Page:St. Nicholas - Volume 41, Part 1.djvu/331

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ST. NICHOLAS

Vol. XLI
FEBRUARY, 1914
No. 4

Copyright, 1914, by The Century Co. All rights reserved.

THE MAGIC CUP

BY ARTHUR GUITERMAN

Beryl-green was the lonely water;
Sweet of mien, the Woodman’s Daughter

Cast the clue that the Gray Witch gave,
And softly sang the magic stave:

Fountain-goblins, water-pixies,
Round-eyed sons of the web-foot nixes,

Leave your caves and bring me up
Wizard Merlin’s Magic Cup!”

The glimmering deeps of the pool were troubled,
Ripple-ringed, the water bubbled;

Wriggling, twisting, rose the six
Wry-mouthed sons of the Water Nix,

Clear from the weed-hung caves below,
With a “Hee, hee, hee!” and a “Ho, ho, ho!”

Chuckling mingled mirth and malice,
Lifting high the crystal chalice.

Take the Magic Cup!” they laughed;
Drink the single magic draft!

Beauty, riches, health, or power—
What you wish shall be your dower;

Wish, and quaff, and have!—but know,
When once drained, the cup will go!”

Sank the nixes, calmed the water;
Wonder-eyed, the Woodman’s Daughter

Clasped the cup and fled away,
Through the Woods of Yesterday.

Cup,” she sang, “of crystal rarest,
I shall wish to be the fairest

Ever mortal eye did see;
Then the Prince will marry me!”

Then—she saw before her lying
Prone, a wounded hunter, dying.

Swift, his head she lifted up;
To his lips she pressed the cup.

Drink!” implored the Woodman’s Daughter;
Give him life, O Magic Water!”

Lo! within that ancient wood,
Strong, and young, and brave he stood!

******

Gone is the cup to the deep green water;
But, before the Woodman’s Daughter,

Bending low to kiss her hand,
Kneels the Prince of Fairyland!

Vol. XLI.—37.
289