Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

"The owl, you know, cannot see distinctly what is around him in daytime because the light is too great. So he imagines, and suspects all kind of things. So the other day he called a tom-tit up to him, and what do you think he told the little bird?"

"What?"

"He told him that he had heard a rustling in the bushes not far from where he sat; and he hinted that some of the larger birds were forming a conspiracy against the smaller birds, and all the innocently natured birds, and all the little birdlets in the nests. That he feared they intended to metamorphose all the little birds and birdlets into little snakes, or something of the kind. That he had heard something! Very naturally, tomtit gave the alarm." "Hark ye," said the dove, "did I not tell you? That fearful voice from the woods says the same in effect, only not so clearly, and not in words."

"Don't be alarmed," said the woodpecker. "I often hammer the hollow tree, when the wood-worm has nothing to fear. It is habit -and something must be allowed to the owl in the same way. He is perhaps experimenting; and he will have something to chuckle over through the dreary day, as he sits blind, and turns his heavy head and rolls his big eyes, in the hollow tree, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has made some stir among the birds. The birds shall know that he is about, even if he cannot see."

By this time the robin began to get over the fright which the timidity of the dove had also produced in him, and he undertook to

say:

"Besides, you know, the owl has a reputation to sustain. By some means or other-some think by his habit of solemn and awful thinking, others on account of his startling and stunning mode of utterance he has gotten, among some human nations, the reputation of being the bird of wisdom. This he must needs know; and if he does not know, he must guess; but as even guessing may be dangerous to one's reputation, he must suppose, suggest, suspect, or insinuate."

"You have heard the word Boogaboo?" asked the woodpecker. "Yes," replied the dove.

"Do you know from what it is derived ?"

"No; never looked into that matter; but it means some imaginary evil being, who hides himself in covert, or is supposed to be there."

"Right-some black man in the dark, with whose salutary nearness mothers are wont to frighten their children into obedience and piety."

"So I have always understood it," said the dove.

"But the origin of the name. That is the question before us. Know then that the Latin people called the owl Bobo. This name

it evidently got from the sound of its voice; for if you sound the o's a little long and dolefully, you have a noise very much like that made by the owl. Now, as the owl is in the habit of giving forth those ghostly and fearful bodings, which from their awful indis

tinct suggestiveness, are so well calculated to inspire the timid. with dread, he has become proverbial for frightening children. Hence all those imaginary beings which serve the same purpose, derive their name from the sound he makes. Thus we have Bobo, -and then, by an easy transition-boogaboo!"

"But do you think," said the dove, "there is nothing in the story he told the tomtit?"

"No; not any more than there is to be feared from those imaginary beings who are namesakes of his."

"But are not the rest of the birds alarmed?"

"Not a bit of it. They are not children, to be humbugged by the mere suspicions of that ghostly oracle, who, with all his fearful soundings, can go no farther than to hint to tomtit that he heard something! Among human beings, when a mother throws up her hand before her face, looks awful, and says in a stern voice to her children: 'Do you hear something in the dark room?' They hear something, of course! At least, they think they hear something; and she has gained her end—that is, she has gained an end. The little ones are alarmed; whether they are made better by this kind of frightening discipline, moralists are not agreed. To me it is doubtful."

"I have seen," said the wren, who had also been present for some time, but had kept silent, "I have seen on such occasions, when I happened to be hopping near the kitchen door in search of crumbs, that the larger children understand the same; and when their mother hints about the black man in the dark, they look at each other and titter, as much as to say, 'We are too old to be frightened by the man in the dark."

[ocr errors]

"But the conspiracy!" said the dove, still somewhat anxious. "Pshaw!" said the robin, "even the owl did not see a conspiracy; he only hinted that there might be something of the kind, and said he had heard something! He may have heard the echo of his own frightening boo-hoo! for all we know."

"Turn the little birds and birdlets into little serpents!" said the woodpecker, with a scornful look. "Who ever heard of such nonsense? That is more easily suspected than done. Besides each bird is naturally concerned for the honor of the whole bird generation. Even if the large birds had the power to do such a graceless thing, would not every bird feel ashamed to have its fellow-birds, even though they be small, crawling about as little snakes, and have everybody pointing at them, and saying in contempt, These belong to your generation!' I tell you the thing is absurd!"

At this point, the humming bird, who had come to the conference some time before, unannounced, having just at that time a brave and philosophical spell on him, beckoned, opened his mouth, and said:

"Gentlemen, being, as I am, one of the smallest of birds, I may be allowed to say, that in my humble judgment, the metamorphosis proposed, hinted at, suggested, and insinuated, does not fall within the range of either physical, pschycological, or moral possibility.

It is a thing unnecessary, therefore it is useless; it would be cruel, therefore it is unlikely; it is impossible, and therefore it is ridiculous!"

Just at that moment the ghostly sound from the dark woods was heard once more, and if possible "somewhat louder than before!" "Boo! Boo! Boo-00-00! To-whoo-oo! Ou-ou-ou!"

Then the birds held one ear down, as birds do when they listen, looked at each other, and when they had given a hearty laugh, they flew away to attend to their business as before.

And the dove said "What an owl that is!"

ALEXANDER AND THE FOUNTAIN OF IMMORTALITY.

A PERSIAN LEGEND.

FROM THE GERMAN OF MEISSNER.

BY THE EDITOR.

The bold Macedonian, Alexander, son of Philip, had already warred and conquered during a period of twelve years. Greece, Persia, Scythia, India and Egypt, the largest and most beautiful part of the earth as then known, already owned his sceptre. History already unanimously joined to call him Great. His subjects honored in him a present divinity. No monarch ventured to measure strength with him; and in whatever direction he turned his arms, messengers came to him when yet at a distance to offer him subjection. Still his insatiable spirit was not at rest.

At

Ever since a certain Magus, or Sage, had related to him that somewhere in a sequestered part of the earth there was to be found the Fountain of Immortality-a spring from which flowed water possessing the virtue of renewing the youth of all things-ever since that time this monarch had less desire for the conquest of new lands, but only the more longing for this fountain. The fact that all earthly power is disturbing in its character, and that all glitter of greatness is evanescent, Alexander had often confessed in a half audible manner, but still more frequently sighed over in secret. the death of a dear friend the thought of immortality took hold powerfully upon his spirit. True, he called himself the son of Ammon, but he still felt himself to be human. Perpetually, therefore, did that wonderful well float before the vision of his spirit. Therethere only, he hoped to make his life, and his greatness at the same time, imperishable. Of every sage of the Orient did he solicit his opinion. All these guessed, supposed, and contended among one another; no one knew anything definitely in regard to it. At length Alexander called to him also his own teacher, the renowned Aristotle.

Far from the campaigns and encampments of his royal pupil, this

illustrious teacher had meanwhile resided in Athens, where he taught, and also unweariedly studied for himself. His ardent thirst after knowledge and wisdom caused him often to deny himself of all enjoyments by day, and even of sleep at night. It was with great reluctance that he now came forth from his philosophical retirement; with still more unpleasantness did he hear the question propounded to him for answer by the king. Why he put that question he could easily guess; and he already made up his mind to evade all responsibility for consequences-or rather all personal participation in those consequences by a plea of ignorance, when he reminded himself that to speak the truth is the indispensable duty of a wise man. Accordingly he confessed that he also had read many things in ancient manuscripts in regard to this Fountain of Immortality. Yet immeasureable, he said, and for mortals almost insurmountable are the difficulties which stand in the way of those who seek for it. To the divinity itself the struggling toward it even appeared unpleasant; that it seems like a wish to interfere with the wheel of human fate, and could be regarded, on closer consideration, as a frivolous absurdity. For by a continuance on this earth the way to another, and as it would seem, a much better world, would be barred.

The sense and meaning of these words were sufficiently plain; still Alexander did not wish to understand them. Whoever pointed out to him danger in any undertaking, thereby recommended it to him; and to one whom the whole earth had already acknowledged as conqueror, a warfare against fate itself seemed almost the only enterprise that remained suitable to his courage. Hence he insisted only the more that the sage should tell him all he knew, or even guessed, of this wonderful fountain. At length Aristotle yielded; opened to him the whole treasure of his knowledge on the subject; and as early as the third day Alexander with his hosts took up the march. That Aristotle was required, unwilling as he was, to accompany him, may be readily supposed.

To relate all that occurred on the way would be as unnecessary as it is impossible. True, at least ten historians followed the ambitious monarch on his way; and they wrote thick and ponderous works on his deeds, which have perhaps perished, for this reason, that they were too particular and comprehensive. Only anecdotes have escaped the devastating stream of time, and deserve in even a hasty narrative a little room.

His accompanying host had reached a point at least two or three hundred miles beyond Alexandria, when the conqueror of the world heard of a hermit who lived to one side in the wilderness, and who was regarded far and wide as a holy man, and was said to know a thousand things unknown to ordinary men. Alexander desired to see him; went with a large escort to his hut, and stood in the door. The hermit, just engaged in reading, did not arise; he merely cast a single derisive glance at the monarch, and a second repressed smile on his followers, and read on in the book which lay before him. Perdicas, the chief of Alexander's retinue, reproached the hermit on account of his conduct.

"And why," said the hermit, "should I arise? Why should I humble myself before the slave of my slaves?"

"I a slave of your slaves!" exclaimed Alexander in great surprise. "At least explain yourself; for this I cannot understand." "Because, alas! you so little understand yourself. Are you not a slave of your passions, which I have learned to make subject to myself?"

"And Aristotle ?-do you also regard him unworthy of your respect?"

"I have heard many good things of him; have also seen proofs of his wisdom. Let him be seated here on my bench, if he chooses to do so. But he will permit me to say that I am surprised to see him in your retinue. Silent wisdom by the side of idle glory; virtue by the side of tyranny; desire of knowledge by the side of love of conquest, that is, the lamb is hitched with the wolf, the deer with the tiger."

In spite of this certainly not very flattering reception, Alexander still adhered to his purpose, and inquired of the blunt man his views in regard to the Fountain of Immortality. He required an answer, which was given with a readiness over which Alexander could not conceal his surprise.

"Do not on this account praise me too much," said the hermit. "It is our duty not to withhold from our fellow men the knowledge we have gathered. Besides this, yet hope that the eternal foresight will make even the truth in your case a snare; and I rejoice to see the enemy of humanity on a path which leads tenfold more certainly to a speedy death than to unlimited life."

Alexander smiled, forgave him, and moved forward. Some hundred miles farther on he entered the country of the Brahmins, those sages of India, who follow the teachings of Brahma, regarding this earthly life as a mere passage-as a probation; who believe that in every living thing they meet a soul allied to their own; who hold to the doctrine of transmigration of spirits from one body to another; who frequently condemn themselves to poverty, nakedness, and not seldom to painful ordeals, and spend almost their whole lives in abstract contemplation on the origin of things, and the nature of higher beings. Here also the son of Philip sought out some of the most renowned; but here also he found himself treated with contempt, at least with aversion.

"Insatiable, blood thirsty Greek," they exclaimed. "Why you are so reluctant to die is easily seen! You have a foreshadowing of your future fate."

"And that is-?"

"To be compelled to inhabit the body of a lion, or of a rattlesnake!-to find all animals fear and flee from you, to be loved by not a single one; tormented by unsatisfied hunger; rove through burnt solitudes; to tear the flesh from everything that comes near you; to breathe vengeance after everything that flies before you, and finally, either to die of unsated desire, or to fall by the sword of a mightier one! Conqueror of countries, subjector of nations, this is your destiny!"

« ZurückWeiter »