The Magicians Show Box and Other Stories | Page 9

answered, looking tenderly upon her, "the way is
long and difficult, and many who wish to seek it do not find it. Neither
can I point out the path to you. Each must find it for himself. The
fountain wells forth in a green valley high among the mountains, and
this river on which our village is built flows from it. Yet you cannot
follow the stream up to its source, for it is often lost under ground, or is
hidden among dark caverns. Through these hidden caves I found my
way; but your young feet may try the mountain summits. From these
you will discern the valley, and can descend into it. Yet linger not too
long among shining glaciers, for the cold may come upon you suddenly
in that bright sunshine, and steal your life away. And tread lightly along
the mountain paths, for often the slightest motion will bring down an
avalanche. And, my child, take with you this osier basket, in which lies
a little loaf of bread. Fear not to eat of it every day; but remember
always to leave a crumb, lest you should meet a hungry bird, and have
nothing to give it. And thus will the loaf be always renewed. Do not
forget, and a blessing be upon you."

Rosamond went gravely forth with the osier basket in her hand. As she
passed through the village she could not but long to stay among those
pleasant gardens, and water flowers with the children who were so busy
there; but if she lingered to speak to them, she felt the tightened clasp
of the fillet upon her head, and on she hastened. At first she thought the
mountains quite near; but when she had walked until she was very tired,
they seemed as far off as ever, and so on for several days. At many a
weary milestone she stopped, wondering who had rested there before
her, and whether they had ever found the hidden valley among those
yet distant mountains. At night she staid in some little cottage by the
wayside, always kindly welcomed, and carrying kind wishes with her
when she went away. At noon she would break her little loaf, and dip it
in the stream, remembering to leave a crumb in the basket; and when
she opened the basket for her supper, there would still be the loaf,
whole as ever; and many and many a bird did she feed on her way.
One day when she had been walking a long distance, and was very
hungry, she had forgotten about keeping the crumb, and was just
breaking the last crust, when she heard the quick, sharp cry of a bird in
distress. Looking round she found a wounded sparrow lying on a rock.
She washed the blood from his feathers, and gave him a crumb of the
bread, very thankful that he had prevented her from eating it all, for
then there would have been none left either for the bird or for herself.
She wrapped the sparrow gently in her dress, and carried it with her,
and wherever she went, along the edge of steep precipices, or over the
rough glaciers, through deep snow or amid cold winds, still she
warmed that bird in her bosom and kept it alive. At length she reached
the summit of the mountain, and saw the red sunset slowly become
gray, and the stars come out one by one in the wide, lonely sky. So far
did it stretch around her, on every side, before it touched the horizon;
so near did it seem, above her, that she felt as if she were high in the
heavens, and turning her face towards her village, she thought Alfred
might perhaps see her there, shining among the stars. Ah, foolish little
girl! Her weary feet soon sank beneath her, and she fell asleep upon the
snow. But the bird fluttered and chirped in her bosom, as if it knew
danger were near, and she suddenly awoke. "O, good little sparrow,"
she cried, "if it had not been for you, I should have been frozen to death
in my sleep; but now I will not stay here longer; we will go down into

the valleys."
She began to slide down the mountain, and when the sun rose, saw
beneath her a green, hidden nook, in which stood a solitary tree. She
thought she should reach it immediately; but sometimes her way was
blocked up on all sides, and she had to creep over high rocks, or
through dark chasms, often losing sight of the valley, and fearing she
never should find it. At length, however, she stood safe beneath the
blossoming tree, and there was the sparrow's nest with the young birds
in it. Rosamond fed