Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-12
THE LEGEND OF THE
SNOW=WHITE BIRD.
A Story of the Mysterious Land of the
Golden Star.

brooks and rivulets go flashing along
In the sunshine, which pierces through
the very heart of the deep woods.
This monarch had three daughters,
who resembled the moon in the radi-
ance of their beauty. 1t was their duty
to take turns daily in guarding the
lambs of the royal flock.
One morning Flossinda went forth
to the pasture, where each snow-white
lamb, so beautiful to behold, looked
like little cloudlet moving hither
and thither before the splendor of the
sun. For Flossinda possessed, as her
chief beauty, wonderful golden hair,
and so beautiful was it that the zeph-
yrs loved to play with it and when
she wandered all day with the lambs
they caught up the golden glory, and
waited it up and spread it out upon
the soft air till it looked like sunshine,
soft and mellow.
But this morning Flossinda was
very weary, and try as she would to
keep watch. she could not overcome
the spell that seemed to hover over
then to settle down upon her with re-
sistless power. And so she fell asleep
under the shadow of a green tree,
and when she awoke one of the lambs
was missing from the flock.
How the poor princess wept at this
calamity! How she searched and ran
hither and thither, in vain! Then she
dreaded to return home without the
missing one. and she walked in the
direction of high mountain, away
from the palace
When she reached the base of the
tall, precipitous cliff, she beheld, sud-
denly, a blood-red door in the rock,
and entering it, found herself in a
beautiful hall where people ate and
drank, and were making merry. She
paused moment, as if to join them,
and group Of dancing girls, with
cymbals and harps, leaped forward
and formed a ring about her.
Flossinda for moment was dazzled
by the splendor of the scene, which far
surpassed anything in her fathers
court; but then she remembered her
lost lamb, and with cry of sorrow
for it, she rushed forward, broke the
ring of dancers, and fled to TIE oppo-
site wall, where door OF gold opened
before her.
Here more wonderful vision burst
upon her. The splendor of the other
hall was insignificant beside this dis
play. Beautiful tapestries hung upon
the walls, so cleverly painted and
woven that one seemed to look into
forest glades, where nympns danced,
and sprites rose from danshing cas-
cades to greet the passing traveller.
On the marble floor were strewn rugs
of rare and exquisite designs. Luxur-
ious divans stood around and the air
was heavy with perfumes. Here again,
women in waiting came forward to
greet her, bringing garments of pure
gold in which to deck her; and just as
she was about to yield to their wishes
the thought of the poor strayed lamb
again came to her, and she fled through
door of silver to hall beyond
Words fail to describe the glorious
beauty that she now beheld. The sill
yer hall seemed so pure, so entranc-
ing, with the glittering stars, it's trick
ling, babbling water, it's grottoes of
pure silver, its women, graceful and
radiant, and its cool, invigorating at
mosphere.
Here at }ast, is the place of rest, and
10y, and peace" sighed the weary
Flossinda.
But as the beautiful nymphs stepped
forth from the silver grottoes to re-
ceive her, she suddenly remembered
her lost charge, and cried out to them:
"Tell me, first, where to find my lit
tie lost lamb
But when she had spoken those
words, there was an awful cry from
every one present, and the place SEEM
ed burning with lurid glare.
Flossinda fled once more, and enter
ed hall through a door of snowy
marble. This hall was all pure white
and deep azure. Its walls and roof
were blue as the vault of heaven. set
with stars of immaculate brilliancy.
Beautiful statuary stood about. All
was stately, pure, chaste, serene. No
presence was here to mar the effect,
the blending of all that is highest and
truest and best.
And over all the hush, which con-
trasted so strongly with the babble of
the three other halls, there fell sud-
denly the sound of music How ex-
quisite it was, no one may know till
he travels to the land of the Golden
Star, and sees all that Flossinda saw.
Louder and sweeter the music grew,
but no living person could the princess
see
Suddenly turning, she beheld near
the door by which she had entered, a
bird-cage, of purest gold, set with