title: The topaz story book;
text: WvA** »***%■' • I'* ****** W- fCw/Vi »**W>lM»<^4t*Hi >*v'>a ‘W» '1<N*f'W‘' «t *H*yVyH*y|*>Vt,. ■ * ■ •' yf* ) V , v» »/ W V ,-fc t*'S ^' +*yr yTw* W */•♦ *l>>AAAi***A ' r’^*'** >*yy>fc/-v/yo--*v- ***** *Hf>* W*l *>v v* i/»*m k* JCT^* *>VrWM#>l(r**l*«A*>*yf *.'*•*>/ ym U*Jl*fMtrih »*•*«>* •fyfjft***** ***^v>V.*^-<x).V«‘>^k-l» v »^ ^ .-wA^ v/ *Kr, *.'| ,.**.• I*4*V i'  7' n » « •vy^ u^vv^Hi V> ,oM' v' ^ ^ WS* 1 !** *■ tiM * r -i vr ? , V ‘ "H* ^*. *'*' ‘A* 7 i*p* •“>*'> • r\,r\: 1 * ^Vr^'^l »>y* v»>f y*>< m -("* w* 1 ! K 1 ’.'^" f' *w'V’' r 'f*'V-w/f*i»jiT»H/ 4 AV‘-w '•**•*< *Ai,v>- . f»N • “ • • 1 r ' ,t$* 'V v i f A .\Y''W%’ XA< y wf t. r i>., \/ j/vj /u.'y\rv< '■;^^' >v*'AVfv>v i* , t / t-’V*;.'|'*i , A'. l< UUttiiSAp WfWi*- ► ►Ti*' * »-y v'-^ iu*/**!^ y T •/.-, l t>.i*v /v*w >MfU^{rr'' "v** <uy<* / V / -y *• “ fVV* •<* .‘V-v *V * > v»1 • *£.• ••**-. *rf*i*tfV«*<»*W*H UVtf*''V'y< * ./) l-Hi><k»i4 l .vM^*lJw >/ ./>, yyyuMAMW#MMH«>J » ?vy*v v-- rV-fj'^K «pmv A-y.i^V ‘ *f y V* » -W vlwy' VA* 4, v r »£> ^ v wA*i H. l V/ V' ; l .Ayi yj'v-Sr/ yV ffyi'fAlfH* Pw^4Wf» * Uipfl* •>>* *W H v^*«wfvC 1 ' J Mi’sM ' ;*v y>#r wM ' ^*rv i^yr* K^vTMW. VAvjiyrwv ♦ H-- fTKV V **;'-» -i'Vvv, £**<»>? JjRySwl ttwitot vt- »<** ** , xy. i ’* | yAtii * r ''* Hm.frf A>?W 4** i WI5 •'Vn VV *V> * V ^ ^ V s *' ^ T r VO ’• -TK ^ ^*Twffn ^ *** ,/ f^r? r l ii 'Vf jJJt'jW H-V ^v.y y * .' ,-c 4 H\‘ Va w^* * «-i>f *~*f *> T*AV-'»/ yAivj^KSAi. y-ti x«yiyH>\4% yH* v tw ► ■*h>$'rHct's j, yi fy^yy^^r. V v4TM>y • -vr*» : .^ *\ HT i 4/f.',4‘ v Hyf ’K >t* r t *••** "syrtrlir*.' # i rww » ( •>, yn At.V>WV-yr< ►4v s 4*'V < »(■ ft >y.' **rVH^^ <• I :2-‘cf»V^irf V*-MaW« f^ k iR¥3te^ ♦.•‘.M *. ImW*''* » ^ K> ; v-ai y*v V ':.x< J .*Hii /**•!<«. r ,JP -. - l p l r i v; ^♦h*i*t ir ^ ,> ^■''^ , r>* v>w » .* VA>t *<v-**yW'-/vyyK y hv« 4iv^tf» , ' , vHwni».4i«r‘'*i«'‘*v»vp A’ ; ■* zf*w *f*W ^ i>» -if ^ <4 y* vf <*/ '>4*1 yryj -;.(.* »*fwVf*f,viv>ihrf yvn< twists ?( fy fti^W m f>y»Vv^> ^yW? -*\« •' '•*■>■( *, VtW' V^l’ Vf-/^‘.f H v>»v‘ 'VtiARy-y ^rfWiU»-i^ytt>U» r v*?* • ^ > .f W. *,vlt- vft -ifcv: U t.-;. ^ # THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK <• \ u n-wwt The Jewel Series THE DIAMOND STORY BOOK. Com- piled by Penrhyn W. Coussens. Illus- trations in color by Ethel Green. net $1.50 THE EMERALD STORY BOOK. Stones of Spring , Nature, and Easter. By Ada and Eleanor Skinner. Illustrations in color by Maxfield Parrish. .net $1.50 THE RUBY STORY BOOK. Tales of Courage and Heroism. Retold by Penrhyn W. Coussens. .* ' SEP 28 1917 ©Cl. A 47 37 2 4 \ „ INTRODUCTION Nature stories, legends, and poems appeal to the young reader’s interest in various ways. Some of them suggest or reveal certain facts which stimulate a spirit of investigation and attract the child’s attention to the beauty and mystery of the world. Others serve an ex- cellent purpose by quickening his sense of humour. Seedtime and harvest have always been sea- sons of absorbing interest and have furnished the story-teller with rich themes. The selec- tions in “The Emerald Story Book” empha- size the hope and promise of the spring; the stories, legends, and poems in this volume, “The Topaz Story Book,” express the joy and blessing which attend the harvest-time when the fields are rich in golden grain and the or- chard boughs bend low with mellow fruit. INTRODUCTION “The year’s work is done. She walks in gor- geous apparel, looking upon her long labour and her serene eye saith, ‘It is good.’ ” The editors’ thanks are due to the follow- ing authors and publishers for the use of valu- able material in this book: To Dr. Carl S. Patton of the First Congre- gational Church, Columbus, Ohio, for per- mission to include his story, “The Pretending Woodchuck”; to Frances Jenkins Olcott for “The Green Corn Dance,” retold from “The Journal of American Folk-Lore,” published by Houghton, Mifflin Company; to Ernest Thompson Seton and the Century Company for “How the Chestnut Burrs Became”; to Dr. J. Dynelly Prince for permission to retell the legend of “Nipon” from “Kuloskap the Master”; to Thomas Nelson and Sons for “Weeds,” by Carl Ewald ; to William Herbert Carruth for the selection from “Each In His Own Tongue”; to Josephine K. Dodge for two poems by Mary Mapes Dodge; to A. Flanagan Company for “Golden-rod and Purple Aster,” from “Nature Myths and Stories,” by Flora J. Cooke; to J. B. Lippin- INTRODUCTION cott Company for “The Willow and the Bam- boo, ’’ from “Myths and Legends of the Flow- ers and Trees,” by Chas. M. Skinner; to Bobbs, Merrill Company for the selection by James Whitcomb Riley; to Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Company for “The Pump- kin Giant,” from “The Pot of Gold,” by Mary Wilkins Freeman; to Raymond Mac- donald Alden for “Lost: The Summer”; to the Youth’s Companion for “A Turkey for the Stuffing,” by Katherine Grace Hul- bert, and “The News,” by Persis Gardi- ner; to John S. P. Alcott for “Queen Aster,” by Louisa M. Alcott; to G. P. Putnam’s Sons for two poems from “Red Apples and Silver Bells,” by Hamish Henry; to Francis Cur- tis and St. Nicholas for “The Debut of Daniel Webster,” by Isabel Gordon Curtis; to Emma F. Bush and Mothers’ Magazine for “The Little Pumpkin”; to Phila Butler Bowman and Mothers’ Magazine for “The Queer Little Baker Man”; to the Inde- pendent for “The Crown of the Year,” by Celia Thaxter; to Ginn and Company for “Winter’s Herald,” from Andrew’s “The INTRODUCTION Story of My Four Friends”; to Frederick A. Stokes Company for “Lady White and Lady Yellow,” from “Myths and Legends of Ja- pan”; to the State Museum, Albany, New York, for permission to reprint the legend “O-na-tah, Spirit of the Corn,” published in the Museum Bulletin; to Houghton, Mifflin Company for “The Sickle Moon,” by Abbie Farwell Brown; “Autumn Among the Birds” and “Autumn Fashions” by Edith M. Thomas, “The Nutcrackers of Nutcracker Lodge” by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and “The Three Gol- den Apples” by Nathaniel Hawthorne; and to Duffield and Company for * The Story of the Opal” by Ann de Morgan. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AUTUMN STORIES AND LEGENDS Each in His Own Tongue (selection) — William Herbert Carruth Nipon and the King of the Northland (Algonquin Leg- end) Retold from Leland and Prince — Eleanor L. Skinner Prince Autumn (Translated from the Danish by Alex- andre Teixeira de Mattos) Carl Ewald The Scarf of the Lady (adapted) (Translated from the French by Hermine de Nagy) The Sickle Moon (Tyrolean harvest legend) — Abbie Farwell Brown Winter’s Herald Jane Andrews Jack Frost (poem) The Pumpkin Giant Mary Wilkins Freeman Lady White and Lady Yellow (Japanese Legend) — Frederick Hadland Davis The Shet-up Posy Ann Trumbull Slosson The Gay Little King Mary Stewart The Story of the Opal Ann de Morgan Selection Celia T haxter Lost: The Summer (poem) — Raymond Macdonald Alden By the Wayside (poem) William Cullen Bryant The King’s Candles (German legend) — Eleanor L. Skinner A Legend of the Golden-Rod— Frances Weld Danielson Golden-Rod (poem) Anna E. Skinner The Little Weed PAGE 2 3 12 24 30 35 42 44 62 66 73 83 97 98 99 100 106 109 no CONTENTS Golden-Rod and Purple Aster (adapted) — Flora J. Cooke Wild Asters (poem) Silver-rod Edith M. Thomas Pimpernel, the Shepherd’s Clock (poem) A Legend of the Gentian (Hungarian). .Ada M. Skinner Queen Aster Louisa M. Alcott The Weeds Carl Ewald Autumn Fires (poem) Robert Louis Stevenson AMONG THE TREES To An Autumn Leaf (poem) Why the Autumn Leaves Are Red (Indian legend) — Retold and adapted by Eleanor Newcomb Partridge The Anxious Leaf Henry Ward Beecher How the Chestnut Burrs Became — Ernest Thompson-Seton The Merry Wind (poem) Mary Mapes Dodge Autumn Among the Birds Edith M. Thomas The Kind Old Oak Selected The Tree (poem) Bjornstjerne Bjornson Coming and Going Henry Ward Beecher A Legend of the Willow Tree (Japanese) Autumn Fashions (poem) Edith M. Thomas Pomona’s Best Gift (Old English Song) Pomona (Greek myth retold from Ovid) — Ada M. Skinner In the Orchard (poem) George Weatherby Johnny Appleseed Josephine Scribner Gates Red Apple (poem) Hamish Hendry The Three Golden Apples Nathaniel Hawthorne October: Orchard of the Year Selected November WOODLAND ANIMALS The Pretending Woodchuck Dr. Carl S. Patton Mrs. Bunny’s Dinner Party Anna E. Skinner The Nutcrackers of Nutcracker Lodge (adapted) — Harriet Beecher Stowe Bushy’s Bravery Ada M. William Herbert Carruth. NIPON AND THE KING OF THE NORTHLAND (Algonquin Legend) The Summer Queen whom the Indians called Nipon lived in the land of sunshine where the life-giving beams of the mighty Sun shone all the year round on the blossoming meadows and green forests. The maiden’s wigwam faced the sunrise. It was covered with a vine which hung thick with bell-shaped blossoms. The fair queen’s trailing green robe was woven from delicate fern leaves and embroid- ered with richly coloured blossoms. She wore a coronet of flowers and her long dusky braids were entwined with sprays of fragrant honey- suckle. Her moccasins were fashioned from water-lily leaves. Nipon was very busy in her paradise of flowers. Every day she wandered through the green forests where she spoke words of en- 3 4 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK couragement and praise to the great trees, or she glided over the meadows and helped the flower buds to unfold into perfect blossoms. Sometimes the maiden’s grandmother, whose name was K’me-wan, the Rain, came from afar to visit the land of Sunshine. The Summer Queen always welcomed her and listened carefully to the words of warning which K’me-wan solemnly gave before leav- ing. “Nipon, my child, heed what I say. In thy wanderings never go to the Northland where dwells Poon, the Winter King. He is thy deadliest foe and is waiting to destroy thee. This grim old Winter King hates the fair beauty of the Summer Queen. He will cause thy green garments to wither and fade and thy bright hair to turn white like his own frost. All thy youth and strength he will change to age and weakness.” The Summer Maiden promised to heed her grandmother’s warning, and for a long time she did not look in the direction of the North- land. But one day when she sat in front of her sun-bathed wigwam a strange longing NIPON AND THE KING S crept into her heart — a longing to look at the frozen Northland where Poon the Winter King reigned. Slowly she turned her eyes in the forbidden direction and there she saw a wonderful vision. The far-away Northland was flooded with sunshine. She could see the broad, shining lakes, the white mountain peaks touched with rosy mists, and the winding riv- ers gleaming with light. “It is the most beautiful land I have ever seen,” said Nipon. She rose slowly and stood for some time looking at the enchanting beauty of the scene before her. Then she said, “My heart is filled with a strange longing. I shall go to visit the Northland, the Land of Poon, King of Winter.” “My daughter, remember K’me-wan’s warning,” whispered a voice and Nipon knew that her grandmother was speaking. “Go not to the Northland where death awaits thee. Abide in the land of Sunshine.” “I can not choose,” said Nipon. “I must go to the Northland.” “Heed my warning! Heed my warning!” 6 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK whispered the faint voice of K’me-wan, the Rain. “I can not choose,” repeated the Summer Queen. “I must go to the Northland.” In her delicate robe of leaves and her coro- net of flowers Nipon left the Land of Sunshine and began her long journey northward. For many moons she traveled keeping her eyes fixed on the dazzling beauty of the frost king’s land. One day she noticed that the shining moun- tains, lakes, and rivers in the land of Poon moved onward before her. She stopped for a moment to consider the marvel and again a faint voice whispered, “Turn back, my child! Destruction awaits thee in the land of King Winter. Heed the warning of K’me-wan.” But the willful Summer Queen closed hei ears to the pleading voice and proceeded on her journey. The beautiful vision no longer seemed to move away from her. Surely be- fore long she would win her heart’s desire, she would reach the beautiful land of Poon. Suddenly fear seized the Summer Queen, for she felt that the sunshine was gradually NIPON AND THE KING 7 fading away. A chill wind from the distant mountain rent her frail garments and with sinking heart she saw the leaves of her robe were turning yellow, the blossoms were fad- ing and dying. A cruel wind blew and tore to pieces her coronet of flowers. Then she noticed that her dusky braids were turning white as the frost. “K’me-wan’s warning !” she cried. “How I wish I had heeded K’me-wan’s warning! The Frost King is cruel. He will destroy me! O K’me-wan, help me! Save me from destruc- tion !” Soon after Nipon left for the Northland her grandmother knew what had happened, for from her Skyland she saw that no smoke rose from the Summer Queen’s wigwam. K’me-wan hastened to the land of Sunshine. There she saw that the blossoms on the queen’s wigwam were beginning to wither, the ground was strewn with fallen petals, and the leaves of the vine had lost their shining green colour. “A grey mist covers the face of the sun and a change is gradually creeping over this beau- 8 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK tiful land,” cried K’me-wan. “I’ll send my gentlest showers to refresh the woods and meadows.” But the Rain-mother failed to bring back the colour to the Summer Queen’s island. “The trees and flowers need warmth as well as moisture,” sighed K’me-wan. “The leaves of the forest are beginning to turn orange, crimson, and brown. Every day there are fewer flowers in the meadows and along the banks of the brook. A great change is creep- ing over the land of Sunshine.” And as she sat in Nipon’s wigwam, grieving, she heard the Summer Queen’s cry of agony. She heard Nipon call out, “O K’me-wan! Save me from destruction.” “I’ll send my bravest warriors to do battle with Poon,” declared K’me-wan, standing and looking toward the Northland. “He shall match his strength with mine!” Quickly she called together her strong war- riors, South-wind, West-wind, and Warm- breeze. “Go to the Northland, my warriors,” she commanded. “Use all your power to rescue NIPON AND THE KING 9 Nipon from Poon, the Winter King. Fly to the Northland !” K’me-wan’s wind warriors fled like light- ning to the land’of Poon. But the crafty Win- ter King was not taken by surprise. The mighty North-wind, the biting East-wind, and the Frost-spirit, his strong chieftains, he held in readiness to do battle for possession of the Summer Queen. And when K’me-wan’s war- riors drew near the Northland, Poon gave his command. “Fly to meet our foes, my warriors! They come from the land of Sunshine! Vanquish them!” And as he spoke his chieftains saw that Poon’s stalwart figure was growing gaunt and thin, and great drops of sweat were dropping from his brow. At Winter King’s command his giants flew to match their strength with K’me-wan’s war- riors. But the Snowflakes and Hailstones led by the Frost-spirit weakened and fell before Warm-breeze and his followers, the Rain- drops. The cold wind warriors of the North IO THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK shook and roared as they matched strength with the mightier giants from the land of Sunshine. Then, as K’me-wan’s warriors pressed nearer and nearer to the Northland, Poon the Winter King weakened and cried out in agony, “Set Nipon free or I shall perish. My warriors are vanquished by the chieftains of the land of Sunshine! Free the Summer Queen and end this strife!” At this command from Poon, his giant war* riors grew silent and fled back to the North- land, leaving K’me-wan’s chieftains in pos- session of Nipon. Gently they led the weary Summer Queen back toward her own land. They travelled for many moons before the beams of the great sun were warm enough to restore her beauty. Only once on her journey back to her own land did Nipon stop. It was when she reached a place enveloped in grey mists and dark clouds where the wild lightning leaped and flashed. The wind blew and the showers fell continually in this land of K’me-wan. Through the clouds and rain Nipon traveled until she reached the wigwam of the ancient Rain-mother. NIPON AND THE KING u “Forgive me, K’me-wan,” said the Summer Queen humbly. “My child, thou hast well nigh killed me,” moaned K’me-wan faintly. “Thy disobedi- ence has brought great suffering in my cher- ished island. My giant warriors conquered or Poon with his cruel ice scepter would have reigned king over all. Never again can I ven- ture on such a struggle.” “Never again shall I disobey thee,” de- clared Nipon, the Summer Queen. “Hasten back to the land of Sunshine,” said K’me-wan, rising. “There thou art sadly needed, for the leaves have changed their color and the blossoms are almost gone. Hasten back and give them new life, my daughter.” Then Nipon bade farewell to the Rain- mother and departed for the land of Sunshine. As she drew near her heart was filled with a wonderful joy and peace. “Welcome, Nipon,” laughed the warm sun- beams. “Welcome, Nipon,” sang the gentle breezes. “Welcome, our life-giving Summer Queen,” nodded the forest trees. PRINCE AUTUMN Carl Ewald On the top of the hills in the West stood the Prince of Autumn and surveyed the land with his serious eyes. His hair and beard were dashed with gray and there were wrinkles on his forehead. But he was good to look at, still and straight and strong. His splendid cloak gleamed red and green and brown and yellow and flapped in the wind. In his hand he held a horn. He smiled sadly and stood awhile and lis- tened to the fighting and the singing and the cries. Then he raised his head, put the horn to his mouth and blew a lusty flourish: Summer goes his all-prospering way, Autumn’s horn is calling. Heather dresses the brown hill-clay, Winds whip crackling across the bay, Leaves in the grove keep falling. Copyright, 1913, by Dodd, Mead & Company. 1 2 PRINCE AUTUMN 13 All the trees of the forest shook from root to top, themselves not knowing why. All the birds fell silent together. The stag in the glade raised his antlers in surprise and lis- tened. The poppy’s scarlet petals flew before the wind. But high on the mountains and on the bare hills and low down in the bog, the heather burst forth and blazed purple and glorious in the sun. And the bees flew from the faded flowers of the meadow and hid themselves in the heather-fields. But Autumn put his horn to his mouth again and blew: Autumn lords it with banners bright Of garish leaves held o’er him, Quelling Summer’s eternal fight, Heralding Winter, wild and white, While the blithe little birds flee before him. The Prince of Summer stopped where he stood in the valley and raised his eyes to the hills in the West. And the Prince of Autumn took the horn from his mouth and bowed low before him. i 4 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK “Welcome !” said Summer. He took a step towards him and no more, as befits one who is the greater. But the Prince of Autumn came down over the hills and again bowed low. They walked through the valley hand in hand. And so radiant was Summer that, wherever they passed, none was aware of Au- tumn’s presence. The notes of his horn died away in the air; and one and all recovered from the shudder that had passed over them. The trees and birds and flowers came to them- selves again and whispered and sang and fought. The river flowed, the rushes mur- mured, the bees continued their summer orgy in the heather. But, wherever the princes stopped on their progress through the valley, it came about that the foliage turned yellow on the side where Autumn was. A little leaf fell from its stalk and fluttered away and dropped at his feet. The nightingale ceased singing, though it was eventide; the cuckoo was silent and flapped restlessly through the woods; the stork stretched himself in his nest and looked to- PRINCE AUTUMN i5 ward the South. But the princes took no heed. “Welcome,” said Summer again. “Do you remember your promise?” “I remember,” answered Autumn. Then the Prince of Summer stopped and looked out over the kingdom where the noise was gradually subsiding. “Do you hear them?” he asked. “Now do you take them into your gentle keeping.” “I shall bring your produce home,” said Autumn. “I shall watch carefully over them that dream, I shall cover up lovingly them that are to sleep in the mould. I will warn them thrice of Winter’s coming.” “It is well,” said Summer. They walked in silence for a time, while night came forth. “The honeysuckle’s petals fell when you blew your horn,” said Summer. “Some of my children will die at the moment when I leave the valley. But the nightingale and the cuckoo and the stork I shall take with me.” Again the two princes walked in silence. It was quite still, only the owls hooted in the old oak. 16 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK “You must send my birds after me,” said Summer. “I shall not forget,” replied Autumn. Then the Prince of Summer raised his hand in farewell and bade Autumn take possession of the kingdom. “I shall go tonight,” he said. “And none will know save you. My splendour will linger in the valley for a while. And by-the-by, when I am far away and my reign is forgot- ten, the memory of me will revive once more with the sun and the pleasant days.” Then he strode away in the night. But from the high tree-top came the stork on his long wings; and the cuckoo fluttered out of the tall woods; and the nightingale flew from the thicket with her full-grown young. The air was filled with the soft murmurings of wings. Autumn’s dominion had indeed begun on the night when Summer went away, with a yellow leaf here and a brown leaf there, but none had noticed it. Now it went at a quicker pace; and as time wore on, there came even more colours and greater splendour. PRINCE AUTUMN 17 The lime trees turned bright yellow and the beech bronze, but the elder-tree even blacker than it had been. The bell-flower rang with white bells, where it used to ring with blue, and the chestnut tree blessed all the world with its five yellow fingers. The mountain ash shed its leaves that all might admire its pretty ber- ries; the wild rose nodded with a hundred hips; the Virginia creeper broke over the hedge in blazing flames. Then Autumn put his horn to his mouth and blew: The loveliest things of Autumn’s pack In his motley coffers lay; Red mountain-berries Hips sweet as cherries, Sloes blue and black He hung upon every spray. And blackbird and thrush chattered blithely in the copsewood, which gleamed with ber- ries, and a thousand sparrows kept them com- pany. The wind ran from one to the other and puffed and panted to add to the fun. High up in the sky, the sun looked gently down upon it all. 1 8 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK And the Prince of Autumn nodded content- edly and let his motley cloak flap in the wind. “I am the least important of the four sea- sons and am scarcely lord in my own land,” he said. “I serve two jealous masters and have to please them both. But my power extends so far that I can give you a few glad days.” Then he put his horn to his mouth and blew : To the valley revellers hie! They are clad in autumnal fancy dresses, They are weary of green and faded tresses, Summer has vanished, Winter is nigh Hey fol — de — rol — day for Autumn! But, the night after this happened, there was tremendous disturbance up on the mountain peaks, where the eternal snows had lain both in Spring’s time and Summer’s. It sounded like a storm approaching. The trees grew frightened, the crows were silent, the wind held its breath. Prince Autumn bent forward and listened: “Is that the worst you can do?” shouted a hoarse voice through the darkness. PRINCE AUTUMN 19 Autumn raised his head and looked straight into Winter’s great, cold eyes ! “Have you forgotten the bargain?” asked Winter. “No,” replied Autumn. “I have not for- gotten it.” “Have a care,” shouted Winter. The whole night through, it rumbled and tumbled in the mountains. It turned so bit- terly cold that the starling thought seriously of packing up and even the red creeper turned pale. The distant peaks glittered with new snow. And the Prince of Autumn laughed no more. He looked out earnestly over the land and the wrinkles in his forehead grew deeper. “It must be so then !” he said. Then he blew his horn. Autumn’s horn blew a lusty chime; For the second time, for the second time! Heed well the call, complying. Fling seed to earth! Fill sack’s full girth! Plump back and side! Pad belt and hide! Hold all wings close for flying! 20 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK Then suddenly a terrible bustle arose in the land, for now they all understood. “Quick,” said Autumn. The poppy and the bell-flower and the pink stood thin and dry as sticks with their heads full of seed. The dandelion had presented each one of his seeds with a sweet little para- chute. “Come, dear Wind, and shake us!” said the poppy. “Fly away with my seeds, Wind,” said the dandelion. And the wind hastened to do as they asked. But the beech cunningly dropped his shaggy fruit on to the hare’s fur; and the fox got one also on his red coat. “Quick, now,” said Autumn. “There’s no time here to waste.” The little brown mice filled their parlors from floor to ceiling with nuts and beech-mast and acorns. The hedgehog had already eaten himself so fat that he could hardly lower his quills. The hare and fox and stag put on clean white woollen things, under their coats. The starling and the thrush and the blackbird saw PRINCE AUTUMN 21 to their downy clothing and exercised their wings for the long journey. The sun hid himself behind the clouds and did not appear for many days. It began to rain. The wind quickened its pace: it dashed the rain over the meadow, whipped the river into foam and whistled through the trunks in the forest. “Now the song is finished!” said the Prince of Autumn. Then he put his horn to his mouth and blew. Autumn’s horn blew a lusty chime, For the last time, for the last time! Ways close when need is sorest: Land-birds, fly clear! Plunge, frogs, in mere! Bee, lock your lair! Take shelter, bear! Fall, last leaf in the forest! And then it was over. The birds flew from the land in flocks. The starling and the lapwing, the thrush and the blackbird all migrated to the south. Every morning before the sun rose the wind tore through the forest, and pulled the last 22 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK leaves off the trees. Every day the wind blew stronger, snapped great branches, swept the withered leaves together into heaps, scattered them again and, at last, laid them like a soft, thick carpet over the whole floor of the forest. The hedgehog crawled so far into a hole under a heap of stones that he remained caught between two of them and could move neither forwards nor backwards. The sparrow took lodgings in a deserted swallow’s nest; the frogs went to the bottom of the pond for good, set- tled in the mud, with the tips of their noses up in the water and prepared for whatever might come. The Prince of Autumn stood and gazed over the land to see if it was bare and waste so that Winter’s storms might come buffeting at will and the snow lie wherever it pleased. Then he stopped before the old oak and looked at the ivy that clambered right up to the top and spread her green leaves as if Win- ter had no existence at all. And while he looked at it the ivy-flowers blossomed! They sat right at the top and rocked in the wind ! “Now I’m coming/’ roared Winter from PRINCE AUTUMN 23 the mountains. “My clouds are bursting with snow; and my storms are breaking loose. I can restrain them no longer.” The Prince of Autumn bent his head and listened. He could hear the storm come rush- ing down over the mountains. A snowflake fell upon his motley cloak . . . and an- other . . . and yet another . .. For the last time he put his horn to his mouth and blew: Thou greenest plant and tardiest, Thou fairest, rarest, hardiest, Bright through unending hours! Round Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring, Thy vigorous embraces cling. Look! Ivy mine, ’tis I who sing, ’Tis Autumn wins thy flowers! Then he went away in the storm. THE SCARF OF THE LADY (A French Harvest Legend) Translated by Hermine de Nagy The Field of the Lady was the name which the peasants gave to a large tract of land be- longing to a rich estate. The lord of the castle had given these fertile acres to his daughter and had told her to do as she pleased with the grain which the field produced. Each year at harvest time she invited the poor peasants of the neighbourhood to come and glean in her field, and take home with them as much grain as they needed for winter use. Sometimes when the gleaners were busily at work one of them would cry out joyfully, “Ah, there comes the lady of the castle.” They could see her coming in the distance, for she always wore a simple dress of white wool, and over her head was thrown a scarf of white silk 24 THE SCARF OF THE LADY 25 striped with many colours. She loved to come into the field while the people were at work and speak words of encouragement and cheer to them. One sultry afternoon there were many peas- ants gleaning in the field. The lady of the castle had been with them for several hours. Suddenly she looked up into the threatening sky and said, “My friends, see what large clouds are gathering. I’m afraid we shall have a storm before long. Let us stop glean- ing for today and seek shelter.” The peas- ants hastened away and the lady started to- ward the castle. As she drew near the green hedge which bordered the field she saw coming toward her a beautiful young woman and a fair child whose hand she held. The little boy’s golden hair fell in waves over his white tunic. “You came to glean,” said the lady of the castle in her sweet voice, full of welcome. “Come then, we’ll work together for a little while before the rain falls.” “Thank you,” said the young woman. The three began to pick up the ripe ears and 26 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK pile them in small heaps. They had worked but a little while, however, when a gust of wind swept over the field and great raindrops began to fall. The thunder rumbled in the distance and streaks of lightning rent the sky. “Come, my friends,” said the lady of the castle. “We must seek shelter. See, there near the wood is a great oak, thick with fo- liage. Let us hasten to it and stand there until the storm is over.” In a short time they reached the tree and stood together under the shelter of its great branches. With his chubby hand the child took hold of the end of his mother’s veil and tried to cover his curly head with it. “You shall have my scarf,” said the lady of the castle, smiling. She slipped it off, wrapped it tenderly around the dear child’s head and shoulders, and kissed his fair young brow. Suddenly the great clouds seemed to roll away. The lady of the castle stepped out from the shelter of the tree to look at the sky. The storm had ceased and the birds were beginning THE SCARF OF THE LADY 27 to twitter in the trees. She stood still, looking at the wonderful golden light which flooded the harvest field. And in the calm silence there came floating through the air the sweet- est music she had ever heard. At first it seemed far, far away. Then it came nearer and nearer until the air was filled with har- monious voices chanting tenderly in the purest angelic tones. She turned toward her com- panions and lo! they had disappeared. In the distance there was a sound like the light fluttering of wings. The lady of the castle looked toward the hedge where she had first seen her mysterious companions. There she saw them again — the lovely woman and the golden-haired child. They were rising softly, softly upon fleecy clouds. Around them and mounting with them was a band of angels chanting a joyful Hosanna ! The marvelous vision rose slowly into the clear blue of the heavens. Then on the wet ears of grain in the harvest field the lady of the castle knelt in silent adoration, for she knew she had seen the Virgin and the Holy Child. While she worshipped in breathless silence 28 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK the heavenly choir halted and in clear, ring- ing tones the angels sang out : “Blessed be thou! “Blessed be the good lady who is ever ready to help the poor and unfortunate! Blessed be this Field of Alms.” The Virgin stretched forth her hands to bless the lady and the harvest field. At the same time the Holy Child took from his head and shoulders the silk scarf which the lady of the castle had wrapped about him, and gave it to two rosy-winged cherubim. Away they flew — one to the right, the other to the left, each holding an end of the scarf which stretched as they flew into a marvelous rain- bow arch across the blue vault of the sky. The Virgin and the Holy Child, followed by the angelic choir, rose slowly, slowly into the sky. Softly and gently as wood breezes the heav- enly music died away and the vision disap- peared. The lady of the castle rose to her feet. A marvelous thing had happened. The small heaps of grain gathered by the gleaners had changed into a harvest richer than the field THE SCARF OF THE LADY 29 had ever produced before. Over all in the sky still shone the lovely rainbow arch — the arch of promise across the Field of Alms. (Adapted.) THE SICKLE MOON (Tyrolean Harvest Legend) Abbie Farwell Brown When of the crescent moon aware Hung silver in the sky, “See, Saint Nothburga’s sickle there!” The Tyrol children cry. It is a quaint and pretty tale Six hundred summers old, When in the green Tyrolean vale, The peasant folk is told. The town of Eben nestled here Is little known to fame, Save as the legends make it dear, In Saint Nothburga’s name. For in this quiet country place, Where a white church spire reared, Nothburga dwelt, a maid of grace Who loved the Lord and feared. 30 THE SICKLE MOON 3i She was a serving little lass, Bound to a farmer stern, Who to and fro all day must pass Her coarse black bread to earn. She spun and knit the fleecy wool, She bleached the linen white, She drew the water-buckets full, And milked the herd at night. And more than this, when harvest-tide Turned golden all the plain, She took her sickle, curving wide, And reaped the ripened grain. All people yielded to the charm Of this meek-serving maid, Save the stern master of the farm, Of whom all stood afraid. For he was hard to humble folk, And cruel to the poor, A godless man, who evil spoke, A miser of his store. Now it was on a Saturday Near to the Sabbath time, Which in those ages far away Began at sunset-chime. 32 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK Nothburga in the harvest gold Was reaping busily, Although the day was grown so old That dimly could she see. Close by her cruel master stood, And fearsome was his eye; He glowered at the maiden good, He glowered at the sky. For many rows lacked reaping, yet The dark was falling fast, And soon the round sun would be set And working time be past. “Cling — clang !” The sunset-chime pealed out, And Sunday had begun; Nothburga sighed and turned about The reaping was not done. She laid her curving sickle by, And said her evening hymn, Wide-gazing on the starless sky, Where all was dark and dim. But hark! A hasty summons came To drown her whispered words, An angry voice called out her name, And scared the nestling birds. THE SICKLE MOON 33 “What ho, Nothburga, lazy one! Bend to your task again, And do not think the day is done Till you have reaped this grain.” “But master,” spoke Nothburga low, “It’s the Sabbath time; We must keep holy hours now, After the sunset-chime.” And then in rage the master cried: “The day belongs to me! I’m lord of all the country side, And hold the time in fee! “No Sunday-thought shall spoil the gain That comes a hundred fold From reaping of my golden grain, Which shall be turned to gold.” “Nay, Master, give me gracious leave The Lord’s will I must keep; Upon the holy Sabbath day My sickle shall not reap!” The master raised his heavy hand To deal the maid a blow; “Thou shalt!” he cried his fierce command, And would have struck, when lo! 34 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK Nothburga whirled her sickle bright And tossed it in the sky! A flash, a gleam of silver light, As it went circling by, And there, beside a little star Which had peeped out to see, The sickle hung itself afar, As swiftly as could be ! The master stared up, wondering; Forgetting all his rage, To see so strange and quaint a thing The marvel of the age. And she, the maid so brave and good, Thenceforth had naught to fear, But kept the Sabbath as she would, And lived a life of cheer. So when among the stars you see The silver sickle flame, Think how the wonder came to be, And bless Nothburga’s name. WINTER’S HERALD Jane Andrews In the days of chivalry, mail-clad knights, armed with shield and spear, rode through the land to defend the right and to punish the wrong. Whenever they were to meet each other in battle at the great tournaments, a her- ald was first sent to announce the fight and give fair warning to the opponents, that each might be in all things prepared to meet the other, and defend or attack wisely and upon his guard. So, dear children, you must know that Win- ter, who is coming clad in his icy armour, with his spear, the keen sleet, sends before him a herald, that we may not be all unprepared for his approach. It is an autumn night when this herald comes; all the warm September noons have slipped away, and the red October sunsets are 35 36 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK almost gone; still the afternoon light, shining through the two maples, casts a crimson and yellow glow on the white wall of my little room, and on the paths is a delicate carpet of spotted leaves over the brown groundwork. It is past midnight when the herald is called; and although his knight is so fierce, loud, and blustering, he moves noiselessly forth and carries his warning to all the coun- try round. Through the little birch wood he comes, and whispers a single word to the golden leaves that are hanging so slightly on the slender boughs; one little shiver goes through them, sends them fluttering all to the ground, and the next morning their brown, shriveled edges tell a sad story. Through the birch wood he hurries and on to the bank of the brook that runs through the long valley ; for the muskrat, who has his home under the shelving bank, must hear the news and make haste to arrange his hole with win- ter comforts before the brook is frozen. While he crosses the meadow the field mouse and the mole hear his warning and lay their heads to- gether to see what is best to be done. Indeed, WINTER’S HERALD 37 the mole, who himself can scarcely see at all, is always of opinion that two heads are better than one in such cases. Beyond the brook is Farmer Thompson’s field of squashes. “I will not hurt you to- night,” says the herald as he creeps among them; “only a little nip here and a bite there, that the farmer may see to-morrow morning that it is time to take you into the barn.” The turnips stand only on the other side of the fence and cannot fail to know also that the herald has come. But up in Lucy’s flower garden are the heliotropes and fuchsias, tea roses and gera- niums, — delicate, sensitive things, who cannot bear a cold word, it must have been really quite terrible what he said there; for before sunrise the beautiful plants hung black and withered and no care from their mistress, no smiles or kind words, could make them look up again. The ivy had borne it bravely, and only showed on his lower leaves, which lay among the grass, a frosty fringe, where the dew used to hang. My two maples heard the summons and 38 THE TOPAZ STORY BOOK threw off their gay dresses, which withered and faded as they fell in heaps on the side- walk. The next morning, children going to school scuffed ankle-deep among them and laughed with delight. And the maples bravely answered the herald: “Now let him come, your knight of the north wind and the storm and the sleet; we have dropped the gay leaves which he might have torn from us. Let him come ; we have nothing to lose. His snows will only keep our roots the warmer, and his winds cannot blow away the tiny new buds which we cherish, thickly wrapped from the cold, to make new leaves in the spring.” And the elm and the linden and horse-chestnut sent also a like brave answer back by the herald. Over the whole village green went the whis- perer, leaving behind him a white network upon the grass; and before the sun was up to tangle his beams in its meshes and pull it all to pieces, old widow Blake has seen it from her cottage window and said to herself : “Well, winter is coming; I must set up some warm socks for the boys today, and begin little Tom- my’s mittens before the week is out.” WINTER’S HERALD 39 And Farmer Thompson stands at his great barn door, while yet the eastern sky is red, and tells Jake and Ben that the squashes and pumpkins and turnips must all be housed in cellar and barn before night; for a frost like this is warning enough to any man to begin to prepare for winter. 