Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-26
THE WINDS TWO GIFTS.
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In certain village in Russia Q
young boy lived with his stepmother,
who, as the old stories 60, treated him
with great cruelty. If ever anything
went wrong, no matter whether he
was to blame or not, the old woman
would beat him with a stick till she
became fatigued with her exertions.
The two were very poor, and one
day the mother begged some wheat OF
one Of her neighbors, and sent the
boy with it to he mill to have it
ground. The miller knew OF their
poverty, and he ground the wheat
without charging the boy anything,
who set out gladly for home, carrying
the snowy pile in pan on his head.
But he had not gone far when, of a
sudden, up came wind from the
south, and blew all the flour in snowy
flakes over the meadows.
The boy stood aghast, looking at it.
How the particles danced in the
breeze, now blowing high and like Z
mist obscurng II sun, again falling
over flowers and grasses like a deli
cate hoar-frost.
The boy saw all this, but he did not
admire it, for he knew the penalty he
must pay ON his return. As there
was no help for it, he turned away
with a sigh, and soon reached home.
Where is the flour?' the mother
cr'cl
The boy showed the empty pan, and
proceeded to tell her what had hap
med. In rag the cruel woma"
oiofed up her sii' and thrashed thu
"lild. Then taxing him to the door
She put him out. saying:
Go to the wind and tell him to re-
turn your -four or to pay for it. And
until he does, you need not return
here!"
The poor child turned in terror to
the great wide world. Where should
he go?
What could he do? 1t was bad
enough to be beaten. but even that
was better than h wing no home.
So he thought as he went crying on
his way.
He wandered for long time till he
reached great forest. The trees
grew so closely and so high that it
seemed always to be twilight here.
Not sound of singing bird or busy
insect disturbed the quit. but over all
seemed a hush, as when the winds
are lulled to rest before the breaking
of the tempest. The child understood
these signs, but he said to himself:
Better die here in the storm than
wander homeless IN the world" and
40 he entered the dark avenues of
trees.
But when he had walked half doz-
en- steps he became conscious of O
presence here. Nor was he mistaken,
for 1t was On enchanted spot, and
soon he met a queer-looking old wo-
man.
well, my son, what do you here,
where birds sing not and where wild
animals fear to tread? Know you that
this is my land7 What will your"
In fear and trembling the child told
his story.
"Ha! ha! Is 1t so? cried the old
one. ave shall see, we shall see!
Know that | am the mother of the
winds. Come with me and all will be
WELL"
She took the boy by the hand and
led him deeper and deeper into the
darkness; and as the growth became
ienser and the darkness more palpa-
Die, the quiet became more intense.
you see how still " is?" she said,
after long silence. THAT is be.
cause my sons are away. There are
four Of them. The North Wind, the
East Wind, the South Wind and the
West Wind; when they come home,
Nh, then the forest Is not still. But
which OF my sons stole your -four
lway!"
alas, kind madam, it was the
south Wind"
Never fear, never fear; all will be
vell!"
They now reached little hut, deep
n the heart of the wood. On enter
ng, the woman said:
Quick jump on the stove and cover
'ourselfw
Why" cried the child, IN terror. ,
Quick! obey mel" the woman said.
] hear my son the North Wind COM
ng, and he will freeze you!"
10 the boy obeyed her; and none J
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