The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-08
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The Harp That Grew.

NiduI udu USSn IuC lSllOl VI tAO
neighborhood for so long that the
poor people could scarcely call their
lives their own. It seemed strange
to have that gloomy stronghold
opened wide to the air and sunshine,
and stranger still to see Jack restored
to his own. The castle had belonged
to his father, a valiant knight, who
was slain in his sleep by the Giant.
Jack and his mother took posses
sion of the castle as soon as all
traces of the Giant and his evil deeds
had disappeared. Here they lived
for many years in great content. The
Beanstalk withered away after it was
cut down, and the steep hill which
had stretched between Jacks old
home and the castle gradually dwin-
died. 1t became once more the gen.
tie slope it had been before the
Giants heavy tread had made such
deep furrows along its sides.
Now Jack, you remember, had run
away with three precious things from
the Giants castle-the Men that laid
the golden eggs, the Money Bags full
of precious gold coin and the Magic
Harp of gold that played and sang
at the Giants bidding.
All these treasures the Giant had
stolen from Jacks father, and Jack
was only claiming his own when he
took them away The Harp was SO
small that Jack had no difficulty in
tucking it under his arm as he ran
with the Giant at his heels.
After the Giant was slain the Harp
I was silent for many years. From
the first it resisted all of Jacks ef-
forts to make it sing, so he saw it
carefully stored in a large disused
chamber, and there were so many
other pleasures in his life that he
soon forgot all about it.
, He grew up a very noble, hand
some youth. the pride of the country
side and the Joy of his mother. He
was fond Of the hunt, and one even
ing. returning from the chase, he
\ CHANGED to pass the chamber where
- 8le had hidden the Harp. To his sur
Bprise he heard voice chanting in
low, tender melody:
"Our Jack hath now a man become,
'Tis time to bring his true love
= home"
Jack pulled a key from the pocket
of his doublet. In moment the door
flew open and he was peering about
in the dim light for the Magic Harp.
There it stood against the wall, as he
I had placed it, a beautiful little toy.
He carefully brushed away the dust,
showing beneath the bright unfair
nished gold.
This Harp was curious iE shape.
The figure of woman he;d the top
of the instrument on her head and
the hands were touching the strings,
as though in the act of playing.
"Did you speak to me-" asked
Jack, but the Harp made Nd answer.
Suddenly he remembered what the
Giant had done.
PLAY" he commanded, and, ebe-
diently, the Harpist began to sweep
the strings with her golden fingers,
singing:
Take me with you when you woo,
can choose the maid for you"
Jack had never thought much
about his future wife, but as the
Harp sang he became anxious to find
a beautiful maiden to make him hap
py. So the next day he set out upon
his travels with the Harp under his
arm
He went from castle to castle and
found many maidens as handsome as
they were good, but the Harp was 81
lent, and so Jack passed them by.
One day they came to a stream, on
the bank Of which girl was kneel-
ing, her long, bright hair touching
the water. AS she raised her fair
face to look at the approaching youth
the Harp suddenly broke into such a
rhapsody that the air resounded
with it. The birds caught up the
lingering notes, and even the girl
herself Joined her voice in following
where the golden fingers led upon the
Harp.
Jack did not doubt that this was
the maiden of his choice, and as she
seemed alone in the world, he took
her home and placed her in his
mothers arms.
The wedding was a grand affair,
and when all was over Jack and his
wife sat alone in their happiness. He
brought forth the Harp which had
guided his choice and placed it on
the floor.
PLAY" he commanded and, pass
ing an arm about his wife, they both
leaned forward to listen.
Then strange thing happened; :;
with every chord the Harp grew larg-
er and the face Of the woman became
a living. breathing face. Her figure
grew taller and the golden gown f1ut-
tered in the sunlight.
"A kiss, my daughter, come and give
me-
A kiss from your sweet lips aE.l |
am free"
The girl wife stopped and laid her
lips upon the glittering strings. AS
she did so the top of the Harp lifted,
releasing the head of the woman i'm
prisoned beneath it. She stepped
forth, a stately, beautiful creature,
who clasped Jacks wife in her arms
and held her close.
"My child" she said, II have
waited all these years for you to re-
lease me. for yOu are nv very own