The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-11-01

"Didst thou call me, n,y fdthcr?"
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 III
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 sub
iects as if they had been his children.
1t was quite fine sight to see this old
king, mounted on 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
Ell, 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 un-
der control
In course of time the giants found it
expedient to assemble together to delib-
crate in council the necessity of choos-
ing the kings successor, and they re-
solved to in part to their monarch their
anxiety Oh the subject; so. demanding
an audience Of him. the foremost speak
er addressed him thus. "0h, 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
us? For, alas. thou hast no son?'
The aged king stfoked his white
beard and gravely answered:
"Were my daughter put to the test,
why should she not WELD my scepter as
valiantly ly as any boy? You know she has
marvellous courage and is endowed with
great bodily strength, and when she
chooses ii 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 a whirlwind.
Then most extraordinary sight pre-
schted itself, no other than the king S
daughter, Vigilia, erect on the back of
a stag, refining in with her left hand ten
other stags, while with her right hand
she brandished whip long as a 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-
zling whiteness.
The king turned a 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.
| even abreast.
Then she bent her knee before the
king, saying gently:
"Didst thou call me, my father?"
eyes, Vigilia, my daughter, for I
have to discuss grave question in thy
presence. Look around thee at all these
my subjects, who have come to know
| when have elected as my successor
when shall be no mere amongst them.
Knowest thou any one who is capable
and worthy of taking my placer"
The young girl looked gravely and
| flxedly at each Of the men who sur
rounded her father. The serious ex-
preston of her face deepened, and her
heavily marked eyebrows contracted I'M