The Washington times., 1913-09-22

the Dragons Curl is?' asked Hans,
MY mother is Ill and II I could get
that drop Of dew I could cure her"
"As you have behaved SO nicely !
don't mind telling you," replied the
trcll. who was now in good humor at
the sight of the fish. The Dragons
Curl is a round bit Of land ten miles
south of the equator, hut to get to
il you must cross a desert and go
three days without water or food. II
you do reach the place you will find
a tree of silver with leaves OF gold
and blossoms of pearl. In the heart
of the top bloom Is tiny drop of
dew which you must get and bring tU
your mother. Break of the highest
branch and carry, it home-that
would be the best"
So Hans drove the beese home. got
q neighbor to come to stay with his
mother. and at dawn set out for the
land of the Dragons Curl
On he walked night and day for
two weeks, begging his food of those
who were willing to help him and
had no work TO be done. but more
i.
last he got to the edge Of the great
desert. With weary limbs he kept
on his journey. The sun glared in
hlistering heat on the sand, its uuiy-
ering haze made his tired brain ache
and his eyes grow dim. still he
struggled forward. All night he
walked, and in the heat Of the fol-
lowing day lay still in the shadow of
sand hill. In the cool OF the night
he plodded on his lonely way across
the dreary waste, then In the glare
OF the next day rested again. That
night he came in sight OF a beautiful
scene.
Rising out Of the heart Of the vast,
wind-blown desert was beautiful
spot, green with trees and silvered
with the spray Of falling water. Hans
linped forward and fell into the cool
ing stream. For two hours he lay
still getting hack his strength. Then
getting up he saw before him a great
tree OF bread fruit. OF this he ate
heartily. Looking all around he found
another tree standing alone in the
me CoElight.
1t was the silver tree. The moonlight
shown on It's glistening trunk on the
trembling golden leaves and on the ex-
quisite blossoms of pearl that waved
above his head. Climbing up he broke
off the highest branch, cracking it from
the stem just where 1t Joined to the
trunk. Then reaching the ground. he
filled bottle with water and his pockets
with bread fruit and set out again
across the desert Strange TO say the
journey seemed easy this time The big
branch full of leaves kept off the sun
and the fruit kept him from being hun
CRY.
on the third day he left the desert
and after travelling two weeks more he
came in sight of his home. He saw the
landlords carriage at his door and
hs ard the sad cries of his mother. Rur-
ming forward. he knelt by her bed and
dropped the dewdrop out of the blossom
into her mouth. No sooner had he done
this than she rose a well woman
II have much money to pay you now
said Hans Wait till tomorrow and I
will settle" So the mother and Hans
started off at once to the goldsmith's IN
the town Here they sold the golden
branch for big bag of gold coin, and
with this they bought nice pony and
cart, pretty clothes and a plenty OF food
all of which they brought home at once
The next day the landlord was paid and
Hans even bought the cottage and fixed
IL I'D into a handsome house.
Here he and his mother lived all their
lives very happily. and sometimes when
the fishing was good Hans would catch
and take some over to his old friend
the troll, who had brought him all his
good luck.
Tomorrow story, The Moss Rose S
Cloak"