The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-29
The Red Moon.
BY ANNA MARBLE.

the moon was always red It rose above the horizon h the evening, like an absent minded sun that had forgotten to set, and on moonlight nights 1t fioated high In the dark sky, Ike the radiant red gloDe or q giant lamp. In the gray twilight, when the moon was new" It looked as though a knife had been lunged Into the sky, leaving a jagged red wound.
 For many years even longer than the oldest peasant could remember. the moon had shown red, and for many years also the fair faces of the maidens In the hat country had been wan and pale. Some people believed that the Moon Man had drawn all the color. from the maidens' cheeks but no one ever thought of mending matters until the Green Knight with the Winged Pony came along.
 Thls Knight was very brave youth, who devoted his lifetime to making other people happy.
 Just because he did thls there were many people who believed him to be crazy.
 His armor was of glittering green and his pony was jet black, with two beautiful scarlet wings, which when spread enabled him to fly Instantly with his master to any part of the universe.
 The Green Knight was ln search of adven- ture when he aighted in the flat country and dismounted from his pony.
 The pony's name, by the way, was schwartgpferdchen which will be easy for you to remember.
 After schwartzpferdchen had been stabled at an inn and fed with golden oats, which were the only kind of oats that he would eat. the Green Knight left him to rest and set out for a walk.
 He had been doing good for others so much lately that he was feeling rather tired, but, you see, he was a knight of olden times, and was much too polite to admit 1t even to him. self
 Schwartzpferdchen stood in the stable and munched his golden oats while his master sauntered forth exploring the flat country.
 He passed many farmhouses and saw in the fields groups of peasant maidens who tolled and sang He noticed that they were pale and that their songs we're not as merry IS one would have expected. He continued on his way, but not one ruddy faced peasant girl greeted his sight as he passed farmland and garden. At last he thought: Surely there must be some reason why all these pretty maidens are so pale. Perhaps they are unhappy. If so wartzpferdchen and I have work to do here"
 He inquired at length of peasant girl who was gathering cabbages.
 "Tell me, damsel, why Is 1t that I see no rosy cheeks among those of you at work In the open air, which should bring bright color 10 your pretty facesT'
 Alas, Sir Knight" she replied, courtesy ing low, 'tis said that the Moon Man draws the roses from our cheeks to tint the moon globe red''
 "A red moon, indeed" exclaimed the Green Knight in astonshment; that must be a strange sight"
 Far over the field bell tolled softly, and the peasant maidens laid aside their farming implements and, placing the baskets of vege- tables on their shoulders, took their way from the fields to the neighboring farmhouses to rest for the night.
 The Cabbage Girl lifted her basket and, courtesying once more, said to the Green Knight, See, the moon is rising now. The farm maidens hasten, therefore lest the Moon Man draw the blood from their hearts as well as their cheeks" and she went on her way while the Green Knight stood gal sing In wonder at the blood red moon, which threw burning rays of light upon the earth. As he watched the round rosy ball he made up his mind to do something at once to restore the lost bloom to the maidens' cheeks, and to cheer their sorrowful hearts, and soon he strode back to the Inn and, mounting hwartxpferdchen, who was now thoroughly rested and had eaten all the gold en oats. they flew at once to the palace Of the King.
 The Green Knisht sent In his card to the King.
 GOT, if that was not the polite way of an- nouncfng himself, perhaps he only rang the front door bell and wsited)
 The King sent out word that he would re- ceive him gladly and at once. So schwarts- pferdchen remained In the courtyard while the Green Knight went before the King and told him that he felt very sorry about the Moon Mans cruelty, and asked him, the King, if he didn't think 1t would be good idea to do something to stop 1t.
 Now 1t had never before occurred to the King that there might be a remedy for the trouble of his people. He was a very stupid King, as will be seen. but he looked admiringly at the young knight.
 Excellent" he agreed, 'but how did you ever come to think out such q clever idea, and how do you propose to carry it through There is no way of sending a message to the Moon Man, and I doubt whether he would listen to us even if we could reach him"
 "oh, that's all right" replied the Green Knight confidently "my pony has scarlet wings and can fly beautifully"
 And what reward will you ask If you succeedr' said the King, who cared more for the yellow color of his gold than the rosy hnes In the peasant maldens' cheeks.
 NO reward. sire" declared the might You see 1t is enough for me to be able to make people happy"
 q am sorry to say that the King was rude enough to tap the side of his golden crown and wink at bis Grand vlsier at this polnt.)
 "Glve me crytal vase in which to hold the red color of the moon and 1 will depart on my journey at once"
 The Grand Yizier was sent by the King to procure the vase, and soon returned, whereupon the knight straishtway returned to Schwsrtzpferdchen, and mounting his back, they were soon flying through the air In the direction of the great red moon.
 As they drew nearer and nearer the red moonlight became warmer and warmer, so