The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-05-01
THE STORY OF 10.

THE STORY OF III.
One day "a shepherd wandered through
the forest till he came to stream that
cut off his footsteps from farther travel.
The trees were in full leaf, and the
banks of the stream were soft with fresh,
green grass, on which the sun shone
with warmth and brilliancy so great
that flowers had Swung up, decking the
green with many colored patterns.
So inviting did the spot appear that
after a glance around the shepherd threw
himself down, and leaning against
tree he began softly to sing a sweet
melody.
He was not an ordinary looking man.
More indeed was he like god than
mortal. His massive head was heavy
with thick, lionhke locks, which over
hung broad, wonderful brow. His eyes
were bright and piercing, but of no dis
tinctive color, and his form and stature
were glorious to look upon, for he had
the strength of a Hercules combined
with the beauty of an Apollo.
And indeed he was not mortal, for it
was the great Jupiter himself, who had
disguised himself as "a simple shepherd,
and who now lay beside the water.
While he sang suddenly Il slight COM
motion of the waters was visible. Bub-
BILE after bubble rose, till fountain
seemed springing from the middle of the
stream. And while Jupiter looked the
water took on a human form, and a fair
maiden stepped lightly to the shore and
saluted the monarch of heaven and
earth.
1t was the nymph 10, daughter of the
river god Inachus. She was very beauti-
full, and her garments of woven sea
weeds, dashed with spray and inter
twined with colored shells, shone and
glistened as the sunlight played over
them. Her long hair fell about her like
a golden shower, and she was so very
lovely to look upon that it is no wonder
Jupiter was pleased.
Now, it happened that while Jupiter
was sitting on the bank of the stream
that day Juno, his queen, was looking
down upon the earth from Olympus, and
seeing him there she made up her mind
to join him. They did not get along
with each other very we'll, and Juno
was in constant fear that she might lose
her power and her place be filled by an
other queen.
So she mounted her chariot, drawn
by eight brilliant peacocks, and was
soon beside her lord. To her surprise she
saw standing near him beautiful heif-
er, to which he spoke gentle words
now and then. Suspecting some mis-
chief, she asked Jupiter to what herd
the heifer belonged, and he answered
that it belonged to no herd, but was
fresh creation from the earth.
Then give it to me, " said Juno.
Jupiter would have refused, but he
did not care to provoke the queen an
ger by denying SO simple request, and
he give her the heifer.
Now, this heifer was To, Jupiter hay
ing turned her into that form as he saw
Juno approach, hoping thus to quiet the
fears that his queen was subject to. In
this he did not altogether succeed, for
Juno at once placed the heifer under the
care of Argus, the watchful shepherd,
slept with more than two Of them at a
time.
Argus was not unkind, but he was
very strict and severe. He allowed tho
heifer freedom i'll the daytime, but at
night he lied a cord around her delicate
throat and fastened her to a tree.
So the time went on. Inachus sought
his daughter far and near, and 10 often
wandered down to the stream when she
saw her sisters at play. She let them
caress her, and they made collar of
shells for her. One day her father offered
her handfnl of soft green grass, and
she licked the outstretched hand. In
vain she tried to tell him who she was.
Her only cry was loud below, which
frightened even herself
Suddenly she thought of how she
might make herself known, and with
her hoof she wrote her name in the
sand. Then the sisters gathered around
her and wept, and her father caressed
her and bemoaned her sad fate.
But the watchful Argus saw all this
and quickly came and drove the heifer
back to its flock, where he kept even
stricter watch over it than before
After long time Jupiter bethought
himself of the fate of 10, and finding
how she suffered he dispatched Mercury
to put an end TO Argus and to SO set 10
free. For he could not restore her to her
own form without the consent of Juno.
Mercury, that bright messenger of the
gods, whose duty it seemed ever to be to
relieve the distressed and help the trou-
bled, put on his winged sandals and his
cap, and taking his pipes, on which he
played sweet music, he descended to
earth, ready to perform the task assign
ed him.
When he reached the place where Ar
gus generally drove the herds to drink.
he put by his sandals and his cap, and
keeping only his staff and his pipes he
appeared like a shepherd driving his
flocks. Then, when he saw Argus APP
proach, he began to play upon the pipes.
Argus heard the sweet, strange music
and was charmed, and seating himself
upon high rock, whence he could over
look the fields, he called Mercury to him.
Come hither, gentle shepherd boy,
he cried. "Sit here by me in the shade
of this great tree and sing me some songs
upon that instrument you carry"
Mercury complied. for this was just
what he wanted. He played his most
soothing tones, hoping to lull the great
giant to sleep. Then he told him stories
and talked till the sun was high in the
heavens. But, though Argus nodded and
closed some of his eyes, yet he was ever
watchful, and Mercury was we'll nigh in
despair.
At last he said to Argus:
"Since you like so well the strains of
music l bring forth from my pipes, let
me tell you how it first came to be made
and used. You must know, Argus, that
it is called the syrinx, as well as the
pandean pipes, and when you hear the
story you will understand its meaning.
There lived long ago here i'll this
beautiful land of Greece a nymph named
Syrinx. All the satyrs and other spirits
of the woods and wind and wave loved
her and We'd with each other i'll gaining
L. Z