The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-18
KNIGHT OF THE
GOLDEN LOCKS.
A Wonder-Story From the Folklore
of Germany.
BY FRED MyRoN Colby.


Of Germany.
BY FRED MYRoN Colby.
On the borders Of forest in Ger
many, many years ago, there lived an
old wood-eutter and his wife. They
were very poor and very feeble, but
they thought they were rich, for they
had strong young son to help them.
He was now about eighteen years old,
tall, stalwart youth, with eyes dark
as midnight, and black hair that fell
in waves on his shou ldeis, like a wo-
mans.
Every day he went to the forest to
cut wood, which he loaded on an ass's
back, and carried to neighboring
village to sell. With the money thus
earned he was enabled to provide
good living for his parents, and to save
something over for rainy day. But
he disliked the drudgery of the work
aud the siowness Of accumulation, aud
resolved to quit it at the first opportu-
nifty.
One evening, after he had returned
from the forest, he said to his father:
mo more of this work for me. To-
morrow am going TO leave you"
"And how do you think your father
and mother will live without you?''
said the cld wood-ehopper.
''I have provided against that" an
swered the young man. "Here is
enough gold to keep you and mother
from want until my return, and then
/ will bring you more"
He drew bag of gold from under his
b II, and showed its contents to his
surprised pareots.
"Have you been robbing merch-
ant train?" asked the old woman.
surely you could not have got so
much money honestly. Evil will come
upon us if we spend even single
gold piece"
''Have no fear, mother" said the
son. "The gold is ours until some one
calls for it. It has been lying in the
forest all these months waiting for an
owner, aud TO day l found it. See,
here are a thousand pieces of gold,
more than you can spend if you live
hundred years. You may have it all,
but this ring will keep myself"
He then emptied the gold upon the
table, and among the shining pieces
lay a ring of marvellous beauty. Itwas
an opal, and it glistened in the fire.
Eight like living coal. The young
man put cord through it and sus-
pended it from his neck under his
haxen tunic.
The following morning he babe his
parents adieu and started on his jour
ney. That day he travelled a great
way, but he found no one that would
employ him. Towards night he came
to a wood, in the midst of which stood
a cabin, and from the window shone
light. He raped at the door.
An aged woman opened it, and stood
regarding him with eyes as bright as
those of a mouse.
81 seek supper and lodging tonight,
and employment for the morrow" he
said in answer to her inquiries.
"Come in; you are welcome to the
first" said the dame. "As for the last,
will see what can be done for you to-
morrow"
The young man entered without
more ado. The cabin was small, but
well kept, and the fare she placed be-
fore him was good. He slept soundly
on his couch of fresh rushes, and in the
morning, after breakfast, the dame said
to him:
"You asked for employment. ] have
work for you to do, if that is what you
want"
AT this she led him to pool in her
garden, bordered with thick foliage
and many tall trees that bore strange
kinds of fruit. Said the woman:
'sYou see how bright and golden this
water is, and yet it is as pure as crystal.
1t will be your duty to sit here all day
and watch that nothing falls into it TO
disturb it. At sunset l will come
again.
He observed that the water was full
of fishes, and that they were all Of gold.
There were insects floating on the sur
face, and they were like gold too.
Plants grew from the bottom of the
pool, and their blossoms, floating on
the surface of the water, spsrkled with
golden splendor.
The young man watched the pool
very closely, and at noon, being very
hungry, he helped himself to the fruit
that grew in abundance about him.
He found it very sweet and luscious,
but Immediately after eating it he was
seized with great thirst.
He endured his thirst as long as pos
si5le, and then, though with some mis-
givings, he lay over the brink of the
pool and drank. While doing so his
long dark hair dropped over his face
and fell around him in the water. He
lifted his head with a sudden start,
but the mischief was already done; his
raven locks had become golden, and
shone like the sun.
Just as the sun was disappearing the
old woman came, as she had said she
would.
"What have you been doing to my
pool?'' was her first question. IA
pretty servant you are who could not
be faithful even for one day. Leave
me; you cannot remain here; but you
shall lose your days wages"
That r.i.rl,f hl alar,f In the forest His