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[Pg 51] <h2>The Grass of Parnassus.</h2> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> On the banks of a clear stream in one of the far away Greek islands, grew a small flowering plant, with delicate stem and transparent white flower, called "Grass of Parnassus." Every day it saw its own face, reflected in the running water, and every day it made the same complaint— "This place is beautiful, the soft earth wraps me round, the branches bend over me, but I can never be happy, for I have never seen a River-God!" The fish swimming close to the shore had talked to the Grass, of the mysterious race who lived in the shallows of the river, higher up, where it broadened into a lake; and played on their rude pipes as they rested in the flickering gloom of the water-weeds and rushes. "Everyone has seen the River-Gods but me!" said the white flower. "The wind brings me the floating sound of their piping—I can even hear their laughter, and the echo of their voices. Yet they do not come, and I may wither, and never have the happiness I long for!" But one day, the river-side thrilled, with a strange, new[Pg 52] feeling of hope and expectation. The sun shone, a faint breeze stirred the trees; and down the stream waded a beautiful youth, carrying his pipes in his hand, blowing a few notes mournfully, at long intervals. His hair, crowned with an ivy wreath, hung down, curled and tangled; his hoof-feet splashed in the shallows of the water, and he cried— "Nadiä! Nadiä! Where are you hiding—Why do you not come to me?" The white flower remained, enchanted and motionless, upon its stem, bending its yellow eye upon the stranger. "Nadiä! Nadiä!" the voice wailed, "Do not hide from me any more!—Come to me!" The bushes rustled and parted; a delicate girl's face looked out, and a wood nymph in floating garments, slid to the side of the stream, and dabbled her white feet in the water. The youth gave a cry of joy; "I have found you, Nadiä! I have piped to you, and called to you till I was weary; but I loved you, and at last I have found you!" The wood nymph smiled as she sat in the flickering shadows—and the River-God bending down, gathered the Grass of Parnassus, and placed it timidly in her shining tresses. The wish of the white flower had been fulfilled; but the end of its life's longing was—Death. <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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