The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-27
THE ANCIENT LEGEND
Of WEEPING WILLOW.
Which Tells How It Came to Be
So Named.

Once upon a time, q long, long While
ago, forester went Into the deepest,
darkest portion OF a great woods to look
for brands to keep his fire going. Hcre
he gathered together as much as he cou1o
carry, and after resting a bit and sitting
still to listen to ar the wild Things tlat
made music and seemed as though thcy
would gladly have him abide with them,
he started home bearing his great bundle
OF frcwood with him.
Now, just where the forest gave place
to the thinner copse which sRlrtea X u
smooth, green meadow, the man met Il
vlnsome little maiden, who smiled in
his face and said: Good morrow, Mas
ter! hope that all is well with thee
The forester answered clvlly, and as
he did so Il slender brapch loosened II
sed from his bundle and trnlled on the
ground to some length, SO he caught II
impatlently and tossed It aside, lest II
trip his fest and cause him%to TALL
Seeing this, the maid asked N the
sweetest tone the man had ever heard:
Good Master may i have the Drahchi
It viii be trodden underfoot u left here.
eye may without the asking, 80 DC ~
We stoop for 1t but what Is the use 0 q
: . i
"oh, / will plant and tend IT. an
| swcred the maid. holding the long green
| twig between her finger tips. "W no may
| tell? We know not the secrets he'd N the
| hearts o such MS this; indeed, we kho"
| them not
The man passed on his way silently
looking back once or twice at the lltt'e
| maid as she stood In the forest pawn,
| with her wind-blown curls OF gold ulld
| her eyes with the blue of heaven IN t'e1r
clear depths, 1.
1 Whcn he had quite disappeared the 1T
| tie maid went her way across the green
| meadow, carrying with her the long
| slender twis, and reaching the little
garden, which was all hcrow she plant
ed the twig, whispering loving words as
| she did So and begged 1t not 70 dle' put
/. to try It's best TO like the garden hhu
! grow there MS her friend ana conn pa nlo, ~,
| Now, every day she wntered me t"is
| and every day she said tender wprus, am.
I saw that no one was rough ~ Eth NY
no beast came near to frishten y q c'u =, y
out It's tender life, and after q WIZ y ~ -
| tyi,. seeming 10 understand all fshe shiu
nnI "a feel her loving care. took root and
i began to grow Then, day by gay, y s'u I,'
! stronger ana sturdier, and the little mao
loved ii MS she had never loved tree.So'
plant before. 5
summer time came, then winter NV. na
sprlng again; then another yehr l'u's I. y
and many came In wonder 10 see tENo NJ
4 beautiful tree which belonged 70 w Is,
maid, for such had never haeil seen -
this country before. ,,o,,,,
But one day after the tree nav s," y, -
10 soma size and was known N ~ ~ =
z villages round, there came cola VIM ~
blowing from the dark mouHsu'i'a ~
through the thick forest. The trees pelt
and moaned and complained among tnp,a1
selves, for the wind was bitter and oLue e
ana tore their limbs and snapped OH theis
4 heads and did great damage 70 many % o.
them. But the tree the garden or VIC
maid only swung back AND forth INV :
laughed AT the wind, for II WAS siei'efeu
from the storm aud did not FEAR
But the little maidr-Was y me slo'i ~
Was II the frost king thai pressed iNs
chilling kisses upon her lipsI 10 one
could say--but she grsW very ph'e on, ohe
day, and artc, little While 'ne ne
with their long. silken lashes, droorsu,
and then she did not answer wren ,Hes
called, ana they said; "ihe maia y
dead /,
NOM theX prepared resting place
for the maid beneath tho tree she hae
loved SO well, thinking she wo,'ia s,eoi
sweetly under its low-drooplns pra''e, ,a
But it was seen at onGa that inc 'rs'
drooned alid ianguis!ed. ana on liz