Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-05-10

/ whom he regarded as mere poet and
would not even deign to glance at the
worthless Reed, but stopped up his ears
with q weary, soornful air when the
Reed thought good to rustic.
Prince Narcissus did not care to harm
the Laburnum. He felt pity for it,
1 though he could have annihilated it
/ with one watt OF his pungent perfume.
The Poppy and the Dandelion were
for him, personages of too low born ex-
traction, and for a trifle he would have
adopted rude manner toward them.
But with Cavalier Gentian it was
quite different affair. He had come
1own from his heights and detied all
those who were enamored of the Water
Lily. Narcissus had accepted his ohal-
1enge and had overwhelmed him with
his pungent odor.
As his reputation for valor was now
firmly established he would have liked
in his vanity thousands of voices to be
raised in his praise and grew angry
when the frogs croaked requiem in
compliment to the fallen cavalier.
However, such is the way of the world.
AS long as one is alive it refuses to pay
one homage. One must die before being
dppIGOldlSu anu iuOQOEeU.
What would Narcissus have said had
he known that the Edelweiss took the
veil on account of her deep sorrow on
the death of the cavalier Gentian2
Toward evening, when he had rested
from the fatigue of the day, he oried in
avoice SO loud as to be heard all around ;
Come to me, thou beauteous her
NIT, so white and pure. Thou art meet
and fit to be my own princess.
Hardly had he pronounced these
words when he was attacked by prick
ing pains, which seemed to be burning
him ON all sides, but he determined to
grasp and conquer his enemy.
he succeeded in catching hold of the
Will-o' the ,wisp and grasped it SO firm
ly that it was soon inert and grew cold
er and colder and heavier and heavier.
Eventually the burden became SO great
that he let it fall at his feet, and there
lay a monstrous jewel, white as the
Water Lily, but bearing in it's depths a
marvellous blending of all the oolors in
heaven and on the earth, with a fire as
vivid as that of the will-o'- -the-wisp.
Suddenly the Reeds were pushed
aside, and long bearded gnome issued
from the lake and gazed with google
eyes at the newborn Opal.
Lost in admiration, he hastened to
pick it up. Its efHulgence was SO bril-
liant that he thrust it into lantern
which he wore slung round his neck
and set out to rejoin his fellow gnomes.
On reaching them he cried out:
"Come and see what magnificent
gem have found"
His companions laughed at him, say
ing:
"Why, it is but Will-o'-the-wisp. -
81 tell you it is an Opal. picked it
up, and its fire scorched my hand"
Yet tits but Will-o'- '-the-wispr'
The poor gnome was furious with
anger and exclaimed:
81 know that it is an Opal, and ye
are jealous because I am wealthier than
ye alll''
He preserved his treasure for some
days, but he perceived that it dwindled
slowly away as its rays grew fainter and
fainter-so faint, indeed, that it scarce
ly seemed to shine.
"Take it back to the lake, " cried his
companion. Perhaps it may there re-
cover its effulgence and beauty
So the gnome went sorrowfully back
to the lake, hoping against hope. Hard
ly had he opened his lantern when the
fame sprang out, and, increasing per-
ceptibly in size, glided noiselessly over
the surface of the water to the center of
the lake, where it distended and sepa-
rated itself into broad green leaves,
whence emerged the chaste Water Lily,
which once more lifted its fair face to
gaze on the resplendent Moon. Carmen
Sylvia Queen of Roumania) in Lady's
Realm.