5 peared, its ears became long, longer, silky, golden; its nose became very red, its eyes became very twinkling; in three seconds the dog was gone, and before Gluck stood his old acquaintance, the King of the Golden River. "Thank you," said the monarch; "but don't be frightened, it's all right"; for Gluck showed manifest symptoms of consternation at this unlooked-for reply to his last observation. "Why didn't you come before," continued the dwarf, "instead of sending me those rascally brothers of yours, for me to have the trouble of 10 turning into stones? Very hard stones they make, too." "Oh, dear me!" said Gluck, "have you really been so cruel?" "Cruel!" said the dwarf; "they poured unholy water into my stream: do you suppose I'm going to allow that?” "Why," said Gluck, "I am sure, sir-your Majesty, I mean15 they got the water out of the church font." "Very probably," replied the dwarf; "but," and his countenance grew stern as he spoke, "the water which has been refused to the cry of the weary and dying, is unholy, though it had been blessed by every saint in heaven; and the water which is found 20 in the vessel of mercy is holy, though it had been defiled with corpses." II HOW TREASURE VALLEY BECAME A GARDEN AGAIN So saying, the dwarf stooped and plucked a lily that grew at his feet. On its white leaves there hung three drops of clear dew. And the dwarf shook them into the flask which Gluck held in 25 his hand. "Cast these into the river," he said, "and descend on the other side of the mountains into the Treasure Valley. And so good speed." As he spoke, the figure of the dwarf became indistinct. The playing colors of his robe formed themselves into a prismatic 30 mist of dewy light; he stood for an instant veiled with them as with the belt of a broad rainbow. The colors grew faint, the mist rose into the air; the monarch had evaporated. And Gluck climbed to the brink of the Golden River; its waves were as clear as crystal, and as brilliant as the sun. When he cast the three drops of dew into the stream, there opened where they fell a small circular whirlpool, into which the waters de5 scended with a musical noise. Gluck stood watching it for some time, very much disappointed, because not only the river was not turned into gold, but its waters seemed much diminished in quantity. Yet he obeyed his friend the dwarf, and descended the other side of the mountains 10 towards the Treasure Valley; and, as he went, he thought he heard the noise of water working its way under the ground. Now, when he came in sight of the Treasure Valley, behold, a river, like the Golden River, was springing from a new cleft of the rocks above it, and was flowing in innumerable streams 15 among the dry heaps of red sand. As Gluck gazed, fresh grass sprang beside the new streams, and creeping plants grew and climbed among the moistening soil. Young flowers opened suddenly along the river sides, as stars leap out when twilight is deepening, and thickets of myrtle 20 and tendrils of vine cast lengthening shadows over the valley as they grew. And thus the Treasure Valley became a garden again, and the inheritance which had been lost by cruelty was regained by love. And Gluck went and dwelt in the valley, and the poor were 25 never driven from his door: so that his barns became full of corn, and his house of treasure. For him the river had, according to the dwarf's promise, become a River of Gold. And to this day the inhabitants of the valley point out the place where the three drops of holy dew were cast into the stream, 30 and trace the course of the Golden River under the ground, until it emerges in the Treasure Valley. And at the top of the cataract of the Golden River are still to be seen Two Black Stones, round which the waters howl mournfully every day at sunset; and these stones are still called by the people of the valley The Black 35 Brothers. HELPS TO STUDY From what did the Golden River derive its name? To what was the fertility of the. valley due? By what name were Hans and Schwartz known? Why were they given this name? How did Gluck differ from his brothers? In what manner did the Southwest wind make his last visit? What change came over the valley when the west wind ceased to visit it? What chances to show kindness did Hans have as he climbed the mountain? Read lines which show how the sky changed each time that he refused to help the suffering. What opportunities to help others did Schwartz have as he ascended the mountain? What happened each time that he refused to help? How did the face of the moun tain change after Gluck gave the water to the old man? To the child? What happened after he gave the water to the dog? Why was it hard for Gluck to give away all his water? What chance did he think he was giving up when he gave away the last drop of water? What words show that he was willing to lose his chance in order to save the dog? Read lines which show that Gluck's boyhood had been spent in service to others. Read lines which show how he helped others when he became a man. Commit to memory the following lines: "A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich; A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong.'' SONG CELIA THAXTER Celia Thaxter (1835-1894) was an American poet. Her father was a light-house keeper on one of the rocky isles, known as the "Isles of Shoals,'' off the coast of New Hampshire. She was familiar with the wild-flowers, the birds, and all sea life, and has written many beautiful poems about them. To whom is the fourth stanza addressed? Read the words which tell how "airy measures'' "scented torch' the child, the bird, and the flower may help the world. What child can do this? Words and Phrases for Discussion "illume the darkness" "MY HEART LEAPS UP" WILLIAM WORDSWORTH William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was an English poet. He was born and lived in the beautiful region known as the Cumberland Highlands, in northern England. His father and mother died when he was a mere boy. He attended Cambridge, where he and Coleridge became friends. His poems deal with humble life and are expressed in simple and beautiful language. |