The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-03
BY ELLA LlNDNER MANEck.
T m MI ated by Mrs. Mortimer Garfield

AT the harder OF dense forest
stood tower called the ravens tower
because an ugly raven lived there
This raven was an enchanted prince
and was guarding mountains of gold
Many a man would have liked TO re-
lease the prince and would have taken
sack OF gold for reward. but none
knew the charm that would unlock the
heavy oak doors OF the tower
In the vicinity OF this tower was a
village. On hot summers day q
poor beggar woman carrying a little
baby came to this village She
had only rags on her body, but
a face as white and soft as a lily
and small slender hands, just like
those OF a queen. Not a soul was
TO be found in the village because
everybody was in the fields, IL was
harvest time; therefore the poor wo-
I. man knocked at all the doors In vain.
no charitable soul was there to hand
her a piece OF bread or a drop OF
milk for her hungry baby.
Tired unto death she dropped on
the church steps that were shaded by
the large leaves OF friendly Linden
trees, pressing her babe to her heart
and caressing il she sang in hushing
tones:
Your father was a king,
Your mother a lovely queen;
You were born in a golden cradle
/. And now that's only a dream
The babe lay as quiet as mouse.
With her large blue eyes she looked
solemnly into the sky where the swal-
lows were encircIng the church tow
er, Signing, the poor woman was lean
ing against the door of Gods house.
She was so tired and longed TO sleep
: a little.
When the people returned from the
fields in the evening she was still sit
ting there. Some one went up to
awaken her, but she was dead. This
caused much excitement and talk, un-
TIL the agreement was reached to put
the child In the poor house and bury
the stranger. This was done and
then the incident soon dropped lato
oblivion: as every one in the village
had plenty of work and their own
peck OF troubles.
The child grew, went TO school and
at very tender age had to earn her
bread. Sometimes she would guard
the geese on the village commons and
this gave her pleasure She was dress
Ell like the other village children and
wore. a short wool dress and solid
wooden shoes Still she looked differ
ent from the rest as she was much
prettier and refined She barely ever
mixed with anyone but stayed quietly
by herself. Sometimes she sang. such
a queer little song and she did not
knew where she had learned IL:
Your father was king.
Your mother a lovely queen;
You were born in a golden cradle
And now that's only a dream"
Once the rough village boys heard
this song and called ner mocklagly
the beggar-princess She did not
trouble herself about that and con-
tinued to watch the geese in peace.
The elder she grew the harder she
had to work. From early morning till
night. fall she had to toll with not a
minute for herself Who would feed
the beggar-princess for nothing!
WasR1-H- enough TO have her thrown
On their hands? So she did every
thing they asked and was always
pleasant and obliging in spite of the
rough words that they handed out
with every crust OF bread.
She was so kind that she did more
than they really asked her to do She
watched the babes while the mothers
were out working in the fields and
no harm came to them while they
weret IN her care. To the old frlks
Tor whom no one cared she was full
Of kindness and did many little things
for them. II IL had not been for these
old people and babes who needed her
she would have left the village long
ago. for she was really too proud 70
eat the bread that was handed her so
unwiIlingly, Only for this reason size
stayed.
sThs,i a famine spread over the
land Nthe morsels grew smaller from
day bday and the scolding increased
about the unnecessary boarder. SO
she Backed her bundle and departed.
Towatds evening she reached a glar-
ing f0rest She was not very timid,
but aslshe walked under the old trees
whosel odd shapes looked like the
sick grey bodies of large giant
snakes. she began to shiver. She
breathed easier as the woods became
lighter and house was visible.
Brtfas the maiden advanced she
discoyered that IL was not house
that Esshe saw but a big tower with
suchl strong walls that 1t must have
hrav d storm and weather for thou
sand& of years. It was the ravens
towen of which she knew nothing.
She had never beard of the enchanted
princeA She threw her bundle on the
moss5and sank down on it YEARLY.
Havinn nothing else to do she began
70 sins:
My Rther was a king,
My Mother a lovely queen;
You were born In golden cradle
And now that's only a dream.
The last words had hardly died
away when something wonderful hap