Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-05-08
THE STORY OF 10.

One day 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 brillianoy 30 great
that flowers had sprung up, decking the
green with many oolored patterns.
So inviting did the spot appear that
after glance around the shepherd threw
himself down, and leaning against a
tree he began softly to sing sweet
melody.
He was not an ordinary looking man.
More indeed was he like god than a
mortal. His massive head was heavy
with thick, lionlike looks. which over
hung broad, wonderful brow. His eyes
were bright and piercing. but Of no dis
| tinotive color, and his form and stature
were glorious to look upon. for he had
the strength of Hercules combined
with the beauty of an Apollo
And indeed he was not mortal, for II
was the great Jupiter himself. who had
disguised himself as simple shepherd,
and who now lay beside the water.
While he sang suddenly 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 human form, and fair
maiden stepped lightly to the shore and
saluted the monarch Of heaven and
earth.
1t was tho nymph To- 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
Blistened as the sunlight played over
them. Her long hair fell about her like
golden shower, and she was so very
lovely to look upon that 1t IL 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 peaeocks, and was
soon beside her lord. To her surprise she
saw standing near him beautiful heif-
or, 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 1t to me- " said Juno.
Jupiter would have refused, but he
did not care to provoke the queen 3 an
ger by denying so simple request, and
he give her the heifer.
Now, this heifer was 10, Jupiter hay
ing turned her into that form az he saw
Juno approach. hoping thus to quiet the
fears that his queen was subject %. In
this he did not altogether succeed, for
! Juno at once placed the heifer under the
care Of Argus, the watchful shepherd,
who had hundred eyes and who never
slept with more than two Of them at q
| time.
Argus was not unkind, but he was
very strict and severe He allowed the
heifer freedom In the daytime, but at
night he tied cord around her delicate
throat and fastened her to tree.
So the time went on. Inaohus 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 handful Of soft green grass. and
she licked the outstretched hand. In
vain she tried to tell him who she was.
Her only cry was a 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, whore he kept even
stricter watch over 1t than before.
After a long time Jupiter bethought
himself Of tho fate Of 10, and finding
how she suffered he dispatched Mercury
to put an end to Argus and to 80 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 ID 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
6ocks Then, when he saw Argus ap,
proacb, he began to play upon the pipes.
Argus heard the sweet, strange music
and was charmed, and seating himself
upon a 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 shad
of this great tree and sing me some song
upon that instrument you carry"
Mercury complied. for this was JUS
what he wanted. He played his mos
, soothing tones, hoping TO lull the grea
giant to sleep. Then he told him storie
and talked till the sun was high In tn
heavens. But, though Argus nodded an
closed some of his eyes, yet he was eve
. watchful, and Mercury was we'll nigh Il
| Aaanafr