Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-02-27
AMUSING MATCHES.

Once upon time there lived maid
and youth who were unusually IA
nous for their beauty Of face, f1rmness
of character and originality of IDEAS
They belonged to noble families, and
they were extremely fond Of each other
One day the maiden, whose name
was Fonda, brought forth beautifully
carved golden casket. "Seep' she cried
to Waldorf, the youth, II have found
this box. 1t has amused my ancestors
for years and contains some matches
Perhaps you also may some day discover
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
were about five inches in length, and
each match was divided off with four
little brown circles, marking it's inches
just like tape measure affair." These
peculiar matches were indeed wonder
fully and fearfully constructed. As for
the box, no matter how many matches
one burned up, one would always find
the little casket amply replenished 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 babbled at their feet birds
swayed themselves in the trees, thrill
ing their f1utelike notes in a frenzy of
bird joy. A soft breeze kissed the trees
and murmured through the slender
grasses Daisies laughed at shy violets,
ground bugs chirped with the melody of
nature, butterflies floated 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 a depth Of feeling for the
world in general and self in particular.
rs it not beautiful" cried Fonda,
with flashing eyes. But the youth was
awed by the splendor of it all, and his
head was bowed as he answered in a
low voice, eyes"
"Ahl But we must not let our match
es burn beyond this first CIRCLE" said
Fonda, "because if we do we may be-
come unhappy. Comel We will blow
out these matches and light two more.
Then we shall behold the same lovely
scene over again. For am content with
this, are not you?"
Again the youth assented with low
answered, Eyes" But by and by he
commenced to tire of the birds and flow
ers, and the sweet and simple picture of
natures life, and after he had observed
this scene few times he said, still in
his awed, low breathed voice:
"Zonda, am tired Of all this. Let us
try the second notch and see what the
other scenes are like. :"
At first Fonda demurred, but he
coaxed her i'll a gentle, persuasive way,
and finally with tears in her eyes she
allowed the tiny flame to burn through
all the beauties of natures freshness
and beyond the first CIRCLE
A strange sensation crept over the
boy and girl as this transpired. A thrill
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 moonbeams. The
night was hushed in dreamlike glory.
Occasionally the hoarse croak Of frog,
the splash Of a glittering fish, the whis.
perings of the trees, broke the mystic
stiffness, but save for these sounds the
silent, witching beauty Of it all was
complete. The brain Of the youth wai
quickened with surge Of powerful
feeling, and Zonda's sweet voice was
hushed by an exquisite shyness.
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 excitedly.
"Let US have the third notch burned.
"But we have only seen this once, u
replied Fonda with sad hesitation.
ave can never see it again." he re-
sponded firmly. "At least, we could
never see it again and have the same
sensations. OF that / am sure" And the
new strength of his voice made hei
glance up at him with yet more wonder,
and the new expression Of his face made
ber drop her eyes with swift blush oi
rose color
And so the third match was burned,
and foaming, writhing ocean swep,
the sands before them with terrific force.
And the roar of the waves as they dashed
the shores, and the whispered seethtuxl