LEGENDS***


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[Illustration]


THE CRYSTAL PALACE
AND OTHER LEGENDS

Retold by

MARIE H. FRARY

and

CHARLES M. STEBBINS

With Illustrations by Herbert E. Martini






Stebbins and Company
New York
Publishers

Copyright, 1909
by
Stebbins and Company




PREFACE


Legends have a fascination for all classes of people, but they possess
a peculiar charm for children. They constitute, in fact, a form of
literature particularly fitting to the mental world of the child.
In them fact and fancy are happily blended. Around the bare facts
of recorded or unrecorded history, are woven the poetic ideals of a
romantic people.

Nothing could be more worth a child’s reading than a story of the past
that conveys not only an idea of the everyday life of real people,
but represents them also as striving after ideals in various forms of
beauty.

No influence is greater than the moral force of beauty. In the present
volume the purpose of the writers has been to present only such
legends as reveal simplicity, strength, and beauty. These qualities
make their inevitable appeal to the child fancy.

The subject matter of the book has been graded for children of eight
or ten years. It is, therefore, well suited for use as a supplementary
reader in the fourth or fifth grade.




TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                         PAGE

    THE CRYSTAL PALACE                      7

    THE ANGEL PAGE                         13

    THE GNOME’S ROAD                       21

    THE LORELEI                            26

    THE SUNKEN CITY                        31

    THE BIRD OF PARADISE                   39

    THE BELL OF ATRI                       48

    THE POT OF HOT PORRIDGE                53

    THE SILVER BELL                        57

    THE TWO BAKER BOYS                     66

    THE EMPEROR’S WOOING                   70

    THE MAGIC RING                         76

    CHARLEMAGNE’S GENEROSITY               83

    THE SILVER BRIDGE                      89

    THE PET RAVEN                          93

    THE NIGHT OF THE STOLEN TREASURE      101

    THE WATER SPRITES                     106

    THE GIANT MAIDEN                      109

    THE SWAN KNIGHT                       113




THE CRYSTAL PALACE


Many, many years ago there lived in the village of Zurdorf, a queer
little old woman. She was a very kind old lady and a good nurse. Often
she was called upon to care for the boys and girls of the village.

They quite enjoyed being ill because she knew so many interesting
stories. She told them of great knights and ladies, of castles and
fairies, of the wood nymphs and the water sprites; but best of all was
the story of old Father Rhine.

One night as she sat knitting, a knock came at the cottage door. She
opened it and there stood a strange man, carrying a lantern of curious
pattern. He did not speak, but motioned to her to follow him.

The night was dark, and the rain was pouring down in torrents. Great
pools were found in the streets. Aunt Margot, as the children called
the old lady, hesitated to follow the stranger. It was not, however,
because she was afraid of the storm, but because the man was a stranger.

He motioned to her again. She saw that his face was kindly, and so
decided to follow him. Down the dark street they passed, splashing
through the deep pools of water.

Suddenly the water became deeper, and began to eddy about Margot’s
ankles. She became frightened and was about to turn and flee.

“I can go no farther,” she shouted; “what manner of man art thou, and
whither wouldst thou lead me?”

The old man did not answer, but caught Margot in his arms and plunged
into the river Rhine. It had risen from its banks, and its eddying
waters had frightened Margot.

Down, down, through cold green waters they sank. It seemed to Margot
as if she were going down forever. She closed her eyes and ceased to
struggle.

At last they seemed to have passed out of the water, and Margot opened
her eyes. She found herself in a wonderful crystal palace. Precious
stones glittered all about her. The ornaments were of silver and gold.
As soon as she had recovered from her wonder, she was led into an
immense chamber. Here on a bed of crystal, with silken coverings, lay a
beautiful golden haired nymph, who was ill.

“I have brought you here,” said the old man, “to care for my beautiful
wife