Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23
The Romance of a, Pond.

and shining. There was no sound, no
movement, anywhere. Not a breath ruff
fed the surface of the water: even the
lonely dragoniy that had been the last
to hover about 1t short while since
had now disappeared. and the frog would
not begin his serenade till evening mad
set in. So that there was nothing to dis
turb tho fair dreamer as she lay resting
there. Who shall say what the dreams
were. that passed through that graceful
head? Many had tried to guess the riddle.
but In vain; it remained impenetrable still,
dark and mysterious as the depths OF the
pool itself about which such strange stories
were told
But she had wooers enough, the lovely
white water lily, with her pure, sweet face
and the delicate roots, so fine and fragile
that they seemed to be always vainly
striving to take firm hold anywhere All
round about she was hard pressed by the
rushes, which were constantly bending their
heads down to her with a languishing air
and murmuring foolish speeches in her ear.
| Many and many time the water lily had
closed her petals in sheer disgust; and
them the rushes had promised SO earnestly
to hold their peace that she had relented
and unfolded once more; only to ma that
the merest breath of wind sufficed to set
her unweIcome suitors chatterIng again:
They had such dull, dingy color. too ana
such meaningless. fluffy blossoms. little
fibrous particles of which were often bold
| enough to brush the fair ones cheek as
they swept past, thereby Invariably caus-
ing her to shudder with disgust: inc
wind was accustomed to ooast tnat ne
alone had power really to agitate her, once
making her tremble so violently that ne
had very nearly torn her away from her
roots and carried her Off.
When the ivy heard that 1t put on
aynreSSOn. NV roots are
no stronger than hers, and yet how OFTEN
have / resisted thee, when thou didst Try
to tear me UP on my way to her!
scornfuly. ''Didst thou not clasp and
cling to us, implorlng us to form bridge
for thee to reach her? But we have been
her faithful guardians closing ar1 IanS mex
Fine guardians" sneered the Re. d hanue
lion why. you are all set or neaVy,
awkward fellows. and not one OF you
And as for the wind himself when ne
breathes his gentlest. softest signs, even
he cannot make love In half so rehned a
fashion as l. Look! look here: And
"a he spoke the boaster sent over a downy
little seeding like winged smart, ailn at
straight at the fair ones breast. But .ne
wind caught the missile and pore II gent,s s
past, over to the opposite BANK ana as
often as the dandelion aimed one OF me
little feathery messengers. Just as oIlen
did the malicious wind watt II along close
past the water ly tn the rashe and ft the
discounted dandelion turned yeilower than
ever with Vexatfon. ,.>- .or
"AIasr sighed the Poppy: None eyer
elowed with a love like mine, ana Wnat
eIoouence was there ever to match my merry
bushes. And yet, no sooner do approach
her and try to kindle a flame In her breast
than she falls asleep and hears not d "o'u
OF all | would say to her! a.,
"Simpletons!' said the Laburnum with
| ironical tone; I'VE know not how to deai
with a cold, proud heart. lovers signs
and tears move 1t not, but the Ice that
meIts not at soft speeches will soon thaw
beneath the genial rays of riches and lux
ury I will scatter my gold over ner ina.
you may see how easily she may De "oni
And looking down disdainfully upon all
the rejected suitors, the Laburnum sheo
whole shower of golden blossoms to right
and left almost covering the bosom or the
! lake. tossing his head IN triumph the WINE.
To his modification. however. the Water
lily remained as unmoved as before, pay
ing no heed whatever to the riches spread
at her feet. And the poor Laburnum stood
there. barren and bereft of all its treasures.
| thus poured out to no purpose, and clad
like the poorest of Its rivals in mere COM
monplace green.
1t would have liked to assume as dusky
a hue as the Ivy, who always affects to
wear It's dark-green in guise of mourning,
and has obtained much sympathy on that
score but that was out of the question.
And as for the Ivy, who had actually gone
the length of putting forth black blossoms
since It had been crossed In love, it is not
everybody who believes Its tale For
sharp-tongued little Stone-crop told how 1t
had also made love to her and assured her
II wore its mourning for her sake, and
number OF other plants then came forward
and spoke to the same effect There was
| were all assured. He was full OF fancies.
nothing but a poet, always in love with
somebody. and forever with broken heart!
And as h. was always making love to some
hA laSn aH No a
should metimes meet with disappoint-
ment or lis way to his new conquest. and
in Its 4 clasp in his arms nothing but
some OLD ay wall. some crumbling ruin.
But not to one OF all these ardent lovers
had 1t occurred to guess the reason why
the w lilly was always gazing dreamily
up int he heavens overhead; indeed not
one OF ,m had ever paid attention to the
direction Of her glance. Had they done so
they must have seen that 1t was fixed upon
the Moon. that the Moon was just begin
ming to appear II the sky, out OF which the
warmth and color of day were gradually
fading. And the Moon was itself still so
pale and wan, the others had they looked
would probably not have perceived II at all
and would certainly never have suspected
that anything so dim and distant could be
a dangerous rival.
But the Moon was only waiting. waiting
for them all to be fast asleep that 1t might
light Its lamp. and send out its rays in all
directions. and the brightest, most beauti-
full rays always fell straight on the pool.
gently. And then 1t was that the Moons
kiss wrought a wondrous change on the
silent Water-lily; for she began to glow
and culver. and seemed to be like flame
that was trying to rise and mingle with the
moonshine Every time that the Moon
kissed her this miracle occurred: the pure
white petals bIushed and trembled with de-
light, and glowed every minute deeper I'M
til 1t seemed as II they were lit up by an
inner flame. and culver like an electric
shock passed through the whole blossom.
and she yearned and struggled to reach the
glorious golden light shining down on her
from the heavens above.
So wildly did she struggle 1t was as IL the
new fame-fower would at last tear itself
4 FREQ and soar upward; but the roots held
1t fast. so that for all It's efforts 1t could
never really break away. but was chained
down to the surface of the lake. and must
just be content to skim over that In a mad
capticious dance whilst everything else was
quietly sleeping.
This Is the strange fitful light we see on
summer nights fitting over lakes. ponds and
marshes and which we call the Wfll-o'-the-
wisp, not knowing its true story; but could
we go down to some silent sheet OF water
o.. night when all the world is sleeping, and
had we eyes to pierce the mysteries which