Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-09
THE LOST JACINTH.

In one of the Oldest houses in one of the
Oldest streets in the ancient city of Worms
dwelt the worthy burgher Philip Dorm, a
jeweler and cunning workman in gold
and silver. 1t happened that one day q
young country man came to his house with
u stone which he had found in the neigh
boring mountains and had brought to
Philip, as an honest man, and one whom
he could trust The leWeler took the
stone and after examining it attentiyely
said, with careless air, that it was of
small value, but that he would give him
20 thalers for it. The country man, who
knew nothing of the value of precious
stones, instantly agreed and Philip paid
him the money. AS soon as he was gone,
our jeweler took the gem, which was Il
jacinth of great value, and regarded it
with well satisfied SMILE "This," said
he, sis the very thing which the princess
has so long desired. All, Philip thou art
a lucky fAlow Thy fortune is made. Who
will now be able to stand against the jew
eler Philip DORM" So, after again sur
veying his bargain, he put it into case
in which he was won't to keep his most
precious things.
In short time another visitor came to
Philip. He was little man of we'll fed
appearance, with enormous green specta-
cles, high crowned hat and high heeled
Shoes This person demanded u stone
proper for ring, such as diamond or an
amethyst. Philip took down the case in
which he had deposited his precious ia
cinth and exhibited it's contents to the
stranger, who selected fine diamond, for
which Philip took care to ask double what
it was worth; but the stranger paid him
his demand without grudging, and went
away, saying that he would soon see him
again.
Philip replaced his case and set out to
inform his patroness, the princess of his
newly acquired jacinth. He went to the
palace, and, with many bows, informed
her highness of his good fortune, and was
desired to return next day and to bring
the gem with him. After dispatching this
business, he returned home and again took
down the case to feast his eyes upon his
jewel, when, on opening it, to Philips
CONSERVATION, no jacinth was to be found.
In vain he searched every corner-the gem
was flown
In great distress of mind Philip went
out and was bordering an apology for the
morrow, when, on turning q corner, he
felt some one tap him on the shoulder,
and, turning round, saw the gentleman in
the green spectacles, who with Il knowing
| wink asked him what had become of his
| jacinth. The jeweler was rather surprised,
| as he did not remember having seen the
| stranger examine it, SO he very naturally
| asked him if he knew anything about it.
"That do, Herr Philip.
The stranger informed Philip that he
could not tell him at present, but that if
he came that evening to the forest at tho
| foot of the Schneeberg mountain no would
see, and perhaps regain, his jacinth. Philip
| promised to be punctual, on which the
| gentleman said adieu, telling him that
| he had some business to transact at Rats
| bon, but would be back in time. Philip
| thought this rather odd as that city is at
considerable distance from Worms, but
| he said nothing; so, making polite bow,
| he returned home
He waited with the utmost impatience
| for the appointed time, and whom at length
| it began to grow dark he set out with a
| beating heart for tho rendezvous. Soon he
| approached the forest and saw the clouds
eddying around the summit Of the Schnec-
berg. He went on his way rejoicing, and
although at the first step in the wood he
| plunged up to the neck in morass, so
immersed was he in his delight at the
| prospect Of regaining his jacinth that he
scarcely noticed his immersion in the
water. On he passed, through bush
| through brake, frequently coming in con-
| tact with the trunks of trees, to the utter
| discontinue of his sedate and sober wig.
| The bushes seemed to get thicker and the
| pools deeper the farther he proceeded, and
| at length he was fairly brought to a stand
| by broad sheet of water, the leaping of
| which was out Of the question, even to a
| much better leaper than our friend Philip.
While he was standing considering what
| was to be done, he heard a voice crying
"Here comes my worthy friend, Philip
| Dorm! Prepare we the way for him!" And
| shouts of laughter rang through the for
| est. AT this Philip was sore amazed, but,
seeing the pool disappear, ho stepped bold
| ly forward and found himself at the rock
appointed as the place of meeting.
| The gentleman in the green spectacles
| made his appearance on the top Of it and
| greeted Philip with great politeness, and,
although the rock was very precipitous he
walked down it with the greatest easeand
stood at Philips side. "Now," said he,
Herr Dorm, you will be good enough to
| follow me little farther" TO which
| Philip bowed assent though he would
rather have been excused. On they went
for considerable time, through 4 part of
| the forest that Philip had never seen be-
| fore, till at length they reached a wilder
ness of rocks, which appeared broken from
| the mountain. They still proceeded, be-
tween two high walls of rock, till they
came to wide cavern, brilliantly lighted,
in which Philip saw his jacinth suspended
| by a gold chain, which seemed to ascend
| to an immense height as it's other end
was lost in the darkness. "Now," said
his companion, 'there is your jacinth.
You have but to stretch out your hand and
it is yours" Philip stepped forward and
laid hold of his jewel and attempted to
take 1t from the chain, when suddenly he
felt the earth sinking beneath his feet,
and, attempting to withdraw his hand,
found 1t firmly fixed to the jacinth. He
turned round in agony to his conductor,
and saw him standing laughing immoder-
ately, with his spectacles in one hand and
hiseyes flaming like burning Goals. "Hold
fast, friend Philip" he cried. "Hold
fast!' and instantly vanished in the dark
ness. The cavern closed with fearful
noise, and shouts Of laughter, mingled
with cries of "IIold fast, hold fast!' were
the last sounds that were ever heard by
| the jeweler Of Worms.-New York News.
-----------------