Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

of the mountain"
Even while the owl was speaking
Harry shivered. The air was cold
and sent chill through him. Also, q
mournful wind was signing through
the tree and Harry wondered how the
owl could endure such sounds all the
time. And from the caves mouth
| there issued horrifying wall as the
| wind entered it., a sort OF moan, like
one in distress. And about them hung
a dread darkness, with huge rocks
piling up like black spectres. Once
| or twice Harry was on the point OF
| asking to be conducted home again,
but thought he would better stick 1t
out" So catching tightly the good
lions name, he steadied himself Tor
the last ascent up the mountains1de.
"We're halfway to the top, my
youth" explained the owl. Breathe
deeply Of this air, for soon we'll be
amid the clouds and mist, and the at
mosphere will not be so much to your
liking Whist! What was that?'
For a dark body had gone swiftly past
and low wall fingered on the air
| "A panther said the lion. I'd
have made quick work of him, hadn't
! our friend been on my back
"And he would have made quick
work of the youth. had not he been on
your back" And the owl smiled
grimly. 'Such is the life on the great
mountain he added. Then they set
out up the steepest part of their path.
AS they went along, Harry felt the
melancholy Of the mountain. Every
thing there seemed to breathe sadness
or strife or danger. Into great crew
ices, hundreds of feet deep. he looked
with awe. The darkness of the night
began to settle, and the clouds drop
ped about them like damp curtain.
1t was difficult to breathe. Harry
trembled in every limb, but chung
closer to his strange beast OF burden.
Up, up, up they went, the owl giving
vent to short, emphatic boots every
few minutes. And once the lion paus-
ed to roar, and his roar shook the
very ground beneath them, causing
Harry utmost terror, for he feared he
would lose his hold on the lions
name and slide to the bottom of a
deep precipice beside which they were
climbing.
At last they stood on top the mighty
mountain. Harry scanned the world be-
low, dim, distant, mist-shrouded
world On the western side hung the
sun like ball of fog-veiled fire, just
dropping out of sight: On the eastern
side he looked into the spreading val
ley where lay his fathers farm. But
not house could he see, not green
field, not tree or hedge. The valley
looked like a lonely sea. Harry felt a
sick longing for the coy home which
he knew nestled in that rich valley.
All, why was he not content there?
Why long to see the strange and for
bidding? If he succeeded in reaching
his home once more he would never
leave it.
While thus meditating on his own
foolishness and also on the dangers
surrounding him, Harry felt the lion
give way beneath him, and then-the
beast had disappeared! He looked
about quickly for the owl, but the bird
was flying low above him, going down
the western side Of the mountain, his
eyes blinded, possibly, by the glare
from the setting sun. !.
"Alone! Alone!" And Harry felt
that all was over for him. But at that
moment kindly voice spoke in his
ear. ri am the Fairy Invisible, it said.
"But see your dilemma. You want to
60 home, and You will never, never
want to seek the unknown again, un.
less with your parents consent. They
would have told you of the dangers
of this great mountain where beast of
prey seek out such as you to rend
them limb from limb. But-there
comes tiger! Quick, rise and fly"
Harry asked no questions. He only
knew that a good fairy had come to
help him in his hour of need. He
raised himself on his toes, and, 10!
he scared into the air without effort.
Down and down he flew like bird.
And, without the least feeling of wear
| mess he soon came to the foot OF the
mountain where his fathers farm lay.
He could see the pretty vine-covered
cottage where his parents were prob
ably waiting for him, and where they
were for the first time very unhappy
on his account Then he felt his feet
touch the ground, and the Fairy In
visible said: "You are safe once more,
my youth. Never forget your expert
ence of today. And-never allow your
self to be led away by wild fancies
and foolish lions and egotistical owls.
They carry you to the End of Things
and desert YOU"
| For a few moments Harry stood
like one stupefied. The ground felt
very strange after having flown
through the air. And he felt very small
and extremely foolish. And he must
hurry home and tell his waiting par
ents of his strange journey and strang-
er return. Just at the moment, how
ever, he saw a lanter swinging along
the lane which led to the big road
where he had alighted. Then he knew
his father was out searching for him.
With feet almost as swift as had been
his wings, he ran to meet the anxious
parent. And he found his mother, too,
for both good people had become over
anxious when their son did not return
at nightfall, and had been to call ON
their neighbors. thinking the boy
might have fingered with some of the
neighbor children to play. Not finding
him at any of the adjoining farms, the
good people had set out to search the
grounds thoroughly. And so it was that