Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-04-18
The Rod Of Gold.


had been walking through q wood came
at last to the open country beyond. Just
before her flowed a stream which she
must cross on her way. She seemed
feeble and when the bank OF the river
was reached, she stopped in dread, for
the current was swift and the stones
were slippery and unsafe. She glanced
about her at the trees, for she must have
help. A great oak stood near with its
beautiful leaves and many acorns.
"Kind oak" said the old woman, "may
| have part OF one of your branches to
make a rod to help me over the
stream?"
Indeed, no." cried the oak. 81 can
not spare single branch. Ny acorns
are far too beautiful TO give away"
Then the old woman went to red
maple standing near the oak and said :
"Will you be kind to me and spare me
branch from which | may make staff
to carry me over the river?"
"Of course not" said the maple.
Gould you imagine | would spare any
of my beautiful red leaves ?"
The old woman turned sadly away.
A chestnut tree stood near, and she ap-
pealed TO it. Good chestnut, may |
have one of your branches ?"she asked.
But the chestnut tree could not spare
single nut, and so refused.
The sycamore thought her balls too
pretty to part with, and the poplar stood
tall and disagreeable and would not
help her.
The elm dropped languidly and told
her she might ask the walnut. And so
il went hickory, ash, horse-chestnut,
and birch tree all said "No," till the
poor woman, quite discouraged and
tired out, sank on a great stone to rest
and decide what was best to be done.
At her feet lay stick, old and dis
colored, but straight and strong. II
spoke to the old woman and said "l'm
sorry the beautiful trees have been so
unkind to you, and Iwillhelp you gladly
if may. You see have no beauty. |
do not even know to what tree belong;
have no acorns nor nuts nor leaves,
and even my bark is gone but | am
strong, and will gladly take you over the
stream"
The old woman picked up the poor
rod at her feet, and, leaning heavily
upon it, started on her journey across
the river. The water roared about
them, but the rod bore her in safety to
the other side. When the farther bank
was reached, a wonderful thing hap
pened. The long cloak worn by the old
woman fell away, and there she stood
NOT really an old woman at all, but a
beautiful fairy. 81 am the fairy of the
lovely woods, kind rod" she said. 81
came to see if my trees were kind as
we'll as beautiful. You have done all
in your power for feeble old woman.
Now what can | do for you?"
The rod replied: 81 should like to be
beautiful; but most Of all want TO be
loved, especially by children"
"You shall have your wish," said the
fairy. "You are worth your weight in
gold, but the rod OF gold would not be
loved by the little ones. ! will give to
you fairy gold instead"
She planted the rod in the earth, and
it at once became green. From it
grew beautiful leaves and many stems,
and over all the fairy scattered mil
lions of tiny stars Of fairy gold till the
top of the plant looked like sunshine.
"Hereafter you shall be called "Col-
denrod," said the fairy, "and every one
shall love you"
And what the fairy said has come to
pass. The lovely goldenrod has been
growing ever since that day; and we
all love her, do we not?