Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-01

Phaeton had lived q jolly life with
his mother, the ocean nymph Clymene,
for many years before he discovered
that he was unlike his playmates.
Clymene had dreaded to tell the boy
who his father was, because she feared
the ambitions which the news would
arouse in his breast.
And truly Phaeton was happy lad
when he learned that the mighty sun
god, the great Phebus, was his parent
Immediately he begged his mother to
let him go for a visit to his fathers
kingdom. In vain Clymene told him
that sit was a long journey" that
"she could not spare him." that "his
father might not be glad to see him"
The boy still insisted, and, mother
like she let him have his own way.
In India, directly in the regions of
the sunrise, Phaeton came upon his
fathers palace. The columns which
supported the ivory ceiling were all
incrusted with gold and precious
stones. The doors were of silver.
Upon the walls were representations
OF earth. sea, sky and their irhabit-
ants. Over towns, rivers, forests was
carved the glorious sky, set with
sparkling stars.
AS Phaeton approached into his
fathers presence he drew back. for
the light which came from the sun
gods diamond throne was more than
his eyes could bear. Grouped about
Phebus were the Hours, the Day, the
Month and the Year. As his attend
ants icy Winter, Autumn, with feet
stained with grape juice; Summer,
with garments cast aside, and flower
crowned Spring stood near.
When the boy begged his father for
some proof Of his parentage PhGbus
answered.: Whatever gift You ask of
me shall be granted as pledge that
you are indeed my son."
1t did not take Phaeton long to de-
eide that he would ask to be allowed
to drive the sun chariot for day.
Reluctantly Phebus yielded to the
ambitious boys wish, but he gave him
warning that he was risking his life.
''The first of the road is so Steep"
said Ph9bus, "that the horses, though
fresh, can hardly climb it. Farther
on when you reach the summit of the
heavens the height is so great that
even l dare not look down to earth,
and the close of the journey is SO
steep and headlong that at any mo-
ment the driver may plunge head first
into the ocean beneath"
When the boy saw the chariot with
its wheels aud body of gold and its
seat of diamonds he was wild with de-
light. After the Hours had harnessed
the horses Phaeton set upon his head
the rays, grasped the reins, and, pay
ing but little heed to his fathers shout
"that he follow the marks of the
Wheels" started on the Hateful
journey.
The horses as they galloped off
realized that the load was much
lighter and the hand on the reins less
restraining than usual and soon
swerved from the track. Poor Phae-
ton tried in vain to guide them, but
they went on unheeding. AS he
looked toward earth the great dis
lance so frightened him that he
dropped the reins. His steeds now
wandered in among the stars and
dragged the chariot down almost to
earth, all unchecked.
The clouds smoked, then mountain
tops took fire, the fields became
parched and the harvests famed;
great cities with their houses and
walls burned to the ground and
remained of the people but
ashes. Then it was that the negro
became black and the great Sahara
desert was formed.
Jupiter saw the havoc and tried to
hurl a thunderbolt and drench the
world with showers, but all the water
was dried up, so he hurled instead
lightning bolt at Phaeton. With hair
afre the boy fell to the earth aud in
the Eridanus river found his tomb.
His sisters as they mourned him on
the banks of the river were turned
into poplar trees and their tears into
drops of amber.