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

have feet like duck, and therefore
they wear long, flowing garments
to hide them.
After u short time the three arriv-
ed at clearing Very old trees
stood in circle around the meadow
Out of the grass arose lilies and
bluebells, and great butterflies rested
thereon, waving their win. to and
fro. And Hans, who thought no
knew the whole forest, could not re-
member to have ever crossed this
place.
On the edge of tho meadow stood
q small house. The walls were COW
cred with the bark of trees, and the
roof was shingled with tho scales of
pine cones, and each scale was fas-
tened down by rose thorn. Hero
the wood sprite was at homo.
She led her guests behind the
house and pointed to a spring whose
water gushed silently from the black
earth. Succulent colts foot and
irises grew on its brink, and over its
surface danced green and gold drag
on flies.
THAT is the fountain of youth, "
said the wood sprite. "A bath in its
water turns an old man into boy
and an old woman into a girl. But
if one drinks the water then does it
ward off old age until death. Fill
your jug and carry it home. But be
economical with this precious water.
A drop on each Sunday is enough to
keep you young. And yet, again, as
soon as thou, Hans, dost cast thy
eye on a strange woman, or thou,
Greta, on strange man, then the
water loses its virtue. That mark
you. Now fill your jug and fare you
we'll.
So spoke the wood sprite, refusing
the thanks of the lucky couple, and
went into the house. Greta filled
the jug with the water of youth, and
then they FASTENED home as quickly
as they could to their cottage.
Arrived at home, Hans poured the
water into bottle and sealed it with
fir rosin. For the present." he re-
marked, 1--WE do not find the water
of youth necessary, and we can
economiZe. The time will come in
deed when we will need it" And
then they placed the bottle in the
cupboard where they kept their
treasures-a couple of old coins, a
garnet chain on which hung a golden
penny and two silver spoons. But
Greta took great care that the water
lost not its virtue.
And how they did take themselves
in hand When the young forester
went by the garden before the house
and exchanged greeting with
Greta, as indeed had been his Gus
tom, then Greta looked not up from
her vegetable bed. And when Hans
sat in the evening in THE White
Stag and the pretty Lisi brought
him wine, then he made a face like
a cat during storm, and finally he
did not go my more to the inn, but
remained at home with his wife.
Thus the water must certainly re-
tain its magic power.
So there passed for the young cou-
pie year of love and happiness,
when to the two came a third. In
the cradle chubby boy kicked and
cried, so that the father heart leap
ed for joy. Now" thought he, lis
the time to open the bottle. What
thinkest thou, Greta? a drop of the
water of youth would do thee good "
The wife agreed to the PROPOSE
ton, and Hans went into the room
where the magic potion was preserv-
ed. With hands trembling with Joy
he loosed the cork, and-oh, woe,
woe!-the bottle slipped from his
hands, and the water of youth pour
ed over the floor. He came near fall
ing to the floor he was so frightened
over the misfortune. What was he
to do now? His wife must on no ac-
count learn what had happened. She
might die from fright.
Perhaps 10 could tell her later
what he had done. Perhaps also he
might find the fountain of youth
again, which he had certainly sought
in vain, and he might replace the
loss. He hastily filled a new bottle,
which was just like the first, with
we'll water, and we'll water it was
also that he gave his wife.
"Ah, how it refreshes and strength
ans one!' said Greta. Take q drop
also, dear Hans.
And Hans obeyed and praised the
virtue of the magic potion, and from
that time each took q drop every
Sunday when the church bell was
ringing, And Greta bloomed like q
rose, and Hans veins swelled with
health and strength. But he post
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