Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
Why the Jaekdav Hides Everything Bright.
TOLD BY S. TEN EYCK BOURKE.
tCoDvriQbt 1901 hv T. ~ nirdsanl

Copyright 1904, by X. y. Birdsall)
Once upon time in the long. long ago.
when the old. old world was very young
world indeed. the sun rose high through the
perfumed mists of an August dawn.
The dancing beams santed across broad
meadows of buttercups hedged with fragrant
thorn to the woodland depths. where they
Jeweled the leaves of the clustering roses
and the darker shadows of the tall pome-
granate trees that Powered scarlet around
the great kings palace. Then through the
opened easement they shot their cleaning
shaft from the heart of the sun to the
ciouded globe that lay by the sleeping king
Wake. lord" called the drifting notes.
the moon yields this month to the yellow
glory OF the sun. Low hung in the sky in
the twilight hour, she dons a mantle of gold
radiant gates"
Wake. lord" echoed the shimmering
beams. our work is done. The sheIl-tint
blooms and snow-clad boughs of apple and
plum trees have ripened to fruit We have
wrought the wonder key"
solomon rose from his slumber couch and
TOOK up the clouded globe. In the warm
strong light it grew wondrousy clear flash
ing rainbow ttnts on golden key prsoned
within
Then | must go to the moons magic
realm TO renew my power to rule over the
earth and all living things" spoke the wise
king.
Beware, lest you wait till too late
shimmered the beams. IF by any mis-
chance YOU fail to gather the milky sheen
for the wonder key of the coming year you
Will not know the secrets of life Then
you'll lose your sway over the birds and the
beasts and their brother man. and each will
dwell apart
You must make haste" cautioned the
notes; you may unlock the radiant gates
while the moon is full, and tomorrow's
dawn heralds the eve of her waning"
True - TpDlipd Solomon iS 70
prepare the gifts bestow on my subjects
when | return from the magic realm
The great king went to his treasure hall
with the crystal globe in his hand and
opened the alabaster chests that We're
ranged against the wall. One by one he
chose the gifts. wrapping them round with
Il tilmy web of woven golden threads, then
bore them off to his grass-grown court
ringed within the nodding daisies.
On the opposite shore an elm tree grew.
a mischievous jackdaw nesting among its
topmOSt branches kept a curious watch as
Solomon spread out the golden web and set
the gifts upon 1t.
Those numerous packets merit a closer
peep. he exclaimed, and, curious as he
could possibly be. flew straight down from
his nest. and over the brook.
He never saw the jswel-bright eyes that
CLEANED between the elms twisting roots
where the silver brook in it's springtide rush
had washed away the moss, and left Sc
cret lair.
The jackdaw strutted gravely forward till
he stood beside the king.
You need a helper, lord, 1 see." he OBJ
served.
Then it will not be you, little Jackdaw.
I've heard il said you are rather too prone
to play pranks." the wise king laughed,
and stopped to place the crystal globe on
the golden web
"'Tis "a pity. Lord" the jackdaw cried,
with no malice for the rebuff ito shut up
that glitterinG key"
Il may not break the crystal sheath" the
great king spoke, lest the key be lost be-
fore it is needed to open the radiant gates.
1t must battle all night in the moons misty
light, then the morrows setting sun will
release il for me-
''Ah joyr' sang the scented breeze. then
all living things will join in a brotherhood
of love. and promise to aid each other dur
ing the coming year"
aye" spoke Solomon. land these are