The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-01-01
LEXINGTON, S. c., JANUARY 1, 1896.
Il Gccl. Tod apples" said Mary.

lit is 2.if;winter now" said old Jan
uary, "and not the tiInc for red apples. 5"
- know i, - said the poor girl. But
ny sister Helen ard my mother have
ordered re to bring them red apples
from tie mountain or they will kill
nc."
Hearing this, old January rose from
his fcat and went to ole Of the older
mcn and gave him his wand.
brother September, seat yourself in
tic place CT honor
The ,lcDth Of September seated HIM
self Oil the highest stone and waved his
wand over the fire. The flames spraug
toward the sky, taking a red tinge,
while the Stow melted rapidly. The
leaves OF the trees fell, one by one,
blown Ec1o and there by cold breeze,
aud tho sua shcNc yellow. The orphan
saw but very few flowers, and those
only autumn Cnes. Ii the Gells meadow
saffron arid high ferns were growing be-
tween The autumn b-uShwood and bram-
bles.
Mary looked in vain for rcd apples
till all et once sho noticed a tolerably
tall apple tCec. and up Oh the top branches
she saw a few red apples.
"Hastcn to gather them," cried Sep
terlber.
The yonng girl ioyfu!ly shook the
tree, and one apple fell. She shook it
again, and a second rolled to her feet.
You have enough" said the month.
Hurry homo again.
The orphan picked up the apples, and
thanking the months hurried home.
Helen and her stepmother were aston
ishcd 10 see her return with the apples
and ran to open tie door.
Bah! How did you manage to pick
them" asked Helen.
"a few still hung on the apple tree
on the top of the mountain, " said Mary.
"Why did you not bring more?' cried
Helen angrily. "You ate them up Oh
the way, you ugly mink"
"No, good sister, did not taste one, "
said Mary. 1.-The first time I shook the
tree one apple fell; the second time an
other. That is all. I was not permitted
to shake the tree a third time, but Or
dered to 60 home.
Helen, who loved fne fruit, left of
prosecuting her sister for the time, and
bit into the apple. She found it deli
cious, the sweetest she had ever eaten,
and her mother agreed with her, but
both, after having eaten one, were dis
satisfied. They wished for more.
"I'll tell you what, mamma" said
Helen. "Give me a cloak and 1 will go
to the mountain myself. That horrid
girl would finish by devourirg all the
apples Oh her way home. I will be sure
to find the mountain and the apple tree,
and once there the fathers may scold as
they like. Will not leave them until I
have shaken down all the apples
Needless Of her mothers disapproval,
Helen put Oh tho cloak and warm hood
ard started for the mountain. Her
mo,hc1 stood BY the door and gazed aft
er l.er till sho was lost to sight.
Tie ground was covered With snow;
rct g human footstep was to be seen,
tus after wandering here, now there,
Eclen SOW the Gamo Of tie fire, far
above kc-, and began clirn bing. After a
short tire she reached the peak Of the
n2a1ntain aDd saw the fire, round which
tie u months were sitting. At first sfo
hesita:el! a2I was frightened, but socn
recovering herself she went boldly to
Tie l:lc, aid stretching cut Eer hands
warmed ha:zelf without asking permiS-
g:cn CT even noticing the 12 months.
"W;ilat brings you here and what seek
yoa:' asked old January sternly.
"You have no right to question he,
old graybeard! Why do ycu wish to
kaow what I SEEK" answered Helen
hausht;Ir, and turning her lead and
back to tho fire she went toward TIE
forest.
O!d January frowned and waved his
wand over his head.
IL Ito t@inkling of an eye the sky
was filed with heavy clouds, the fire
burned low ard large snowhakes began
total, while an icy wind howled through
tie mountain. IN the midst Of this
dreadful storm Helen began to curse
her sister and call on the good God, as
size Lrew the cloak could not keep her
body from stilfening and freezing.
Her mother waited impatiently for
her daughter. Every little while she
went TO the window, then to the door,
to look for her, but the hours passed and
she did not return. Have the apples
bewitched her so that she cannot find
her way home:" tkorght her mother.
Il must 20 ard seek her. y
Hastily wrapping herself in a cloak
and hood she set out. The falling snow
had obliterated her daughter S footsteps,