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


IS protecting roof on which swings tin
weather yane mnde 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, 10 drink the cool water from
dainty little glasses The men, too, visit
Il, not invalids 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 80 years; the sentimental, enig-
matical damsel, 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 tho
pack, all these persons are to be found at
the spring, so there is nothing wanting TO
make IL a genuine so called summer re-
sort Wait-we had almost forgotten tho
most important person-the landlady OF
the Golden Goose. She reigns supreme,
Is a 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
gush forth. Others declare that 1t got its
name from the fact that it's waters are as
beneficial to inyalids as 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 tiny germ
hidden away in some brown acorn, moth
ing was known of the wonderful healing
powers of this spring. The visitors who
gathered round ID were the wild animals
OF the forest or the cattle that graged in
the meadows, or shepherds and woodcut-
ters, huntmen and charcoal burners. The
men praised the cctl, clear water, and SO
did tho 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 goose,
both in the first bloom Of youth. They
exchanged silent greeting and quenched
their thirst. Then the ass approached the
goose and shyly asked, "Mademoisello,
may / go with your"
She nodded and would have blushed IL
she could have done so. Then they walked
on side by side through tho meadow, talk
ing of the weather. They had gone some
distance when the ass stopped and inquir-
cd, SIN what direction do you wish TO go,
snademoiselle?"
The goose looked mournfully at her
companion and murmured: "Ah, IL 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, "and
como of distinguished family. One an
cestress was one Of those holy geese who
saved the capital You know the story,
don't you. sir"
"Ye-s," the ass answered hesitartnrly.
To tell the truth, he had never heard u,
but he did not like 90 hurt his friends
feelings
Another of my ancestors was warm
friend of the holy Martin, she continued
According to the legend, she is said 20
have given her life for him. i will not
dwell upon my ancestors however. but
speak of myself. I, with IL brothers and
sisters, first saw the light In a farmyard,
where my mother lived in position befit-
ting her rank. 1 was her favorite child,
for in our family the youngest IL always
the most talented"
"Just as 1t is with u.s." the ass re-
marked.
az 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 I learned that grace OF
motion that has been so much admired. /
had lost the first yellow down of youth end
had blossomed into fair young maiden
when one day an old man appeared in
tho farmyard. He had hooked nose, his
forehead was ornamentcd on either side
with two shiny black curls, and he had a
pack slung over his shoulder. The peas
ants wives and the servants crowded
round him. gazing with delight at the gay
yibbons and kerchief displayed to view.
To make long story short, / was caught,
my wings and feet were tied together, and
] was given TO tho stranger In exchange
for q blue handkerchief with red roses.
Sad days followed. l was imprisoned in
o narrow coop and stuffed with barley TO
fatten mo. / saw with horror that was
growing fatter each day, and not even the
grief that felt at my unhappy position
could prevent It, +"
Here the ass glanced at his companions
figure and vowed that he had never beheld
so graceful goose. Alheid gave him
grateful look and continued:
Last night shudder yot when ] re-
call It'll heard u cry of terror, which
seemingly came from the throat of one of
NY companions IN misfortune i saw a
pair Of eyes glowing In the darkness and
heard the death rattlc--a fox must have
broken into the henhouse. With the
strength born Of despair, 1 forced myself
through the bars of my prison and was
free. ] flow 10 this valley, whore / must
try TO support life as n wild goose until
winter comes, when perhaps 1 may ind
some modest position as n snow goose"
Alheid sighed deeply as sho finished her
1tory.
MY fate Is very much like yours, Mile.
Alheid," said the ass "Do you SEQ the
black cross that ornaments my shoulderf
That tells you the whole story. 1 am OF
tho race OF palm asses, and my name Is
Boldewin. can trace my ancestors back
60 tho time Of Noah's ark. Balaam's ass
and tho MSS with whose jawbone Samson
slew 1000 Phillstincs were my forcfathers
viii merely mention that ass, the philos-
opher, who starved to death between two
bundles OF hay, who was also Of my race,
and will no; dwell ON the merits of an-
0rncr Arnhit.ous ancestor who founded tbs
rncc OF mules Ny parents belonged TO n