Childrens Corner.

Otago Witness, Issue 1586, 15 April 1882, Page 28

Childrens Corner.

Max and the Wonder Flower.

Long before the great king Charlemagne ruled over Germany and Grance, the mountain forests that bordered the Rhine were peopled by gnomes and dwarfs, witches and fairies, some of whom were very mischievious and ' could never be trusted, while others did kind < deeds for the people. They all were under the control of a fairy ■ king, who lived in the deepest recesses of the mountains, and whose palace was so vast that it reached even under the river. On moonlight nights, the river fairies could be seen playing in the clear waters, sometimed enticing fishers to their death, by showing them gold and jewels ; for the poor simple fishermen would dive down into the water and would never be seen again. But then there were good fairies among the mountains, and these gave presents to persons whom they thought deserving of rich gifts, for the mountains were filled with treasures of gold, silver, and precious jewels ; and my story is about a little boy who was rewarded by these good fairies. , He was only a poor little shepherd-boy, and tended the flocks of a rich baron, whose castle stood high upon a rock that looked down over the valley where the little boy lived. Sis father was dead, and he was' the only help of his mother and two little sisters, Roschen and Elsie. They owned a little cottage, a goat, and a small bit of ground, which Max— for that was the boy's name— tilled in the evening, after the sheep were safely penned for the night. He was always cheerful and kind to all. He loved the beautiful river that flowed along so peacefully, and the vine-terraces where grew the purple grapes. The dark forests, that seemed so still, filled his heart.with wonder and reverence towards the great being who had made such a lovely world. Max longed to know how to read, so as to learn more about it all, and yet he worked on, early and late, and enjoyed even the air, and the flowers ; and the butterfles, as they flew by him, made him glad that he was. alive and well.

Buf'there came a day of sadness for poor little Max, in the winter time, for his mother was taken very ill, and the old nurse of the village, who took care of her, said that she must die unless a herb could be procured that grew in the mountains, and these were now covered with snow, beneath which the herb lay buried. But Max did not despair; he started forth, with his snow shoes and a stout stick, to climb the mountain and find the herb that should cure his sick" mother. It was cold, and the wind blew drearily through the trees ; still he tramped on boldly, until at last he stood on the summit of the mountain. The snow lay around like a soft white blanket, covering all the herbs, ferns, and flowers, keeping them warm and tucked out of sight until the spring time. It was not very deep, and Max, with a little spade he had brought along, pushed it aside, and there was the brown earth beneath. Yet in that spot there was no herb, but before his eyes there grew a beautiful, strange flower, whiter than snow, its heart like gold, and its perfume so sweet that it seemed like a breath from the gardens of Heaven. Max gazed with longing eyes upon its beauty, and his first thought was to pluck it and take it home, that they all might see its loveliness, but his second thought was, "Oh, no : I must find first the herb to cure mother, and then I can come here again for this flower with which to gladden her eyes." So, with a parting look, he went farther on his search, found the precious herb, and, with it safely in his pocket, came back to the spot where he had left the lovely flower. Alas, it had disappeared ! But while the tears filled his eyes, the mountain where he stood opened wide, like a door, a dazzling fairy figure appeared, and a silvery voice said: "Enter, little Max, for thou didst first thy duty. Take what thou wilt of the treasures before thee. The wonder-flower that thou hast seen thou canst not take with thee. It blooms but once in a thousand years, and can only be seen by the pure in heart. Take of the gold and diamonds, love thy mother ever as now, aim to be a good man, and keep thy heart pure that thou mayest again see the flower in the gardens of heaven, where a thousand years are but as day." And the fairy vanished ; but around in a great marble hall shone diamonds, and rubies, and bright bars of gold, before the eyes of the bewildered Max. I little brown dwarf, who seemed to be a guard over the treasures, gave him a sack and motioned that Max should fill it, and even helped him, never saying a word. When it was filled, it was so heavy that Max wondered how he could ever carry it home ; but while he hesitated, the dwarf threw it over his own shoulder, and beckoning Max to follow, crept out of the door ; and, as Max followed, the mountain closed behind them, and the snow lay over it as before. It all would nave seemed a dream ; only that there stood the dwarf, with his pointed little hat, and strange face with eyes liks a squirrel's. Not a word did he speak, but he trotted on down the mountain, and it seemed to Max scarcely an hour before they stood at its foot. There, with a bow, the dwarf set down the sack, and then he clambered up the mountain. | Max hastened home as fast as he could with his heavy treasure, and gave the nurse the herb, hiding the sack under his bed, until his mother should be able to hear of his good fortune.

The herb did its work so well that in a few days his mother was able to sit up, and then Max, with his hand in hers, and his little sisters standing by him, told her all. She clasped her hands, and said : "My sweet child, God has been very good to thee. Thou hast seen the wonder-flower that first blossomed when Christ was born, and thai no one but an iniioconl child nniy sue. Keep its beauty always in mind, el so tho treasure iL brought will give thao i.v happinoss. Let us thank the great God of heaven for his

. love to thee, a poor little shepherd-boy, to I whom He has shown the wonder-flower, which even the king himself may not see !" And it was in this strange manner that Max s wish was at List granted; for, with his treasure to help him, he now could go to school, and learn all about the great world outside of his little Rhine valley. He lived to be an honoured and learned man, always doing good to others; and with all his wisdom he was as unassuming as a child.— By Julia D. Fay, m St. Nicholas.