Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-10-23
MADELETTE

There was pretty young girl named
Madelette, and as it was very warm
she thought she would go and battle in
the lake near the waterfall. As she
approached the bank she looked mus.
ingiy long time at the water-deep,
Clear, tumultuous-for Madelette was
the daughter of water elf, and the
fury of the cataract was to her sweet
music. She disrobed, placed her dainty
clothes under willow tree, and splash.
ing gayly into the lake swan from end
to end as easily and gracefully as a
swan. For whole hour she played
In the running water, unconscious of
everything save that she was very
happy.
After she had enjoyed herself for
awhile she returned to the bank. for it
was now late and that evening she was
going TO the ball OF Titania. But, alas.
the crafty wind. like thief, had car
ried the clothes away on his wing, and
Madelette searched for them in vain.
She was angry when she heard the de-
ceitful breeze rustling the branches
overhead, happy to see her so beauti-
full and white and laughing mockingly
as If to applaud the success of its trick.
But her anger did not bring back the
clothes, and it was cruel for the gentle
bather to have to go through the fields
as little dressed as lily. Truly, she
was very much ashamed, and she felt
a great chagrin also as she thought of
the dance, for it Is not customary for
young girls to go to a dance without
any robe. But happily along the path
she came to an old tree with large
smooth leaves on it.
Take one of my branches, poor little
girl" said the tree land make yourself
a dress Of my foliage"
Madelette chose the branch thickest
with leaves. but try as she would she
could not make them stay on her skin.
They fell to the earth. although they
would gladly have remained attached
to so pretty snowy white body. Mad
elette in despair continued her walk,
carrying the branch with her. At
which seemed to realize at once the
trouble she was In.
MY sister," said the kind shrub,
take some of my thorns, and they will
serve you as pins to fasten your gown"
The fingers of Madelette seized upon
of them in her soft skin so as to hold
the tickle leaves. But at the first trial
a drop of blood rose on the thorn, and
she gave cry of pain.
And then the Virgin Mary, not wish
ing that the young girl should go about
like that, let fall from her celestial
distaff some threads of cotton right at
the feet of the distressed little one.
Madelette picked them up eagerly, seat
ed herself on the bank of a stream and
in less time than it would take the
wind to strip the leaves off trembling
rose she had made herself a robe bril-
liant as the corselet of a beetle. The
thorns were good needles, the thread
of the Virgin held delightfully."- the
leaves together, and what better thin
BILE could one wish than the egg of a
little bird? Madelette now went on
entirely happy and very proud Of her
new toilet.
"Fie, fie," Kissed a sharp voice which
came from down there under wild
rose bush, upon the blunderer who
would go to the ball of Titania with
out a necklace"
pretty serpent of green and gold"
said Madelette, will you be my neck
lace"
every willingly" replied the serpent.
Madelette picked him up from under
the flowers and placed him on her
shoulder, and then the cool, glittering
thing wrapped itself gently around the
warm neck of the young girl.
"Oh, Madelettew cried some shining
glowworms. You would go to the
dance with no jewels in your ears"
Come here, then" cried Madelette,
and she hung from each of her ears a
beautiful living ruby.
Thus gayly attired Madelette went to
the ball of Titania. The little fairies
danced under the shade of the great
trees, and Madelette was so pretty in
her splendid costume that the king of
the gnomes, who had been invited to
the fete, fell in love with her.
He invited her to dance.
Refuse" said the serpent, moved by
jealousy and putting its head of green
and gold close to the ear of the child.
But the blushing young girl paid no
heed to this remark.
Sweet one," sighed the king during
the waltz, ''it is late, and if you only
say it 1 will go and await you down
there, and we shall be married"
81 should like it well, my lord" said
Madelette.
'Do not CO." came the piercing whis-
per of the serpent when the waltz was
finished. But Madelette pretended not
to have heard, and seeing that the king
now started out she went below and
found him awaiting her.
"Take care" cried the serpent, and
opening his little mouth his fangs dart
ed threateningly in the air.
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