Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-06-03
ssThe Talking Tree"

Once there was a certain King whose
greatest delight it was to collect what
ever was wonderful and rare. Now it
happened one day that stranger came
to the palace, and the King was showing
| him his curiosities.
Your majesty" said the stranger, bow
ing politely, possesses the greatest collec-
ton of wonders / have ever seen, but
there is one thing you do not possess"
land what is that?" asked the King,
eagerly.
1T is a talking tree" answered the
/ stranger.
And is there such thing as talking
| tree? Strange | have never heard of it
before. And where does this talking
tree grow? Tell me quickly and | will
dispatch my servant at once and fetch it.
1t will add greatly tie. my collection"
1T grows" said the stranger, lin the
| Wrecken valley, which is on the other
| side of those lofty mountains.
The King Immediately ordered one of
| his most trusty servants to mount his fly
! ing horse and go in search of the talking
! tree. But in u few days the servant re-
turned, saying he had searched the valley
through and through, but could find no
/ talking tree.
The King, thinking the stranger was
making sport of him, had him arrested
and thrown into prison. There you VIII
/ lie,' he said, ''till you tell me where this
| talking tree grows"
| Il am sorry, your majesty, but can't
| you send again? Perhaps another Of
your servants can find it." So the King
sent again; but, as before, the servant re-
| turned, saying: There is no such thing
| as talking tree to be found"
Then the King was very angry, and
/ issued a command that the stranger was
| to be beheaded in three days unless he
/ told where the talking tree really was.
But the stranger only said, as before,
| that he had seen such tree, and that it
grew in the valley beyond the mountains
to obtain no other reply, the King grew
uneasy. On the morning of the third
/ day, having still had no further answer,
| he arose and went to the prison IN hopes
! of satisfying his mind whether there
really was such thing as talking tree,
| or whether he was merely being TESTED
with. For he said to himself, IF there
| is such a thing, by killing the stranger |
| shall lose my only opportunity OF ever
| finding it."
Il am sorry, your majesty said the
| stranger. II would tell you, but l have
forgotten the precise spot where the tree
| grows. Only it is somewhere in Wrecken
| valley between the two high mountains.
Have you yourself seen it? Have you
| heard it talk with your own ears!" asked
| the King.
| YES" answered the stranger. II have
seen it with my own eyes and heard it
| with my own ears"
! "And what did it say?'
1T said, To live without any one COM
ing is to die"
''That is true" said the King, who
thought he would try again, and he sent
a third servant, who returned as did the
others, not being able to find the slightest
| indications of talking tree.
The King became more anxious than
| ever now to possess the talking tree.
| He could neither eat nor sleep, and he
| feared to kill the stranger lest he should
lose all chance of finding this wonder.
| At last he called meeting of his cour-
tiers and made know his intention.
| 1.-The talking tree [ must have, and
since no one seems able to find it | will
go myself. Until I find this tree 1 shall
not call myself king
! And off he went on his flying horse
across the mountains. After many days
| he came to Wrecken valley. Now it
| happened when the King descended and
| dismounted from his horse he touched
| him with his spur, and the animal i'm
mediately began to rise, and, before the
Kings eyes, sailed across the mountains.
Now the King was sore put and he knew
not what to do. How should he ever be
able to return? But being tired and
sleepy he threw himself down on the
grass and in few minutes was sound
| asleep.
How long he slept he did not know,
but when he awoke the moon was shin
ing full in his face and he could hear a
! low mournful humming. At first he
could not make out the words, but at
last they became ineligible.
ITO live without any one coming is to
die" Was he awake, or was he dream
ing? He listened again:
''To live without any one coming is to
die"
| No. he had not dreamed, and he asked
Immediately, "Who are you?''
Nobody answered, but the words he
heard were just the same as those of
the speaking tree.
''Who are you? he again asked.
| Still nobody answered and dead silence
ensued.
In the morning when the day broke he
discovered that he had been sleeping I'M
der Il beautiful tree with outspreading
branches.
'This must be it," he said, and to be
certain he plucked a leaf off.
'Ah, why do you hurt me?'
"Who are you? What are you? If
you are a Christian soul answer me in
Gods name"
II am the daughter of a Spanish king"
| said the tree.
.'And how is it I find you here?" asked
the king.
"One day when I was out walking in
the forest l saw crystal brook and
thought would like to battle. But alas,
as soon as / touched the water I found
myself transformed into this tree"
What can I do to rescue you:" asked
the King.
"You must understand magic and swear
| to marry me-"
II swear will marry you Immediately.
But where and how am | to learn magic?
! I will know the secret if have to go to
the end Of the earth in quest of it. But
why did you not answer me last night?'
'"The sorceress was here; Hush, keep