The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-08-03

ed the bat. Il wish you would let me
try. Won't you tell me what it is:''
MY two little children are under
magician's SPELL and it can only be
removed by sprinkling them with the
silver tear drop from the moon.' cX-
planned Martha. Il cannot fly up
there. and the nightingale refused 10
20 for me. so what am to do
Il will CO." announced the bat. proud
ly. '.if YOU will grant me one favcr
when l return"
Indeed, l WILL cried the Burgo-
masters wife, gratefully.
! ''N'ill you promise to spare a wee
portion of the tear drop for me:' he
begged. 81 am not bat, really: !
am a mortal like yourself. though /
have been under this charm five ycais
now
"Of course. I will PROMISE said
Martha. gratefully. See, here is the
king cup all ready. May l tie it round
your neck? And then YOU shall start
Il have not moment to lose" said
the bat. nervously. Il must return
while it is still dark. otherwise / shall
be blind and unable TO find this Will
dow again Farewell. Do not fret.
for shall bring back the moons silver
tear. know
All through the night the Burgomas.
ter's wife waited at the window for the
little bat to return. hut there was no
sign Of it in the sky; and at last, with
an aching heart, she was forced to be-
lieve that she had again been deceived
She watched the first streak Of dawn
spread over the sky, she heard cock
in the yard growing vigorously. while
the birds in the adjacent trees an.
swered it cheerily: and then she pro-
ceeded to dress herself, for she was
obliged to work hard, even if she was
unhappy.
AS she returned from milking the
COWS she was surprised to see a girl
she did not know walking over the
dewy grass toward her.
"Who can this Beg said Martha to
herself, but when she approached
nearer the stranger she threw down
her miikpail and rushed forward to
meet her.
why, Gretchen" she cried in amaze
ment. where have You come from?
For five years have searched for you,
knowing you We're under an evil spell.
and now find you in my own field"
Il come from the moon." answered
Gretchen merrily: Il was the little bat
you sent last night. The distance was
so tremendous that knew it would be
light before 1 returned to your Win
dow. so I sprinkled myself with 4 little
of the silver tear when l reached the
earth, so 1 might resume my original
shape and need not delay further. See,
here is the king cup with the remains
Of the drop in it. Let us 60 and release
your children, which 1 am sure are in
your possession disguised as rosebuds.
But before we go havaa favor to ask
you"
What is it?" asked the Burgomas-
ter's wife. impatiently, for she was
fretting to get to her little ones.
May be your children's nurse once
again?" pleaded the girl. Even when
the magician turned them into rose
buds did not desert them. followed
them here. and l VOW l will guard them
from all dangers if you will only give
me another chance
"Of course, I will, dear Gretchen"
cried the Burgomaster's wife, throwing
her arms around the girls neck and
embracing her warmly: land now come
with me and remove the charm"
Directly they emptied the contents
of the king cup on the rosebuds, the
children sprang from the pot and stood
by their mothers side in their natural
form; and am sure you can imagine
what rejoicing there was in the house
at their return.
Even the Burgomaster was pleased
when he saw how pretty his little son
and daughter had grown, and he did
not grumble at the extra expense they
would mean to him. but went out and
bought them some toys instead.-Cas-
SalrS Nouo1ina