Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1891 — THE GOLDEN KEY. [ARTICLE]

THE GOLDEN KEY.

AlMqrM*. High up on the side of the mountain was a great cavern, and everyone believed that h£ who entered it was sure to meet with some misfortune; so it was called the “Accursed Cavern." All the shepherds gazed at it from a distance with' terror and no one dared to approach it. However, Florine, a little sheperdess, felt a violent desire to know what there was in this cave, and day by day her curiosity increased. When she was sixteen years old she said to herself! “Now I have become a great girl, I ought to have no fear. ” So one day she. left the sheep in the care of a younger brother, telling him she was going to pick raspberries ; but she had quite another intention, and as soon as she was hidden by the trees she directed her steps toward the famous cavern. She entered it without the slightest hesitation, so great was her curiosity; but she had hardly advanced a few steps when she would very gladly have turned back. ’ Unfortunately this was no longer possible. The cavern closed behind her as she went on, but singularly enough there was still light enough for her to find her way. Away below her Florine saw another opening in the mountain, and she took courage and went on. She pursued her way tremblingly, for she thought that |this cavern might also close itself before her, and then she would be buried alive in the mountain. But nothing of the sort occurred. Florine. after walking a long, long time, still seeing far before her the opening which she thought she should never reach, finally arrived at the end, and was surprised, on coming out of this subterranean avenue, to find herself in a marvelous country, amid a thousand things which she had never dreamed of. The sky was rose-colored, the grass and the leaves were blue, the birds had four wings and the smallest butterflies were as large as palm leaves. The young girl walked on and new Kuprises greeted her at every step. Finally, behind some massive trees, the like of which she had never seen before,, she heard the sound of hu-

man voices. She turned her steps in that direction. At the turning of an avenue paved with gold she saw at a short distance a palace of wonderful beauty. As she approached it she heard .the sound of singing and laughter, the singular expression of which caused her more fright than joy. However she did not see a single person appear. She did not dare present herself at the grand entrance, and going around the building she approached a low window from which came the odor of coo king, the most appetizing odor you can imagine. She knocked timidly at the door. A groat cook appeared, who said to her hastily: “What do you want here?” “I have lost my way and beg you to tell me how I can return home. ” “Ah! it is you my beauty, who has passed through the mountain ! You are weloome Florine. We were only waiting for you. ' * THE GOLDEN KEY. As he uttered these words with a grim smile the great cook sharpened his knife upon a steel sharpener and cast upon the young girl a wicked look.

“Come in, miss," he said. “Come in; this is the way for yon toga” Florine, after passing through a long corridor, found herself in a vast kitchen, where twenty scullions and other servants were busily engaged in preparing a sumptuous repast. Thirty large iron pots were emKto cook the various meats, e shepherdess was surprised at seeing the largest standing open and emptv near the fire, ana, notwithstanding her terror, she said in a low voice: “Why is not this pot filled like the rest?” - “It is waiting tor its piece of meat," replied the cook, “and that has just arrived at this very moment. It4s you. Florine. that we are going to put into that, and when you are well I done the banquet will begin.” Florine began to weep, and entreated the cook to spare her life. ‘ ‘There is only one means of escape, miss," replied the terrible cook. ! “Here is a gold key; seek through 1 the palace for a door which it will yotiiu the pot. and we will take another person for his majesty’s'repast ” "‘ln heaven’s name. Mr. Cook, don't put anybody into that pot in my j place. Are there not sufficient viands already for his majesty?” “Florine. think of* yourself and j don’t attempt to establish new customs in our place. I have only one thing to sav to you; find the' lock which the key fits and you will be saved. You can then ask a favor, but only one, of our sacred majesty." Florine set to work at once; she tried the key in more than 300 locks. She had only the remainder of the day to complete her task, and the «un was already sinking Jn the west and -she had not yet found the lock which the key fitted. She trembled with poor fright, poor child. The cook and four scullions followed her, step by step, armed frith great knives, and in turn they said to the pretty sheperdess: “Hurry, Florine, the sun is setJting; the sun is setting, Florine, € hurry r* She had been through all the apartments, great and small, she had

mounted to the roof; she had gone down into the cellar; she had not left one lock untried, but the key was ai- j ways too large or too small. Finally I the cook said to her: “Florine, this is the last moment; the sun is almost down. The little sheperdess was standing before a large mirror fastened to the wall,'and as she cast her eyes upon it she saw her father and her mother seated in their little home: they were weeping, and doubtless they were grieving for their lost daughter. Ah! they little imagined the cruel position she was then m. ; At the sight of them the unfortunate girl, utterly beside herself, cried: “My poor parents! thank heaven I see you once more before dying!! 1 — As she spoke she threw herself so violently toward her parents to embrace them that the gold key, striking against the glass, broke it into a thousand pieces. Behind the mirror she saw a secret door; this door had a lock, and this lock the gold key fitted perfectly. As soon as the young girl tried it the door opened. She saw before her a magnificent room, at one end of which rose a golden throne,-and upon this throne sat a young and handsome monarch, surrounded by courtiers in most gorgeous costumes. The king advanced toward the young sheperdess and said: “We were only waiting for you. amiable Florine/' Florine cast her eyes upon herself and saw that she had become completely transformed.* However, there was nothing changed about her except her dress, which sparkled with diamonds. She had been born beautiful, and there was no need for anything else to make her an accomplished princess. FI.ORINE BECOMES A QUEEN. But in the midst of all this dazzling splendor the young monarch was sad and pensive; he seemed disturbed by some secret trouble, and, as he conducted the stranger to the banquet table, he said to her: “Charming Florine, you can ask one favor of me. What do you desire?'’ “Ah! sire,” she replied, “I should not'hesitate to ask you to return me to my poor parents, but your happiness and your glory interest me more than all else besides, and that is why I ask of you the pardon of

every unfortunate who may, as I have done, fall into the hands'of your cook.” She had hardly pronounced these unselfish words when a triumphant strain of music filled the banquet hall. All faces became radiant, the prince especially seemed perfectly delighted, and every shadow of pain and anxiety passed from his brow. “Oh, my liberator!” he cried, kissing Florine’s hand, “may heaven bless you for making this request. It is for me that you have done it. Happy prayer, which I have waited for for 500 years, and which delivers me from a frightful enchantment. You are the first, oh, Florine, who, having a favor to ask of me, have forgotten yourself for the sake of others. Henceforth I can lead an innocent life. My royal table will no longer be polluted with detestable meats, which, it is true, I never touched,but the sight of which filled me with horror. In gratitude for so great a benefit I wish, beautiful Florine, to do something more for you.” “Ah! sire, I understand. You will restore me to my father and my mother?” “That I cannot do.” ‘ ‘Then vou will bring them to their daughter?”

“Alas! what then can you do for me?” “I will send a red bird, my faithful messenger, to tell your parents that you are my wife, and that there is no queen on earth so dearly loved as you are.” So Florine became a queen. She was a wife, a happy mother; but her tearful eyes often turned toward the mountain, behind which remained half of her happiness. There is not, even in fairy land, perfect felicity here below.