Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-05
Chr Story Tsllsr.
THE DEVILS GOLDEN HAIRS
And the Good Fortune They
Brought to a Youth.

born with, tiny star in his forehead.
According to the comadres the star
signified he would marry the kings
daughter
Precisely at that time the king him
self visited the city in disguise and
asked If there were any notable things
to be seen especially worthy Of inter-
est. He was told of the boy who was
to marry the kings daughter. or
course, he Immediately desired to see
the child.
He went to the house Of the parents,
and by making them thousand prom
ises that he would educate him as he
| would need to be If he were to be-
come a prince, succeeded in carrying
away the baby. When in his power
he placed the child in a wooden box
and, closing 1t, threw it into the river
at midnight.
But the box instead Of sinking be-
gan to float down the river like lit
tie bark, until it reached the sluice OF
mill, where 1t was seen next morning
by one of the mill workmen, who fish
ed 1t out to see what 1t contained,
Naturally he was not little surprised
to find a beautiful boy, very lively,
with wide open eyes and tiny star
IN his forehead.
He carried him to the mill owner,
and as they had no son he agreed with
his wife to keep the babe as though
he were their own. And so they did,
with tenderest love and watchful care.
Many years passed. One night dur
ing furious storm the bad king found
himself surprised away from his own
domain. Seeking refuge from the
tempest, he entered the mill.
There was the boy, already a gal
liant youth The king asked the miller
II he were his son. The miller replied
that he was rot, and told Of the strange
way he had come to them.
The king understood at once he was
the babe whom he had thrown into the
river with his own hands. Determined
to get rid of him forever, as he did not
wish him for his daughters husband,
he told the miller 1t was necessary for
him to send letter to the queen ard
the youth could carry it.
The miller agreed. So the king wrote
letter to his wife telling her that as
soon as the messenger appeared in her
presence she must have him put to
death and buried at once with great
secrecy. urging that all this be done
before he, the king, returned to the
palace.
The young man took the letter and
left the mill in the darkness Of night,
but this was so great and he knew so
little Of the road that he was soon lost
in a dense forest, and could not find
the way out.
At last he saw a light in house
and went toward It, as he wished
greatly to rest. Knocking at what
seemed a poor hut, an old woman
came to the door and opened it. Said
the youth:
II am very tired and wish to pass
the night here"
Thou hast called at an evil door,"
said the old woman. This Is house
of thieves, and when they return be-
lieve thou wilt fare badly"
I care not. was carrying let
ter to the queen and lost my way. l
am so weary will face anything rath-
er than continue walking"
las thou wishest. Come in and sit
thee on that bench"
The youth did so, and fell asleep.
In a little while the four robbers ar
rived and the captain asked the old
woman who the youth was and what
he did there. She replied that she had
taken him in from compassion and 1t
seemed he was the bearer of mes
sage to the queen.
The robbers stole the letter and read
It. Learning what fate awaited the
Young fellow in the palace and sympa-
thizing with him, they tore up the let
ter and put in it's place another, which
they wrote themselves, ordering the
queen as soon as she received it to
marry the messenger to her daughter.
The youth awoke with the daylight
The robbers gave him breakfast, then
showed him road by which he could
reach the palace quickly.
He arrived, and hardly had the queen
read the letter. believing 1t from the
king. when she ordered the marriage
Of the princess to the young man.
which was celebrated in the midst OF
great splendor
Afterward the king reached home,
| to hear how badly his wishes had been
carried out thanks to his letter having
been changed by the robbers. Full OF
anger, he called for the youth and told
him he would not recognize the mar
riage unless he brought him three gold
hairs taken from the head Of the devil.
The young man promised and start
ed off in search Of them, to the sorrow
Of the princess, who was much In love
already with her husband on account
of his beauty and the sweetness Of his
character.
He travelled many leagues until he
reached a city where the people were
mUcn distressed BECAUSE THEIR lOuHldiii'
which had given bounteously Of water,
had become dry. They asked him II he
knew why 1t was so. He replied:
when return l will tell you"
Then he went leagues and more lea
CUES until he arrived at . city whose
inhabitants wept because a tree which
had borne apples of gold now gave no
fruit at all They asked why such a
misfortune had befallen them, and he
replied:
when I return I will tell you"
He went still further and came to
river which he had to cross. He call
ed the boatman, who while he rowed
the youth across asked him:
why do l have to be the boatman
always over this river? l should like
to leave my office to others"
when l return l will tell you" said
the youth.
md fhnrn