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THE GOLDEN RIVER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Ruskin's King of the Golden River。
There was once a beautiful little valley；
where the sun was warm； and the rains fell
softly； its apples were so red； its corn so
yellow； its grapes so blue； that it was called the
Treasure Valley。 Not a river ran into it； but
one great river flowed down the mountains on
the other side； and because the setting sun
always tinged its high cataract with gold after
the rest of the world was dark； it was called the
Golden River。 The lovely valley belonged to
three brothers。 The youngest； little Gluck；
was happy…hearted and kind； but he had a hard
life with his brothers； for Hans and Schwartz
were so cruel and so mean that they were known
everywhere around as the 〃Black Brothers。〃
They were hard to their farm hands； hard to
their customers； hard to the poor； and hardest
of all to Gluck。
At last the Black Brothers became so bad
that the Spirit of the West Wind took
vengeance on them； he forbade any of the gentle
winds； south and west； to bring rain to the
valley。 Then； since there were no rivers in it；
it dried up； and instead of a treasure valley it
became a desert of dry； red sand。 The Black
Brothers could get nothing out of it； and they
wandered out into the world on the other side
of the mountain…peaks； and little Gluck went
with them。
Hans and Schwartz went out every day；
wasting their time in wickedness； but they
left Gluck in the house to work。 And they
lived on the gold and silver they had saved
in Treasure Valley； till at last it was all gone。
The only precious thing left was Gluck's gold
mug。 This the Black Brothers decided to melt
into spoons； to sell； and in spite of Gluck's
tears； they put it in the melting pot； and went
out； leaving him to watch it。
Poor little Gluck sat at the window； trying
not to cry for his dear golden mug； and as the
sun began to go down； he saw the beautiful
cataract of the Golden River turn red； and
yellow； and then pure gold。
〃Oh； dear！〃 he said to himself； 〃how fine
it would be if the river were really golden！
I needn't be poor； then。〃
〃It wouldn't be fine at all！〃 said a thin；
metallic little voice； in his ear。
〃Mercy； what's that！〃 said Gluck； looking
all about。 But nobody was there。
Suddenly the sharp little voice came again。
〃Pour me out；〃 it said； 〃I am too hot！〃
It seemed to come right from the oven； and
as Gluck stood； staring in fright； it came again；
〃Pour me out； I'm too hot！〃
Gluck was very much frightened； but he
went and looked in the melting pot。 When
he touched it； the little voice said； 〃Pour me
out； I say！〃 And Gluck took the handle and
began to pour the gold out。
First came out a tiny pair of yellow legs； then
a pair of yellow coat…tails； then a strange little
yellow body； and； last； a wee yellow face； with
long curls of gold hair。 And the whole put itself
together as it fell； and stood up on the floor；the
strangest little yellow dwarf； about a foot high！
〃Dear； me！〃 said Gluck。
But the little yellow man said； 〃Gluck； do
you know who I am？ I am the King of the
Golden River。〃
Gluck did not know what to say； so he said
nothing； and； indeed； the little man gave him
no chance。 He said； 〃Gluck； I have been
watching you； and what I have seen of you；
I like。 Listen； and I will tell you something
for your good。 Whoever shall climb to the
top of the mountain from which the Golden
River falls； and shall cast into its waters three
drops of holy water； for him and him only shall
its waters turn to gold。 But no one can
succeed except at the first trial； and anyone who
casts unholy water in the river will be turned
into a black stone。〃
And then； before Gluck could draw his breath；
the King walked straight into the hottest flame
of the fire； and vanished up the chimney！
When Gluck's brothers came home； they beat
him black and blue； because the mug was gone。
But when he told them about the King of the
Golden River they quarrelled all night； as to
which should go to get the gold。 At last；
Hans； who was the stronger； got the better
of Schwartz； and started off。 The priest would
not give such a bad man any holy water； so
he stole a bottleful。 Then he took a basket of
bread and wine； and began to climb the mountain。
He climbed fast； and soon came to the end
of the first hill。 But there he found a great
glacier； a hill of ice； which he had never seen
before。 It was horrible to cross；the ice was
slippery； great gulfs yawned before him； and
noises like groans and shrieks came from under
his feet。 He lost his basket of bread and wine；
and was quite faint with fear and exhaustion
when his feet touched firm ground again。
Next he came to a hill of hot； red rock；
without a bit of grass to ease the feet； or a
particle of shade。 After an hour's climb he
was so thirsty that he felt that he must drink。
He looked at the flask of water。 〃Three drops
are enough；〃 he thought； 〃I will just cool my
lips。〃 He was lifting the flask to his lips when
he saw something beside him in the path。 It
was a small dog； and it seemed to be dying
of thirst。 Its tongue was out； its legs were
lifeless； and a swarm of black ants were crawling
about its lips。 It looked piteously at the
bottle which Hans held。 Hans raised the bottle；
drank； kicked at the animal； and passed on。
A strange black shadow came across the
blue sky。
Another hour Hans climbed； the rocks grew
hotter and the way steeper every moment。 At
last he could bear it no longer； he must drink。
The bottle was half empty； but he decided to
drink half of what was left。 As he lifted it；
something moved in the path beside him。 It
was a child； lying nearly dead of thirst on the
rock； its eyes closed； its lips burning； its breath
coming in gasps。 Hans looked at it； drank；
and passed on。
A dark cloud came over the sun； and long
shadows crept up the mountain…side。
It grew very steep now； and the air weighed
like lead on Hans's forehead； but the Golden
River was very near。 Hans stopped a moment
to breathe； then started to climb the last height。
As he clambered on； he saw an old； old man
lying in the path。 His eyes were sunken； and
his face deadly pale。
〃Water！〃 he said； 〃water！〃
〃I have none for you；〃 said Hans； 〃you have
had your share of life。〃 He strode over the old
man's body and climbed on。
A flash of blue lightning dazzled him for an
instant； and then the heavens were dark。
At last Hans stood on the brink of the cataract
of the Golden River。 The sound of its roaring
filled the air。 He drew the flask from his
side and hurled it into the torrent。 As he did
so； an icy chill shot through him； he shrieked
and fell。 And the river rose and flowed over
The Black Stone
When Hans did not come back Gluck grieved；
but Schwartz was glad。 He decided to go and
get the gold for himself。 He thought it might
not do to steal the holy water； as Hans had done；
so he took the money little Gluck had earned；
and bought holy water of a bad priest。 Then he
took a basket of bread and wine； and started off。
He came to the great hill of ice； and was as
surprised as Hans had been； and found it as hard
to cross。 Many times he slipped； and he was
much frightened at the noises； and was very glad
to get across； although he had lost his basket of
bread and wine。 Then he came to the same hill
of sharp； red stone； without grass or shade； that
Hans had climbed。 And like Hans he became
very thirsty。 Like Hans； too； he decided to
drink a little of the water。 As he raised it to
his lips； he suddenly saw the same fair child that
Hans had seen。
〃Water！〃 said the child。 〃Water！ I am
dying。〃