The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-31
AMUSING MATCHES.

ana u youth VINO Wero unusually ia
nous for their beauty Of face, lrlnness
Of character and originality of ideas.
They belonged 10 noble families. and
they were extremely fond OF each other.
One day the maiden, whose name
was Fonda, brought forth q beautifully
carved golden casl;ct. Sect she cried
to Waldorf, tho youth, 81 have found
this box. 1t has amused my ancestors
for years and contains some matches
Perhaps you also may somc day discover
Il box liko it, for all families possess
such one. y
With that sho touched small spring
and the box lid flew open. Inside there
wero waXon matches Of ali colors. They
wero about five inches in length. and
each match was divided off with four
little brown circles, marking its inches
just like tape measure affair These
peculiar matches were indeed wonder
fully and fcarfully constructed. AS for
the box, 10 matter how many matches
ono burned up, ono would always find
the little casllot amply rcplenishcd by
some mysterious agent.
Come, said Fonda swcetly, "lct
us light some of these. Then she
struck one Of the tGpers, and Waldorf
did tho same.
AS the blue phosphorescent flames
lcapcd into yellow. these children
screamed with ecstasy.
y brook babbled at their feet. birds
Gwayod themselves in the trees, thrill
ing their flutelike notes in u fronzy of
bird joy. A soft breeze kissed tho trees
grasses. Daisies laughed at shy violcts,
ground bugs chirpcd with the melody of
nature, butterflies hoatcd through the
air with lazy grace, and over ali tho
sun spread forth his golden, genial
glow, Quickcning the pulses to the
warmth OF lifo and stirring nature and
humanity to q depth Of feeling for the
world i'll general and self in particular.
Is it not beautiful" cried Zondu,
with flashing eyes But the youth was
awed by the splcndor of it all, and his
head was bowed as he answered III a
low voice, "Ycs."
All! But wo must not let or match
cs burn beyond this first circle" said
Zonda, because if we do we may be-
como unhappy. Come We Will blow
out these matches and light two moro.
Then we shall behold the same lovely
scene over again. For l ann content with
this, are not you?'
Again the youth assentcd with Il low
answered, Eyes But by and by lie
commenced TO tire of the birds and flow
crs, and tho sweet and simple picture of
natures life, and after he had Observed
this sceno few times he said, still i'll
his awed, low broathcd voice:
Fonda, am tired of all this. Let US
try the second notch and sec what the
other scenes are like
At first Fonda dcmurred, but he
coaXed her i'll u gentle, persuasive way,
and finally with tears i'll her eyes she
allowed the tiny flame to burn through
All tho beauties of natures freshness
and beyond the first circle.
a strange sensation crcpt over the
boy and girl as this transpired. a thrill
OF exquisite, harmonious energy quick
ened the pulse of Waldorf, while Fonda
became possessed of u dreamy, tender
mood Of sweet thoughts and wonders.
y largo silver lake glowcd before Them
under shower OF moonbcams. Tie
night was hushed i'll dreamlikc glory.
Occasionally the hOarsc croak of Il frog,
the splash OF glittering fish, the wills.
perlngS OF the trees, broke the mystic
stiffness, but save for these sounds the
silent, witchinS beauty of it all was
complete. Tho brain of tho youth was
qulckencd with II surge of powerful
feeling, and Zonda's sweet voice was
hushcd by an exquisite shyness.
Again Waldorf spoke This time his
voice was full of "a new strength. his
tone moro loud, moro eager. His faco
was flushed with enthusiasm.
Come, he murmured cxcitodly.
LET rs have the third notch burned -
But we have only seen this once, +"
replied Fonda with q sad hesitation.
Wo can never sec it again." he re-
sponded firmly. Eat least, wo could
never SEQ it again and have the same
sensations. Of that am sure" And the
new strength of his voice made her
glance up at him with yet moro wonder,
and the new expression of his face mado
her drop her eyes with swift blush of
rOso color.
And so the third match was burned,
and foaming, writing ocean swept
the sands before them with terrific force.
And the roar OF the waves as they dashed
the shores, and tho whispered settings
OF the white and green foam, and tho
gllstening shells, the cleaning sands,
the mighty powders, all impressed them
with tho grandeur and vastness of the
ocean, the life of the world, and the
restlessnoss of the universe.
And now Waldorf. perceiving that