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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 85 THE THREE SWANS. From tlio Germiui. MONO the mountains near Wiinpfen on the Neckar A is a little lake, of which this story ib told: A boy snt nlnne on the shore of the lake playing with flowers. He had often looked out upon tho water and wished for a boat that he might float about here and there over the smooth surface, but he had only tho plunk which lay beside hiin that would Berve to float him. Again he looked out on the lake, and see ! there wore three white swans upon its bosom. With proud mein they glided about on the water and finally came toward him. The boy was delighted with their appearance and quickly hunted some crumbs from his pockets with which he fed them. The swans seemed so tame, looked at him so friendly and came so close to the shore that he thought they must want to know him. But when he put out his hand to catch them they sped away, just out of his reach. The tamer they appeared and the oftener he failed to catch them, the more he wished to bestride one of them and flit about over the water on its back. Finally he seized the plank beside him, pushed it into the water and placed himself upon it It bore him. With a loud hurrah! he pushed away from the shore, and using his hands to propel him earned himself forward Tho swans were always in front of him, but never could he touch them. Now thoy were in tho middle of tho lake. A feeling of anxiety and weakness camo over tho loy, and ho was forced to let his tired arms sink by his sides and rest Wherever he could see was an expanse of water, and ho trembled with fear as to how ho should ever again reach the shore. The swans gatliered about him as though to comfort him. The boy forgot his dangor, reached suddenly with his hand toward tho prettiest swan, but ah ! the uncertain plank turned, and he sunk into the blue depth. When lie awoRe from unconsciousness ho found him self upon a couch in an elegant palace, and before him stood throe wonderfully beautiful' maideiiB. " How came you hero ?" asked one of them, taking his hand with a friendly air. "I know not myself," answered tho lxy, "how it haj))ened, but I wanted to catch three white swans on a lake, and fell into the water." "Will you remain with us?" tho maiden continuod. "You will lo welcome ; but you must know that if you pass three days here you can novor again return to your home, for you will not bo able to breathe its air, and must die." The kind friendliness of the sisters filled tho Iniy with confidence. His young heart knew no harm, and lie rose from tho couch and said gladly: "Yes, I will remain with you." The sisters led him through their fairy palace ; they Bhowed him its magnificence and splendor, each tiling richer than tho last, and tho bewildered boy gazed upon tho beauty all about him with unsated eyes. Everything glittered and sparkled. There were pearls like walnuts, diamonds large as eggs. Gold lay almut in long hw, every wall was covered with silver and all the floors were laid with silver tiles. In tho gardens were fruita more inviting than ho had ever soon-opplos like a child's head ; plums the Bizo of ostrich okw : oliemox n hrge as billiard balls ; grapes like those brought to Joshua ; and other fruits just as rich, and all of tho most beau tiful colors. The boy had often read of paradise. "This," cried he, "is it indeed. Hero I am well satis fied." Weeks and months passed, but ho took no noto of time; for now objects constantly appeared to draw his attention and claim his thoughts ; and as ho lay beneath tho trees and ate of the beautiful fruit ho never once thought of his homo. .;.' Finally, however, a year may havo passed, when end denly thero came upon him an irresistible longing for his littlo village. Nothing please I him -ho enjoyed nothing any more. Tho knowledge that he could never loavo the fairy palace was an inward sorrow, and when tho bushes of tho garden hid him he wind bitterly. When tho sisters wore by him ho tried to appear pleasant; but they saw plainly written in his face tho traces of tho grief that was in his heart -tho rod eyes, tho palo cheeks, those he could not hide and they soon divined the cause of his trouble. They often asked him confidingly what ailed him, but ho alwoys evaded tho truo cause and tried to elude them with tho excuso of sickness. Ono evening oh tho sun went down ho laid himself upon tho soft green grass by tho sido of a littlo stream that ran laughingly on. All naturo about him was ho charming, so luxuriant so glorious and beautiful. Every thing invited to happiness and enjoyment Sweet (er fumes filled and refreshed tho air. Tho birds sang their evening songs, while in tho meadows before him was a happy medley of merry, laughing workers. It brought lioforo him tho picture of his homo, liis beloved village, his little playmates, his mother mourning for her son. Tho boy groaned aloud and wept bitterly. Tho happi ness and beauty about him served only to make. his own condition more wretched, and to bring ujKin him by com parison an overflowing sense of his own unhappinoss. Covering his face with his hands ho buried it in tho high grass ; and tho hot tears duitioiiod tho earth under him as he moaned and wept in anguish and despair. As ho lay thus ho hoard his name spoken. Kuddonly starting up, ho saw beforn him a woman lent with age, withered and hideous. Her face was brown and covered with deep furrows, her eyes dim, and tho wasted form loaned heavily on a thick staff for support Never lioforo had tho lioy seen ho horrible a creature. A cold chill crept over him. He attempted to cry for help, he tried to run away, but ho could do neither. " What do you want ?" ho finally asked, in a trinl liug voico. Tho object of horror grinned. " If you will come with mo, dear child, I will return you to your home." "Leave mo, monster I" cried the boy, full of anger. "Leave me! Never will I part from my lienefactresses