age and his wisdom caused him to
be obeyed and reverenced by his SUBJ
jects as if they had been his children.
1t was quite fine sight to see this old
king, mounted on a winged stag, career
ing along, his snowy hair and long
white beard streaming in the wind, and
accompanied by his faithful followers.
This happy nation had but one source
of real sorrow, which was that when
their sovereign was called to his fathers
he would leave no son of his to succeed
him. The king had been blessed with
but one child, beautiful young maid
en-, tall and erect as pine tree, brave
and courageous as boy, and endowed
with so much strength that she could
guide the powerful winged stays three
or four abreast and keep them quite I'M
der control.
In course of time the giants found it
expedient to assemble together to DELHI
crate in council the necessity of choos-
ing the kings successor, and they re-
solved to impart to their monarch their
anxiety ON the subject; so. demanding
an audience Of him, the foremost speak
er addressed him thus: "Oh, mighty
king, may the Great Spirit grant thee
length of days! But when it pleaseth
him to summon thee to the golden cav
erns below, who then will reign over
us2 For, alas, thou hast no sonr
The aged king stroked his white
beard and gravely answered:
''Were my daughter put to the test,
why should she not WELD my scepter as
valiantly as any boy? You know she has
marvellous courage and is endowed with
great bodily strength, and when she
chooses a good and wise consort you
will be as happy then under her rule
as you are at present. Shall we seek her
consent to this proposition"
So saying, King Briar clapped his
hands, and the reverberation rang
through the Carpathians. A pattering of
hoofs and Tapping of wings were heard
from afar, followed by commotion
which was not unlike whirlwind.
Then a most extraordinary sight pre-
sented itself, no other than the kings
daughter, Vigilia, erect ON the back of
a stag, refining in with her left hand ten
other stays, while with her right hand
she brandished whip long as serpent
and glittering like lightning flash.
Her tall figure seemed to reach the
heavens, and her lovely hair floated
around her like one of those golden
clouds which sometimes conceal the
glory of the sun. Her bright starlike
eyes lighted up her countenance, while
joyous song came from her parted lips
and revealed small even teeth Of daz-
cling whiteness.
| The king turned radiant face toward
his subjects, as if to ask them, is not
this my boyish daughter manly enough
to fulfill your desire?"
In the space of second Vigilia
sprang to the ground, and throwing the
reins to the nearest person said, Here,
hold them if you can, but defy any
one of you to drive them altogether.
- -"