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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1909)
ALFRED AND THE HANGING KNIGHT J LFRED MOORR Uvea when he L was 7 years old not far from a m city with Ms parents. In the neighborhood of their house were nome ruins beside a stream which he liked to visit. They were very old ruins and the stones were quite e;ray with moss. Alfred was standing on the lovr hill where the ruins were one afternoon when he heard the sound of n horn from the distance.. He could not tell at first where the sound came from, but after a while he decided that It must como from some, ancient woods. "When lie went toward them ha was soon certain that he was right, for the sound kept growing louder and louder the nearer he came to the woods, until at last It sounded quite clear. "T ra ra! Ta ra ra!" It was dark in the woods because the trees were very large and old and had a great many branches. 'Alfred had not none far before he discovered a --Knlsrht In silver armor hanging from a branch. He had been riding his now-white steed through the woods and a branch had caught under his belt so that It lifted him from his saddle and left him hanging up when the steed went on. The steed was close by waiting patiently for his master. Luckily the Knight had kept his silver bugle and he blow upon this in the hope that some passing stranger might hear the call and rescue him from his dangerous position. It was this that Alfred had heard. "Come here, boy, and take me down." the Knight called as soon as he caught sight of Alfred. "How am I going to do it?" Alfred asked, standing beneatli and looking up at him. He reached up and the Knight reached down, hut their hands could only Just touch. Alfred jumped and caught his hand at the risk of pulling the Knight down on his head. Tie found that he could swing to and fro by holding fast to the hand, but the Knight still . hung where he was. "That won't do," said the Knight at last. "I'm sure 1 don't know how we can manage." said Alfred. T11 tell you." the Knight said after a moment of thought. "Hanging from the saddle of my steed you will find a sword. It Is enchanted, and very sharp, so you must be careful how you handle it. Take the sword, climb up Into the tree and cut off the branch from which T am suspended. Then I hall fall to the ground." Airred approached the horse, but the nimal did not like to let him come too near and kept moving away. But he finally managed to catch him and to unhook the sword from the saddle. It was very heavy and long. The next thing was to get up Into the tree with s,v,r'l times Alfred tried this without success, but on the tenth trial Mollie's German Easter GERMANY Is a very Interesting country, where there are a great many good times for little boys and girls, dolls, rabbits, Easter chick ens and other Interesting personages. This Is what Mollle Pelmar thought when she went to live for a few weeks In a big German town with her mamma nd her papa. One day about a week before Kaster Mollie was waiting for lier father to come home, and Frauleln Eckstein, who kept the house where Mollle and her parents were living, was bringing in the tray for the 4 o'clock coffee, which peo ple like In Germany better than they do 5 o'clock tea. "When Mr. Palmer entered he handed a package to Mollle and said: "Now here' Is something for the good little scholar." Mollle engerly unwrapped the bright papers and found Inside a large, deli ' clous-looking pink sugar egg. Mollle was delighted with the egg and , asked her mamma if she might eat it all up right away. "Ach, Frauleln," said Frauleln Eck stein, "but why do you not set your egg to see what will hatch out of it? That will be nicer than eating it." Mollie looked puzzled, and so did her father and mother, for none of the three thought that anything would hatch from a candy egg. "Oh. yes." said Fraulein, "It will. Things are different in Germany. Let us try it," she added mysteriously. Mollle was perfectly delighted at the thought of seeing the candy egg hatch out. and so she gave up the idea of eat ing it, and Fraulein Eckstein showed her exactly what shc must do to make it hatch. , First she got a nice round little basket from the kitchen, which was really ono of her many work baskets and which was Just the very thing for egpis which are meant to, hatch. In this she put a nest of nice clean straw and in the very center the candy egg was rlaced. Then Fraulein Eckstein took a porce lain setting hen, which was one of the ornaments of the mantelpiece, and placed it on the nest right over the pink egg. "There!" she said. "The old hen hasn't had an egg to set on for a long time and she'll be as happy as she can be." Thero was a largo porcelain stove in the room, such as is ued In Germany for heating rooms, and over this was a "little shelf, on whic h Fraiilein Eckstein used to put the coffee cakes to keep warm. Now no placed the next on this shelf and where the gentle warmth from the stove Fraulein." cried he found himself In the tree. Then he drew the sword from its sheath, which he allowed to fall to the ground. The long blade was blue and as sharp as a rasor. "Strike hard!" said the Knight, who was watching him anxiously all the time. Alfred struck the branch as hard as he could, but Instead of cutting It off the sword broke into a hundred pieces and the fragments fell to the ground. "It Is an enchanted branch!" the Knight said. "I was afraid of that all the time. Now there Is nathlnr to do but to look In the leather bag that would keep the egg at a proper tempera ture to make It hatch quickly. Mollle was so Impatient for the candy egg to hatch that she was very much tempted to take the hen off and look In mo unKet mat very evenln. But Frau leln Eckstein told her that If the egg were to hatch by Easter they must be careful not to look at it too often. The next morning after breakfast Mol lie asked if she mujht look at the egg to see how it was getting along, but Frau lein Eckstein said It 'would be better to wait for two or three days. This seemed very hard to Mollie. but as It was neces sary she consented to wait until Wednes day before taking a peep. As the egg had been set on Monday, that would give It three days in the dark before It was disturbed. Bright and early on Wednesday morn ing Mollie was up waiting for Frauleln to tell her that she might look at the egg But Fraulein asked her if ehe would not be willing to wait until she came home from the kindergarten In the afternoon, when her papa, who was always In too much of a hurry in the morning to look at anything, would have time to see it too. Mollie's mother always went to get her at the kindergarten, and she had never seen her little 'daughter so anxious to get home quickly as on the day when they were to have a peep at the egg. Her papa was there early also, happily enough, so there was no need for fur ther Waiting. Pranluin v. 1 " ljio UIWACl down from the shelf and held it so that Mollio could reach to take the hen off. How Mollie's heart beat! She took the hen off and gave it to her father to hold while she pushed aside the pieces of straw that covered the egg. Then she gave a cry of pleased sur prise, for there, sure enough, was the very pink egg her father had brought her. and with Its little brown head just peeping through one of the smooth pink ends waa a bright, impertinent looking chocolate chicken. "Oh. Fraulein." cried Mollle, "Isn't he lovely? Will he come au the way through now?" "Yes. yes," said Fraulein, "but we must put the hen back Instantly, so that he will hatchli out by faster. We mustn't leave him exposed to the air too long or he will take cold and never come the rest of the way through." Then Frauleln put the neet back on the little shelf. For the rest of the time until Easter Mollie tried to be as patient as possible. Every day she asked her father to get down the nest from the shelf so that she could listen whether the chicken was Mollie, "n't ha lovely V hangs from the saddle of my steed and bring me the small golden flask that you will find there. I hoped that it might not be necessary to use it, but I see there is no other way." Alfred was beginning to be alarmed about the Knight, for his silver armor was heavy, and as he was hanging with his head and feet down his face was growing quite red. So he - slid down the trunk of the tree and ran toward the steed once more. But the steed this time refused to permit him to come up with him. but trotted away out of the wood and over the hill past the ruin. Now and then he would IT IT r I af l J VI And coos: OldJvTars' To flgK-fe "One. drters'. To lacy Moorv 111 give a. r poorx, If Ke. -will plco.e xxin. .long jR-fT-i-nCw, TtaroiigTn. Scvtunwa ringas And ruj oxfd go. Oil "tijjajP -iiQC And Kqcvtc sameLvfun- trying to get out of hte shell. There was never any sound of breaking shell, bow ever, and sometimes Mollie told Frau lein ehe was afraid the chicken had got discouraged and wasn't trying to get out any more. ' , "Let him alone until Easter morning," cautioned Frauleln. "and we shall see what we shall see. That old china ben, I know him. He will see that Mr. Chick gets out by Easter." So Mollie waited patiently until Easter morning, when she came running down eagerly, crying. "Now let us see If the chicken Is hatched." Her father lifted down the basket and gave It to Frauleln. and Fraulein solemn ly removed the china hen. There, In the center of the straw, stood the brightest, most enchanting chocolate - The next thing was to get a.top to taste a mouthful of grass, and Alfred thought that he was on the point of catching him, but at the last moment away he went again. II it bad not been for a. Damsel HL a-teal Lit So He And i&eoaIHpIaT Out tti tUcy -Wcscy- Or run. and carc, WJaen aaaorning breaks. And . McrQxcr jw-oba, And calls., "Coxae, iucro !y qyaie-'dcar! HL Lavc io he Hex Tnornrng 1 "Foot all- T-bo -sl And JjadcUlrHx chicken, completely out of his shell and, looking as fresh and bright as Caster morning Itself. Only a few pieces of pink candy in the bottom of the nest remained to tell the tale of his Imprisonment. Mollle kissed him rapturously, and then also kissed the old china hen. "Look what I tell you," said Ffaulel. '7s he not a good old china ben?" Mollle thought so too. and In token of her gratitude she tied fresh Easter rib bon about the neck of the old hen that very day. As for the chocolate chicken, he was so attractive that Mollie kept him for sev eral days. Then finally he went the way of all Easter chickens, and everybody who had a piece of him-nd that was all the family said he was very grvod. up . into the tree with it who was sitting on a stone he might never have caught the steed; but when she saw what he was trying to do she rose and held out her hand tn the animal and he willingly let her take Yea1 cSoLl 'will idd . The Chnrcfau John Galsworthy In the Nation'. .Here stand I. Buttreieed over the sea! Tim and ky Take no toll from me. To me. gray. Wind-gray, flung with foam. Ta that stray. Wild-foot, come y hme! Mother. I Mother I will bat Era r Ola. Heart O aona at aaa! 8&&11 I fall, Leave my flock of gravoaT Not for all Tour rebelllnr wavti! I stand feat I.t the waters cry! Here I lat To eternltv. mm 7 asm- . j Kit 1 BY ACTON the bridle rein. She held him Ktrnw. , ing his nose, until Alfred came up. "Is this your horse?" she asked him, smiling. Alfred saw that she dressed in a way that seemed to him different from the .usual fashion. She had a tall, peaked hat on her head wnn a golden veil attached to the point of it and hanirinir down hi,i,i Her dress was crimson, and she wore great many golden chains around her net k. Also sne had many bright rings upon her fingers. "No, ma'am." he said. "Whose Is It?" the Damsel asked. "It belongs to the Knisht in the Silver Armor." said Alfred. "I left him hung up In the woods." "Oh!" cried the Damsel. "Can it be possible? We were to have been mar ried and I was waiting here for him. expecting him every minute. Is he in great danger?" "I think so," Alfred said. "Tben we must make haste to set btm free!" the Damsel exclaimed. "Lead the way and I will follow." Alfred did as she bade him, and she followed close behind, holding the steed by the bridle rein. The Damsel asked a great many questions about the ac cident an bow It happened, but of course Alfred could not tell her much Hooui in at. She suddenly stopped when they reached the ruins and looked about her with curiosity, as though she had been there before but could not quite re member the place. "It seems to me that there was once a castle here." she said. "It's very likely that there was one," said Alfred. "I do not recall It clearly," she went on. pressing her slender hand to her forehead. "There was something that I would like to remember. What could It have been?" Both of them stood still for a moment and then the snow-white steed sur prised them. He walked to the third block of stone that lay on the ground half hidden in the grass and struck upon it three times with his hoof. In stantly the stone broke into two parts and a monstrous toad hopped out and sat looking at them. "What a horrid, ugly creature!" the Damsel exclaimed. But the snow-white steed nut his nose down and seemed to be whispering to the toad that Is. supposing that he knew how to whisper and the toad immediately began to hop slowly down the hill toward the wood. They all followed him, wondering what ho was going to do. He reached the bridge over the stream without slopping to take a breath.x Alfred thought he seemed verv active for a toad that had been shut up In the stone as long as he must have been. When he was in the middle of the bridge he fell over the side and went splash! into the water. Oh The Apple Blossom Feast THE3 Joyous Japanese have a beautiful custom of observing festival days when certain flowers are In bloom. The feast Is named after the flower which ia In season. The cherry is the pride of the flowering trees in Japan, and the cherry viewing" Is the event of the Spring. It comes In April. Then the Winter Is gone and forgotten. the old and young in holiday dress seek the parks where the cherry trees are in flower, and everything Is as gay as a fair. They view the blossoms with delight, and ip a little tea and cherry-blossom water; but the soul of the festival Is the beauty of the cherry blossom. In a like observ ance of flower festivals at our time of new moon or of harvest, we but pay a tribute to Nature, who has been to us as beautiful and bountiful as to the Japan ese. It was after reading descriptions of these festivals that a certain family liv ing In a New England town determined to act on the thought suggested and to make a holiday when the apple blossoms came. Accordingly letters were dispatched to every member of the family, hidding them come to the meadows to keep the Apple Blossom Feast. In every household whither the letters were sent followed days of happy hurry ing, mere were great preparations being made for something. The children were belrur prepared to go somewhere, and they were getting their dollies ready to go also. The pleasant chattering, as boxes and bundles were strapped and tagged waa Incessant, and the pleasantness was Infectious. The holiday was already be gun before they had started. The elaborate preparations showed that the trip promised great pleasure. Every- tning mat was lying around on chair or table, on stand or stool, was made of nink and white. Dresses, tea-cloths, doll cloaks. were ornamented with the same device. Fashions for the Dollies THERE are to be few changes In the styles of dolls' clothes this Spring. Muslins and cotton goods will take the place of cashmere' for every day wear. Sleeves will remain about the same, and the prevailing mode In skirts will be the full gathered one. There is nothing quite so becoming to dolls as this, and It is not likely to die out soon. Of course, with the change to lighter clothing the question of wraps is most important. These are of all kinds. The knitted jacket . Is to be used by those who are fortunate enough to have It. but for those who have not a substitute may be made of a piece of cloth folded square, as In Tig. 1. Next, cut as dotted lines In Fig. 2 Indicate. This will give you a circular piece of goods. Fold this through the cen ter and cut as dotted lines Indicate, cutting tho one line marked down the front to make the opening of the wrap. Bind all edges with soft ribbon and sew In a seam the sleeve under arm; also the side seam of the wrap. Dainty ribbon the color of that used in binding the rough edges is sewed at the neck and ties In a pretty bow at the throat. For dressy occasion a lace collar may be added. Any little seamstress who can cut and baste will find little difficulty in constructing this elegant little wrap, which Is easily made to fit any oc casion needed. To wear with It Is a hat of the same material. This Is the latest fad and one which Is quite pleasing, as It gives the Idea of a costume. Tho hat Is trimmed-with buttons only and is , bound with the same ribbon aa the ARCHER cried, but hardly had she spoken when a handsome Prince rose out of the water where the toad had disappeared. He was wet through, but he took off his cap and made a low bow to the Damsel, she smiled sweetlv at him Alfred looked in the water for the toad, but it waa nowhere to be seen, and he concluded that in some manner the water had changed the toad into the Prince. This seemed to him vcrv lemarkable, but neither the steed nor the Damsel looked much surprised, so he decided to say nothing about it. "Whither are you going?" the Prince asked, putting his cap bark on his head and climbing up out of the stream. He had no sooner reached the bank than ho had become entirely dry. "We were going to the wood to res cue the Knight M the Silver Armor from the enchanted tree," the Damsel said. '..Mily 1 RO w," you?" he asked. "We shall be glad to have your as sistance." she replied. "What is the matter with' the Knight?" Inquired the Prince as they walked on together. "That can best be told by the boy," .the Damsel said, turning to Alfred. Both Of them looked hl an thrtnvh they expected him to speak, so he told the Prince all that he knew'about the Knight and how he had tried to cut off the branch by which he hung. "That is a strange story," the Prince said when he had finished. They soon reached the wood and Al fred led them to the tree where he had left the unfortunate Knight. They could see his silver armor gleaming when they were some distance away. "Oh. my poor Knight." cried the Damsel when she caught sight of It. They made haste forward until they all stood under the tree. The silver bugle lay on the ground where the Knight hud dropped It, and he was mo tionless. "I fear we are too late." said the Prince. He reached up and laid his hand on the armor. No sooner had ho touched it than it fell from the branch and they saw it was empty. "Why, where is the Knight?" Alfred asked in surprise, "i left him tn the armor, and I don't see how he could get out." But nobody replied to him, for when the Damsel say that there was nobodv In the armor she uttered a cry and fainted. The Prince made haste to catch her In his arms as she fell and he spoke comforting words to her when she opened her eyes again. Never mind." the Trince "Will you marry me?" "Oh, Prince!" the Damsel blushing rosy red. He lifted her to the back snow-white steed, and after replied, replied, of the saying goodby to Alfred they took un the ar mor and went slowly away into the lorest. where they were soon lost to sight In the shadows. The house was so filled with rose-pink and white, It seemed like an orchard In bloom. In each house It was the tsame. Everybody was to keep the Feast of the pple Blossoms. At last word came up from the mea dows, saying, "By the third day from this the apple trees will bo In full bloom," and the packing began. When the last knot was tied, and the last trunk strapped, every one was so tired and o happy! So much for the anticipation of a new sensa tion. The Apple Blossom Feast had not before been set down in the calendar of the year's holidays. The orchard grass was as close cut and smooth as the most fastidious park-keeper could wish. Small tables, chairs, benches, rugs, everything that luxurious out-of-door life requires, was in readi ness for the feasters. The lawn tents were rose-pink and white. The sky was blue, the sunshine warm, and it was all pretty enough for a princess' wedding. Everybody wore the apple blossom. Fath er, mother and baby carried a branch. "Of course, it's beautiful to get out of doors and welcome the blossom time." said a sweet-faced mother. "I wonder that we never thought of It before." "Never mind; we've thought of It now. or somebody thought of it for us; let's be. happy while the blossoms last," gayly an swered a young girl, whose face was fair like an apple blossom. "If these days would only ftay," sighed another. But some one rejoined: "If these davs stayed with us we should never have ap ples." And a little wiseacre added. "Tf It were always blossom time, we should never get to Christmas." When the blossoms beean to fade tlm pretty pink cups were packed, the trunk strapped, the bundles tagged, and the families so pleasantly united in the merrymaking returned to their homes, happy that the year had a new holldav. t Copyright, im. by I-othron. Iye & Shep ard Company.) wrap, tied also with the same. It is as easily made as is the wrap, and Is likewise adapted to any kind of wrsr. Two sinmrc pieces of cloth will be required to make the hat. one piece being three-quarters the size of the other. Cut them both into circles, as In Figs. 4 and 5. Cut out the circular portion of Fig. 4 as indicated by tin dotted line. Bind all the rough edges and then sew Fig. .'. as a crown upon Fig. 4 as a brim, fastening the crown by buttons sewed at four equal space.":, north, south, east and west. Arl.l rib bons to tie the hat upon the doll's head and the effect Is altogether charming.
