Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-29


open. 1t did indeed. contain key,
but not of gold. 1t was of iron, strone
and heavy.
"Ho, no." sneered the older son, "this
is thy key, brother Carl. Take it and
give me my golden key. Thou has
looked at it long enough"
"Thy key, indeed" said Carl. "'Tis
my key, none of thine"
"wretched fellow" cried his brother
"Did I not tell thee last eve that mine
was the smaller bud?"
with that he fell upon Carl ant
would have wrested the key from him
but the young lad was a sturdy wrest-
Ter and tripped him, bringing him down
with a hard blow on his crown.
Then Carl hung the key about his
neck and went to the forest to chop
wood
Friedrich, picking himself UP from
the ground, fell into a great fury and
pocketed the iron key with i'll grace.
One day in the forest was as like
another as the right hand is like the
left. The sun rode high at midday
or the rain drove in torrents; the clear
ing basked in summer heat. or the snow
eddied about the hut and swirled in
white clouds through the forest. In
summer there was wood to chop, and
in the winter bits of quaint wood
carving for deft fingers, and traps to
set for the shy wood creatures. And
If one tired of black bread and cheese
of goats milk it mattered not at all.
for the same fare was set for the
morrow.
So the lads grew to manhood,
bronzed by wind and sun, straight as
their native hemlocks, and as tough
of sinew. The younger son was gay
and generous, friend to man and
beast, and the elder morose and sui
len, cherishing sights and envious of
the joys of others.
One day as the brothers sat in the
forest at the noon meal NIKE and a
pixie appeared before them. To Fried
rich the pixie addressed himself. Hast
thou that key which is the fruit of the
seed 1 dropped in thine ear ten years
agone?"
Friedrich replied sullenly, "It is in
my wallet"
""Tis WELL" answered the pixie.
"This is the reward of long cherishing
the fairy gift. Wheresoever thou shall
go in this broad earth, in forest or in
clearing, in valley or in upland, upon
the plain or on the sea, this key shall
unlock treasure for thee. Thou shalt
possess great riches
"Well spoken little man of the
mould" cried Friedrich. Truth, 1
shall hang upon my neck broad
shall envy mel"
Then spoke the NIKE, Hast thou,
Carl, that golden key which sprang
from the red seed I dropped in thy
palm ten years ago."
Carl replied eagerly, "'T,is hanging
now about my neck"
Take thy reward" returned the
NIKE. whether thou stayest at home
or wanderest abroad this key shall
unlock happiness for thee. Thou shalt
have joy and peace all thy days"
Carl tossed his cap into the tree top.
"I thank thee, little man," said he.
'Hola! I shall mary Kathie tomor-
rowi"
The elves waved them a farewell.
Farewell, thou and thy richest"
Farewell, thou, and thy happiness!"
they cried and disappeared.
i
said. Friedrich gained wealth, and
more wealth, and yet more, and turned
many silly heart to envy. He built a
great house, filled with gold and silver
plate, and stable, stocked with blooded
horses. A score OF servants devoured
his substance and his wines were cost
ly. But great folk would have none Of
his because he was a woodchopper's
son, which was thorn in his flesh;
and poor folk hated him, for he spurned
them and never gave of his plenty to
them that hungered and thirsted.
At last, having surfeited on choice
wines and rich pastries, a sore sick
ness fell upon him, and age found him
alone and wretched, a subject for
mockery to his own servants.
Carl did indeed marry Kathie on tho
morrow. She was the prettiest ana
rosiest Of the maidens, and they were
as light-hearted and joyous as the for
est birds. Their humble tasks were
play, and the little cot in the clearing
was the happiest home in the world.
The forest sang to Carl and he loved
1t. Every leaf and flower and every
shy beast knew him. The sun shone
warmly on him, and the storms of win
ter, If they smote him, dealt but the
playful buffets of a friend. Peace and
joy sat with him at the board, and he
was more content with his humble lot
than are the lords of this world.
At evening, with his rosy children at
his knee, he mused at times upon the
destinies allotted by the fairy gifts.
"Suppose nv Kathie." said he "the