The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-31


they could never belong 10 each other.
"Ah, why was born a goosei" mourn
ed Alheid-
"Oh, II were only birdp' the ass
sighed, and he knew very well what kind
Of bird nc wanted 10 be.
Weeks passed. The ass became visibiy
thinner, although there was no lack OF
nourishing food in the valley meadow,
and the goose lost tho bright red of her
bill, and her eyes had a pathetic express
sion.
Now there was an old owl living In
hollow stone In tho forest. She was tho
wisest woman far and wide, and the AMI
mails often went TO her for advice. The
ass conildcd his trouble to her, and when
she had heard his story she said: Il can
not help you, but wait until midsummer
day. Then the wise wishing fairy comes TO
bathe I'm the spring. Tell her your trouble.
Perhaps she can grant your wish, for she
is mighty magician"
The ass returned with lighter heart.
One midsummer eve, when Alheid the
goose had gone TO the thicket where she
slept, ne concealed himself near the spring
TO wait for the fairy. He did not have TO
wait long. she came flying down In n
mantle of swan feathers, which shc threw
aside on reaching the spring. Then sho
bathed her white limbs In the cool water.
The ass waited with the patience OF his
race until she emerged from her bath.
When she had seated herself on stone
and begun to comb her hair, Boldewin
drew near, paved the ground three times
with his fore foot In greeting and besought
her TO change him into gander.
The fairy shook her head doubtfully.
"That Is singular wish, " she comment
ed, "but can grant IL, and Will Then
she whispered TO the eagerly listening ass
"When the sun rises tomorrow morning,
you must pick seven daisies and eat them
in silence, then dip your head In the
spring, and you will be changed into fine
young gandcr. Now. go your way and
Leave me TO myself F"
The ass thanked her most gratefully and
took his departure. He did not close his
eyes all night, and as soon as the mountain
peaks caught the first pink flush of the
rising sun he was up and away to seek tho
daisies When he found them, he hurried
to the spring, dipped his head into tho
water, and on drawing IL out he saw TO his
rapture the form OF a stately gander with
an arching neck reflected In tho mirrorlike
spring. He few to the thickct where the
goose had her dwelling. "Alheid, my
dearest Alheid" he cried "Where art
thous"
"Here, my beloved" came the reply,
and dainty little ass danced out of the
thicket.
Dumb with amnzement, the two horror
stricken lovers gazed at each other. "Oh,
ass that / wasr' groaned the gander.
"Oh, goose that wasv' moaned tho littlo
ass
The hot tears rushed to their eyes, and
the weeping Alhesd told how she had fol-
lowed the wise owls advice and gone to
the wishing fairy, who had granted her
prayer and turned her into an ass. Then
the gander, in words broken by sobs, told
Of his adventure. am sure the midsum-
Iner sun had never shone on two more
despairing creatures than our two lovers.
But time lessons all grief. Their wild
despair gave way at last TO silent endur-
ance. A hope still remained TO them.
Perhaps the wishing fairy, on her next
visit TO the spring, could be induced to re-
store one Of them 10 his former shape.
But whole year must pass before that
could happen Till thcn-patience
The winter, which brought suffering
and peril TO the two anchorites, finally
passed, and the warm spring smiled on the
land. The sun climbed higher and higher,
and at last midsummer came. This time
the lovers went together to the wishing
fairy and told her their troubles.
"That Is very unfortunate, she said
when she heard the story. 81 cannot
change you back, gladly as / wonld do you
the service. But / will tell you what
can do How would you like 10 become
human bcingS To make q man out of an
ass and woman out OF goose would not
be at all difficult could do that. Does
it suit youi"
"Yes'' cried Boldewin and Alheid with
one voice.
The fairy muttercd few mysterious
words, then commanded the lovers TO dip
their heads into tho spring. They obeyed,
and when they raised them again Bolde-
win was fine young fellow, with frank,
pleasant face, and opposite him was q
charming little woman, with delicate red
lips and the tenderest eyes.
They threw themselves at the good
fairy's feet and kissed her hand in graft
tude. Then their own lips met, and they
murmured words OF love 20 each other
The fairy, seeing that she was not wanted
here, wrapped herself In her feather man
tie and flew away.
Tho two young people remained in the
valley Boldewin built house, and there
they passed a happy life Every year n
child was born TO them, sometimes q boy
and sometimes a girl None Of the viii
layers living around them ever suspected
thnt Boldewin had once been an ass and
Alheid goose, for they were "a sensible
as their neighbors They did not spread
tho story Of their transformation abroad,
for it might have prejudicod people against
them Only when they realized that their
md wns near did they conlde the secret 10
their eldest son. He IL was who built the
inn Of tho Golden Goose and name%tho
spring the Assoc spring, In memory of
his parents And house ana spring are
known by those names 10 this day.
IL you wish to learn how the healing
| power Of the water was discovered and how
the valley became gradually settled, you
can read 1t all I'm the book which tho
landlady Of the Golden Goose sells 10 the
summer visitors
The wishing fairy disappeared long ago,
! probably because the little valley had be.