The Somerset reporter., 1896-12-08
MUSING MATCHES.

Once upon time there lived maid
and u youth who We're unusually IA
nous for their beauty of face, frmness
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 beautifully
carved golden casket "Sec!' she cried
to Waldorf, the youth, Il have found
this box 1t has amused my ancestors
for years and contains some matches
Perhaps you also may some day discover
a box like it, for all families possess
such a one.
With that she touched small spring
and the box lid flew open Inside there
were waxen matches Of all colors They
We're about five inches in length, and
each match was divided off with four
little brown circles, marking its inches
just like IA tape measure affair These
peculiar matches were indeed wonder
fully and fearfully constructed. As fer
the box, no matter how many matches
one burned up, one would always find
the little casket amply replcnishcd by
some mysterious agent
"Come. SAID Fonda sweetly, "let
Us light some Of these. Then she
struck one of the tapers, and Waldorf
did the same.
As the blue phosphorescent flames
leaped into yellow, these children
screamed with ecstasy
A brook babhled ut their feet birds
swayed themselves III the trees. thrill
ing their flutelike notes in frenzy of
bird joy. A soft breeze kissed the trees
and murmured through the slender
grasses. Daisies laughed st shy violets,
ground bugs chirped with the melody of
nature, butterflies hoated through the
air with lazy grace, and over all the
sun spread forth his golden, genial
glow, quickening the pulses to the
warmth of life and stirring nature and
humanity to depth of feeling for the
world in genorn' aud self in particular.
rs it not beautiful cried Fonda,
with flashing eyes. But the youth way
awed by the splendor of it all, and his
head was bowed rs he answered in u
low voice, Eyes. =
"Ahl But we must not let our match
es hum beyond this first circle, . sald
Fonda, "because if we do we may be.
come unhappy. Come! We viii blow
out these matches and light two more.
Then we shall behold the same lovely
scene over again. Fer am content with
this, are not youY'
Again the youth assentcd with low
answered, Eyes. But by and by he
commenced to tire of the birds and flow
ers and tho sweet and simple picture Of
nature s life, and after he had observed
this scene "a few times he said, eGll III
his aWed, low hreathed voice:
FONDA, ] ann tired of all tins. Letus
try the second notch and see Waas the
other scenes are like .
At first Fonda dcmurrcd, Lat he
coaXed her IN "a gentle, prsua- - Wy.
and finally with tears IN her tEas Size
allowed the tiny flame to barn through
all tho beauties of natmc's freshness
and beyond the first circle.
A strange sensation crcpt over the
boy and girl as this TRANSFERRED. \ thnll
OF exquisite, harmonious energy quick
ened the pulse OF Waldorf, while Fonda
became possessed Of dreamy. tender
mood Of sweet thoughts and wonders
A large silver lake glowed before them
under a shower of moonbcams. The
night was hushed i'll "a dreamlike glory
Occasionally the hoarse croak of frog,
the splash of u glittering fish, the whis-
perings of the trees, broke the mystic
but save for these sounds the
silent. witching beauty Of it all WAS
complete. The brain Of the youth Was
quickened with IA surge of powerful
feeling and Zonda's sweet voice was
hushed by an exquisite shynoss
Again Waldorf spoke. This time his
voice was full Of a new strength, his
tone more loud, more eager His face
was flushed with enthusiasm
Come, he murmured cXcitedly.
LET us have the third notch burned "
But we have only seen tins once, -"
replied Fonda with "a sad he,tation
We can never see it again, he re-
sponded firmly. AT least we could
never see it again and have the same
OF that am sure. And the
new strength of his voice made her
glance up at hun with yet more wonder,
and the new expression of his face made
her drop her eyes with IA swift blush Of
rose color
And so the third match was burned,
and foaming, writhing ocean swept
the sands before them with terrific force.
And the roar of the waves as they iashed
the shores, and the whispered settings
of the white and green foam, and the
glistening shells, the cleaning sands,
the mighty powders, all impressed tlrm
with the grandeur and vastness of the
ocean, the life Of the world, and the
Of the universe.
And now Waldorf, perceiving that
Fonda shrRnk back from the spray of
the waves and the brisk, salt seasoned
breeze. claspcd her frightened form i'll
his arms and regarded her with tender
solicitude, aud as he did SO light leaped
into his ewes which WAS r, Hrrtt1 TX A