The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-03

ne snouln say something TO her, re-
markell
1T is beautiful day"
Thcrcupon the maiden answered.:
Yes. very beautiful" and noddlng
assent turned homeward.
So passed seven days, one after the
other. and OH the seventh day the last
tree was fellcd. The woman in the
woods came. praised the Industrious
Heinz and said:
Now comes the second task"
Heinz must now remove the roots OF
the trees that the earth might be cult
vateC and seed and fruit sown. For
this he required seven weeks. But cv-
cry evening after his well finished
days work the daughter of the wonl-
an in the woods brought him food AMI
sat beside him OH the tree trunk and
listened while Heinz told OF the world
outside. and when lie had finished she
held out white hand to him and said:
Good night. dear IIcinz"
Then she went home, but Heinz
sought his couch ana fell asleep at
once.
When seven weeks had thus passed.
the woman In the woods came. cXamin-
cd the work. praised the Industrious
workman and said
Nov cones the third task. 1t is
that YOU build Il house with seven
rooms for me from out the fcllcd wood.
and when thou hast also finished it
then shalt thou receive cup of the
water Of forgctfulness and canst 20
whittier thou wilt
SO Heinz became Il builder and with
AK and saw erected Il stately house.
The work certainly progressed slowly,
FOR Heinz worked without assistance.
but this lie did not dislike, for lie loved
the green forest and he would have
liked best 10 remain always near the
old woman in the woods. lie certainly
still remembered at times his former
sorrow, but 1t was like one who, hav-
ing had Il bad dream, rejoices in the
morning that lie is awake. Each even
ing the daughter Of the old woman
came to him, and they now sang to-
gether hunting songs and now songs
Of separation, parting and meeting
So passed seven months. The house
was finished from threshold to gable.
On the gable Heinz had fastened Il
young pine tree, and the maiden had
bound garlands Of pine twigs and red
mountain berries and decorated the
walls.
The old woman in the woods came on
her crutchcs, with the cat on her shoul-
der, to inspect the finished work She
appeared very solemn and carried in
her hand cup carved from wood,
wherein WAS the water Of forgetful-
ness.
Thou hast finished the three tasks
which / imposed upon thee" said she,
land now comes thy reward Take
this cup and when thou shalt have
cmptied ir 10 the last drop then is the
past ohlitcrated from thy memory"
The lluntsman hcsitatingly stretched
forth his hand toward the cup.
'Drnk." said the old woman. land
forget ALL
"All?"
eyes, everything; thy former sorrow,
me and'-
"And me also," said the beautiful
maiden and placed her hand over her
eyes that she might reprcss her rising
tears.
Then the young fellow seized the cup
and threw it with powerful hand to the
earth, SO that the drink rained in many
glittering drops upon the grass, and
cried:
Mother. remain with theev
And before he knew what happened
to him the maiden lay upon his breast
and sobbed for very happiness. And
though the trees went a-blowing and
the yellow cornf1elds round about nod
ded in the wind, the birds sang IN the
branches and the white cat Of the old
woman went purring in circle round
about the happy pair.
Now, 1 could without great trouble
transform the old woman in the woods
into beautiful fairy, her daughter
into q princess and the new built
house into a glittering kings castle,
but we will remain faithful to the truth
and let everything be as it was.
But, after all, something wonderful
did happ-n. Where the drops Of the
water Of forgetfulness had fallen on the
earth there sprang up from the ground
dear little flower with heavenly blue
eyes. The flower now has spread over
alI the land, and who knows not it's
name for him Is this story not written.
ten.-Translated From the German
For Short Stories
Modern Methods.