The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-08-28
THE ASSES SPRING.

In green lIttlo glen lhcloseu Dy steep
rocks there bubbles up IL cool, bountiful
spring called the Asses spring Over 1t
is protecting roof, on which swings tin
weather rane made in the shape of an ass.
Every summer morning pale city
maidens gather round this spring, under
the supervision of anxious mothers and
careful aunts, to drink the cool water from
dainty little glasses. The men, too, visit
it, not invulids only, but stalwart young
fellows, with dark skins and fierce mus
taches. The white haired old soldier who
has come and gone with the swallows for
the last so years. the sentimental, eng
nautical daInsel. with long straw colored
locks; the mysterious widower in deep
mourning: the jack of all trades, very
much in demand on rainy days because OF
his skill in performing clever tricks, such
as causing money to vanish or guessing
any card that may be selected from the
pack, all these persons are to be found ut
the spring, So there is nothing wanting to
make it IL genuine so called summer re-
sort, Wait-we had almost forgotten the
most important person-the landlady of
the Golden Goose. She reisns supreme
is Il good cook, and treats rich and poor
with the same good humored roughness.
There has been great deal of discussion
about the origin of the name of this
spring. Some say that the stamping of n
thirsty ass in search of water caused 1t to
gush iorth Others declare that it got its
name from the fuct that its waters are us
beneficial to invalids Us asses milk is. But
both theories are wrong, as any one who
reads this story to the end will plainly see.
Many, many years ago, when the largest
tree in the forest was only u. tiny germ
hidden away in some brown acorn, moth
ing was known of tho wonderful healing
powers of this spring The visitors who
gathered round it were the. wild animals
of the forest, or the cattle that graZcd in
the meadows, or shepherds and woodcut
tiers, huntmen and charcoal burners. The
men praised the cool, clear water, and 50
did the animals in their own language.
One day two animals were standing by
the spring, one on one side and one on the
other He was an ass, she was Il goose,
both in the first bloom of youth. They
exchanged a silent greeting and quenched
their thirst. Then the ass approached the
goose and shy!y asked, 'MademoisellO,
may gs with you"
She nodded and would have blushed il
she could nave done so. Then they walked
on side by side through the meadow, talk
ing of the weather They had gone some
distance when the ass stopped and inquir-
ed. In what direction do you wish 10 go,
mademoiSclle.
The goose looked mournfully ut her
companion and mlrmurcd: "Ah, if only
knew! am the most unhappy creature
in the world. The ass questioned her fur
ther and begged her to tell him her
troubles
My name is Alheid" she said, land
come of distinguished family. One an
ccstross was one OF those holy geese who
saved the capital You know the story,
don't you. SIR"
Yes the ass answered hesitatingly.
To tell the truth. he had never heard it,
int he did not like to hurt his friends
feelings.
= Another of my ancestors was warm
friend of the holy Martin" she continued.
- ccording to the legend, she is said to
have given her life for him. l will not
dwell upon my ancestors, however, but
speak of myself. !, with IL brothers and
sisters, first saw the light in farmyard,
where my mother lived in position befit-
ting her rank l WAS her favorite child,
for in our family the youngest is always
the most talented"
Just rs it is with u.s. the ass re-
marked
~ spent my happy childhood in playing
in the village pond or in the ponds OF the
castle garden in company with the young
swans, from whom learned that grace of
motion that has been so much admired. l
had lost the first yellow down of youth and
had blossomcd into fair young maiden
when one day an old man appeared in
the farnyard He had booked nose, his
forehead was ornamented on either side
with two shiny black curls, and he had Il
pack slung over his shoulder The peas
ants wives ard the servants crowded
round him, gazing with delight at the gay
ribbons and kerchief displayed to view.
To make II long story short, was caught
my wings and feet were tied together, and
l was given to the stranger Iii exchange
for u blue handkerchief with red roses.
Sad days followed. l was imprisoned in
81 narrow coop and stuffed with barley to
futten Inc. l saw with horror that L was
growing fatter each day, and not even the
grief that felt Mt my unhappy position
could prevent it.
Here the ass glanced ut his companions
figure and vowed that he had never beheld
so graceful goose. Alheid gave him a
grateful lool, and continues:
Last night shudder yet when 1 re-
call i'll heard cry OF terror, which
seemingly came from the throat of one of
my companions in misfortune. l saw n
pair of eyes glowing in the darkness and
heard the death rattle-a fox must have
broken into the henhouse. With the
strength born of despair, L forced myself
through the bars of my prison and was
free. flew to this valley, where l must
try TO support life as n wild goose until
winter comes, when perhaps l may find
some modest position as n snow goose. -
Alheid sighed deeply as she finished her
story.
My fate is very much like yours, Mile.
Alheid," said the ass. do you see the
black cross that ornaments my shoulder
That tells you the whole story. l am of
the race Of palm asses and my name Is
Boldewin. l can trace my ancestors back
to the time of Noah's ark. BALKAN ass
and the ass with whose jawbone Samson
slew 1000 PhilisUines were my forefathers
l will merely mention that ass, the philSs-
opher who starved to death between two
bundles OF hay, who was also of my race,
and | will not dwell on the merits of an
other ambitious ancestor who founded the
race of mules. My parents belonged to
monastery and carried the pious monks
when they rode forth to seek aims. My
elder brothers and sisters served in the
same way But the fathers sold me to the
cloistcr miller, and l, an ass with the black
cross on my shoulder. saw myself forced
Ivy rude men to carry common meal sacks!
bore this in silent submission for some
time. But last night l was driven TO des-
inn htrt hn 90
er's boy, and burst my bonds and escap-
ed to this peaceful valley, where 1 found
you, sweet Alhcid, by the cool waters of
the spring. Here / shall remain for the
present and as wild ass lead u calm and
contcmplative life. -
So the ass and the goose remained In the
valley. They saw each other every day,
and cach soon discovered that life would
&c uncomfortable without the other They
were happy and yet sad; happy because
they loved and knew that their love was
returned; sad because they realized that
Li:ey could never belong to each other
'Ah why was l born gooser' mourn
ed Alheid.
ooh, if I were only n bird" the ass
sighed, and he knew very well what kind
OF bird he wanted to be.
Weeks passed. The ass became visibly
thinner, although there was no lack of
food in the valley meadow,
and the goose lost tho bright red of her
bill, and her eyes had pathetic express
sion.
Now there was an old owl living in n
hollow stone in tho forest. She was the
wiScst woman far and wide, and tho ami
mails often went to her for advice The
ass cOnfided his trouble to her, and when |
she had heard his story she said: II can
not help you but wait until midsummer
Ilay Then tho Iyisn wi hing fairy comma 70 |