FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 10

FOR THE CHILDREN.

THE SPECKLED SNAKE: A WONDER TALE FROM TYROL. [BY MAHGAJJET STORKS TUBNEIt.] Tiieke was. once a poor peasant who lived with his wife ami three daughter* in a little house near the ruins of an old castle. Oua evening the peasant, who had been digging since early morning near the ea«tle, found on returning home that he had left hit* coat behind him. The man was weary after his hard day's work, ho he called his eldest daughter and bade her run and fetch the coat, which she would find lying on a heap of faggots inside the ruins." The girl ran quickly to the spot. The coat lay there indeed, but what was her terror to see. curled up on the brown fustian, a great snake, with red spots on its back. At her approach it raised its head and said in a human voice, "Dear child, call rue thine, and let, inc come home with thee!" The girl did not stay to answer, but fled hot-foot and reached the house all palo with fright. The father laughed at her talc and scut out the second daughter.

Sho fared no better than her sister. When sho moiled the pile of faggots she saw the great speckled snake lying on the coat. It raised its head as alio drew near, but, before it uttered a word she turned taiPand sped homewards as hist as her legs could carry nor. The peasant's wife was not a little put out at the sight of her daughter's scared face, and when she heard again of the snake she begged her husband to let the coat be. for it was ill work, she said, meddling with evil spirits. But the man was stubborn, and swore he would have the coat, for all the girls' folly.. "Run, Rosel." he said to Jus youngest daughter, " thou art a good Child. Snake or no snake, bring 1110 my coat, for it grows cold." Rosel was a sprightly lass; her heart was in the right place, and she feared nothing that walked or crawled. She ran through the gathering twilight to the old castle, and had just laid hold of the coat when the speckled snake glided across it. The brave child felt a pang of fear when she saw its size, but she grouped the coat still more firmly, and when the creature said, "Dear child, call mo thine, and let mo come homo with thee!' she answered boldly, "Good snake, I will call thee what thou wilt, but give me first my father's coat." At this the snake moved off the colt, and Rosel seized it quickly and set off with a beating heart. An she ran, she heard a voice call after her, " I will como anon to fetch thee; be ready!" And now she was no less terrified than hot sisters, and wished herself safe within the house.

She told all that had happened, and this time the peasant himself was as troubled as his wife, and wished enough ho had let his coat lie till morning. While they all stood with troubled looks, wondering what the night would bring, they heard a noise behind the closed shutters like the hissing of a snake, and then a voice cried: "Call seven times, 'Snake, snake cast thy skin.'" None durst speak bu: Rosel, and she called seven times: "Snake, snake, cast thy skin!" No sooner had she spoken the last word than the door opened, and a young knight entered, splendidly dressed, with a waving white plume fastened in his cap. He bowed low, and, taking Rogers hand, said, "Fair maid, I thank thee with all my heart. Thou hast rescued m*> from a sad enchantment. Will you he my bride, and come with me to my castle?" Rosel hung back, but her mother gave her a push, and her father bade her go, while her sisters stood open-mouthed with amazement. The knight, still holding Road's hand, stepped out into the moonlight, and they went up the hill to the old earth, but what was Roscl's surprise to see there, instead of ruined walla and mumbling arches, a state!', building, with battlements and turret!) o( massive stone. The knight led her throe times! round tin castle, and then they entered through 3 carved door, studded and hinged with beaten ironwork. inside the castle were many splendid rooms, but not a living creature was to be seen. A small door in the laot room opened on a dark corridor,- down which Rosel followed the knight, who had not spoken a word siijjpo they passed over the threshold of her father's house. At v.:<* end of the corridor was a flight of steps, athe foot of which was a largo black hole, full of dreadful toads. In one corner stoo;i a fiery dog, over, whose back a little bl:;.i flame wavered to'and fro; before if. lay - long birch twig, crossed upon an axe. Hotel shook with fright, and a plaintive \oiw sang: The maiden's task is almost done. If she can lift us to the light Before the ghostly hour is run. Cystic is hers, and noble knight Pity filled the girl's heart at thes') nJft words, and >Ik> resolved to looso the spell and save all the castle folk. She tvnt down and stretched out. her hand to lift one of the ugly toads, when such terror seized !*«*« that she fell backwards pale and trembling. Throe times she tried to lift the hideoiu toud, and three times she shrank hack before her fingers touched its cold, we: skin Before she could make a fourth attempt tin ghostly hour chimed, and sho found herself standing alone-among the ruins in the moon-> light. " ■'