diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17825-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 98015 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17825-h/17825-h.htm | 1109 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17825-h/images/bhillus01.jpg | bin | 0 -> 38332 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17825-h/images/bhillus02.jpg | bin | 0 -> 43493 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17825.txt | 722 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17825.zip | bin | 0 -> 13106 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 1847 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17825-h.zip b/17825-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..37bac49 --- /dev/null +++ b/17825-h.zip diff --git a/17825-h/17825-h.htm b/17825-h/17825-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2dffa6 --- /dev/null +++ b/17825-h/17825-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1109 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Legend of the Bleeding-heart, by Annie Fellows Johnston</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 65%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body {margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Legend of the Bleeding-heart, by Annie +Fellows Johnston</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Legend of the Bleeding-heart</p> +<p>Author: Annie Fellows Johnston</p> +<p>Release Date: February 22, 2006 [eBook #17825]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING-HEART***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by David Garcia, Sjaani,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/">http://www.pgdp.net/</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Kentuckiana Digital Library + (<a href="http://kdl.kyvl.org/">http://kdl.kyvl.org/</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" cellpadding="10" style="background-color: #ccccff;"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through the Electronic + Text Collection of Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + <a href="http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1&idno=B92-277-32008329&view=toc"> + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1&idno=B92-277-32008329&view=toc</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 325px;"> +<img src="images/bhillus01.jpg" width="325" height="550" alt="Title Page" title="Title Page" /> +</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 325px;"> +<img src="images/bhillus02.jpg" width="325" height="550" +alt="Olga, holding it in the hollow of her hands, offered him the water" +title="Olga, holding it in the hollow of her hands, offered him the water" /> +</div> + +<h1><i>The LEGEND <br /> +OF THE<br /> +BLEEDING-HEART</i></h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Author of "The Little Colonel Series," "Big +Brother," "Joel: A Boy of Galilee," +"Keeping Tryst," etc.</i></p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">BOSTON<br /> +<i>L. C. PAGE & COMPANY</i><br /> +1907</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Copyright, 1900</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By L. C. Page & Company</span><br /> +(<span class="smcap">INCORPORATED</span>)</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Copyright, 1907</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By L. C. Page & Company</span><br /> +(<span class="smcap">INCORPORATED</span>)</p> + +<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> + +<p class="center">First Impression, July, 1907</p> + +<p class="center"><i>COLONIAL PRESS<br /> +Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.<br /> +Boston, U. S. A.</i></p> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h3>IN MEMORY<br /> +OF THE ONES THAT GREW<br /> +SO LONG AGO,<br /> +IN OLD "Aunt Nancy's" GARDEN.</h3> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p><!-- Page 1 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h1><i>The Legend of the +Bleeding-heart</i></h1> + + +<p>In days of old, when all +things in the Wood had +speech, there lived within its +depths a lone Flax-spinner. +She was a bent old creature, +and ill to look upon, but all +the tongues of all the forest +leaves were ever kept a-wagging +with the story of her<!-- Page 2 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +kindly deeds. And even to +this day they sometimes +whisper low among themselves +(because they fain +would hold in mind so +sweet a tale) the story of +her kindness to the little +orphan, Olga.</p> + +<p>'Twas no slight task the +old Flax-spinner took upon +herself, the day she brought +the helpless child to share +the shelter of her thatch.<!-- Page 3 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +The Oak outside her door +held up his arms in solemn +protest.</p> + +<p>"Thou dost but waste +thyself," he said. "Thy +benefits will be forgot, thy +labours unrequited. For +Youth is ever but another +title for Ingratitude."</p> + +<p>"Nay, friend," the old +Flax-spinner said. "My little +Olga will not be ungrateful +and forgetful."<!-- Page 4 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p>All hedged about with +loving care, the orphan grew +to gracious maidenhood, and +felt no lack of father, +mother, brother or sister. +In every way the old Flax-spinner +took their places. +But many were the sacrifices +that she made to keep +her fed and warmly clad, +and every time she went +without herself that Olga +might receive a greater<!-- Page 5 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +share, Wiseacre Oak looked +down and frowned and +shook his head.</p> + +<p>Then would the old dame +hasten to her inner room, +and there she pricked herself +with her spindle, until a +great red drop of her heart's +blood fell into her trembling +hand. With witchery of +words she blew upon it, +and rolled it in her palm, +and muttering, turned and<!-- Page 6 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +turned and turned it. And +as the spell was laid upon it, +it shrivelled into a tiny +round ball like a seed, and +she strung it on a thread +where were many others like +it, saying, "By this she will +remember. She will not be +ungrateful and forgetful."</p> + +<p>So years went by, and +Olga grew in goodness and +in beauty, and helped the +old Flax-spinner in her tasks<!-- Page 7 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +as blithely and as willingly +as if she were indeed her +daughter. Every morning +she brought water from the +spring, gathered the wild +fruits of the woods, and +spread the linen on the +grass to bleach. At such +times would the bent old +foster-mother hold herself +erect, and call up to the +Oak, "Dost see? Thou'rt +wrong! Youth is <i>not</i> an<!-- Page 8 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>other +title for Ingratitude."</p> + +<p>"Thou hast not lived as +long as I," would be the +only answer.</p> + +<p>One day as Olga was +wandering by the spring, +searching for watercresses, +the young Prince of the +castle rode by on his prancing +charger. A snow-white +plume waved in his hat, and +a shining silver bugle hung<!-- Page 9 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +from his shoulder, for he +had been following the +chase.</p> + +<p>He was thirsty and tired, +and asked for a drink, but +there was no cup with +which to dip the water +from the spring. But Olga +caught the drops as they +bubbled out from the spring, +holding them in the hollow +of her beautiful white hands, +and reaching up to where<!-- Page 10 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +he sat, offered him the +sparkling water. So gracefully +was it done, that the +Prince was charmed by her +modest manner as well as +her lovely face, and baring +his head when he had +slaked his thirst, he touched +the white hands with his +lips.</p> + +<p>Before he rode away he +asked her name and where +she lived. The next day a<!-- Page 11 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +courier in scarlet and gold +stopped at the door of the +cottage and invited Olga to +the castle. Princesses and +royal ladies from all over +the realm were to be entertained +there, seven days and +seven nights. Every night +a grand ball was to be +given, and Olga was summoned +to each of the balls. +It was because of her pleasing +manner and her great<!-- Page 12 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +beauty that she had been +bidden.</p> + +<p>The old Flax-spinner +courtesied low to the courier +and promised that Olga +should be at the castle +without fail.</p> + +<p>"But, good dame," cried +Olga, when the courier had +gone, "prithee tell me why +thou didst make such a +promise, knowing full well +this gown of tow is all I<!-- Page 13 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +own. Wouldst have me +stand before the Prince in +beggar's garb? Better to +bide at home for aye than +be put to shame before such +guests."</p> + +<p>"Have done, my child!" +the old dame said. "Thou +shalt wear a court robe of +the finest. Years have I +toiled to have it ready, but +that is naught. I loved +thee as my own."<!-- Page 14 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then once more the old +Flax-spinner went into her +inner room, and pricked herself +with her spindle till +another great red drop of +her heart's blood fell into +her trembling hand. With +witchery of words she blew +upon it, and rolled it in her +palm, and muttering, turned +and turned and turned it. +And as the spell was laid +upon it, it shrivelled into a<!-- Page 15 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +tiny round ball like a seed, +and she strung it on to a +thread, where were many +others like it. Seventy +times seven was the number +of beads on this strange +rosary.</p> + +<p>When the night of the +first ball rolled around, Olga +combed her long golden hair +and twined it with a wreath +of snowy water-lilies, and +then she stood before the<!-- Page 16 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +old dame in her dress of +tow. To her wonderment +and grief she saw there was +no silken robe in waiting, +only a string of beads to clasp +around her white throat. +Each bead in the necklace +was like a little shrivelled +seed, and Olga's eyes filled +with tears of disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Obey me and all will be +well," said the old woman.<!-- Page 17 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When thou reachest the +castle gate clasp one bead in +thy fingers and say:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'For love's sweet sake, in my hour of need,<br /> +Blossom and deck me, little seed.'</p></div> + +<p>Straightway right royally +shalt thou be clad. But remember +carefully the charm. +Only to the magic words, +'For love's sweet sake' will +the necklace give up its +treasures. If thou shouldst<!-- Page 18 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +forget, then thou must be +doomed always to wear thy +gown of tow."</p> + +<p>So Olga sped on her +moon-lighted way through +the forest until she came to +the castle gate. There she +paused, and grasping a bead +of the strange necklace between +her fingers, repeated +the old dame's charm:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For love's sweet sake, in my hour of need,<br /> +Blossom and deck me, little seed."</p></div><p><!-- Page 19 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>Immediately the bead +burst with a little puff as if +a seed pod had snapped +asunder. A faint perfume +surrounded her, rare and +subtle as if it had been +blown across from some +flower of Eden. Olga +looked down and found herself +enveloped in a robe of +such delicate texture, that +it seemed soft as a rose-leaf +and as airy as pink clouds<!-- Page 20 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +that sometimes float across +the sunset. The water-lilies +in her hair had become a +coronal of opals.</p> + +<p>When she entered the +great ball-room, the Prince +of the castle started up from +his throne in amazement. +Never before had he seen +such a vision of loveliness. +"Surely," said he, "some +rose of Paradise hath found +a soul and drifted earthward<!-- Page 21 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +to blossom here." And all +that night he had eyes for +none but her.</p> + +<p>The next night Olga +started again to the castle +in her dress of tow, and at +the gate she grasped the +second bead in her fingers, +repeating the charm. This +time the pale yellow of the +daffodils seemed to have +woven itself into a cloth of +gold for her adorning. It<!-- Page 22 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +was like a shimmer of +moon-beams, and her hair +held the diamond flashings +of a hundred tiny stars.</p> + +<p>That night the Prince paid +her so many compliments +and singled her out so often +to bestow his favours, that +Olga's head was turned. +She tossed it proudly, and +quite scorned the thought of +the humble cottage which +had given her shelter so<!-- Page 23 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +long. The next day when +she had returned to her +gown of tow and was no +longer a haughty court lady, +but only Olga, the Flax-spinner's +maiden, she repined +at her lot. Frowning, +she carried the water from +the spring. Frowning, she +gathered the cresses and +plucked the woodland fruit. +And then she sat all day by +the spring, refusing to<!-- Page 24 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +spread the linen on the +grass to bleach.</p> + +<p>She was discontented +with the old life of toil, +and pouted crossly because +duties called her when she +wanted to do nothing but +sit idly dreaming of the gay +court scenes in which she +had taken a bright brief +part. The old Flax-spinner's +fingers trembled as she +spun, when she saw the<!-- Page 25 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +frowns, for she had given +of her heart's blood to buy +happiness for this maiden +she loved, and well she +knew there can be no happiness +where frowns abide. +She felt that her years of +sacrifice had been in vain, +but when the Oak wagged +his head she called back +waveringly, "My little Olga +will not be ungrateful and +forgetful!"<!-- Page 26 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>That night outside the +castle gate, Olga paused. +She had forgotten the +charm. The day's discontent +had darkened her +memory as storm-clouds +darken the sky. But she +grasped her necklace imperiously.</p> + +<p>"Deck me at once!" she +cried in a haughty tone. +"Clothe me more beautifully +than mortal maid was<!-- Page 27 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +ever clad before, so that I +may find favour in the +Prince's sight and become +the bride of the castle! I +would that I were done for +ever with the spindle and +the distaff!"</p> + +<p>But the moon went under +a cloud and the wind began +to moan around the turrets. +The black night hawks in +the forest flapped their +wings warningly, and the<!-- Page 28 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +black bats flitted low around +her head.</p> + +<p>"Obey me at once!" she +cried angrily, stamping her +foot and jerking at the +necklace. But the string +broke, and the beads went +rolling away in the darkness +in every direction and were +lost—all but one, which +she held clasped in her +hand.</p> + +<p>Then Olga wept at the<!-- Page 29 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +castle gate; wept outside in +the night and the darkness, +in her peasant's garb of tow. +But after awhile through +her sobbing, stole the answering +sob of the night +wind.</p> + +<p>"Hush-sh!" it seemed to +say. "Sh-sh! Never a heart +can come to harm, if the lips +but speak the old dame's +charm."</p> + +<p>The voice of the night<!-- Page 30 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +wind sounded so much like +the voice of the old Flax-spinner, +that Olga was +startled and looked around +wonderingly. Then suddenly +she seemed to see the +thatched cottage and the +bent form of the lonely old +woman at the wheel. All +the years in which the good +dame had befriended her +seemed to rise up in a row, +and out of each one called<!-- Page 31 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +a thousand kindnesses as +with one voice: "How canst +thou forget us, Olga? We +were done for love's sweet +sake, and that alone!"</p> + +<p>Then was Olga sorry and +ashamed that she had been +so proud and forgetful, and +she wept again. The tears +seemed to clear her vision, +for now she saw plainly +that through no power of +her own could she wrest<!-- Page 32 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +strange favours from fortune. +Only the power of +the old charm could make +them hers. She remembered +it then, and holding +fast the one bead in +her hand, she repeated +humbly:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For love's sweet sake, in my hour of need,<br /> +Blossom and deck me, little seed."</p></div> + +<p>Lo, as the words left her +lips, the moon shone out +from behind the clouds<!-- Page 33 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +above the dark forest. +There was a fragrance of +lilies all about, and a gossamer +gown floated around +her, whiter than the whiteness +of the fairest lily. It +was fine like the finest lace +the frost-elves weave, and +softer than the softest ermine +of the snow. On her +long golden hair gleamed a +coronet of pearls.</p> + +<p>So beautiful, so dazzling<!-- Page 34 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +was she as she entered the +castle door, that the Prince +came down to meet her, and +kneeling, kissed her hand +and claimed her as his +bride. Then came the +bishop in his mitre, and led +her to the throne, and before +them all the Flax-spinner's +maiden was married to the +Prince, and made the Princess +Olga.</p> + +<p>Then until the seven days<!-- Page 35 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +and seven nights were done, +the revels lasted in the +castle. And in the merriment +the old Flax-spinner +was again forgotten. Her +kindness of the past, her +loneliness in the present had +no part in the thoughts of +the Princess Olga.</p> + +<p>All night the old Oak, tapping +on the thatch, called +down, "Thou'rt forgotten! +Thou'rt forgotten!"<!-- Page 36 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the beads that had +rolled away in the darkness, +buried themselves in the +earth, and took root, and +sprang up, as the old +woman knew they would +do. There at the castle +gate they bloomed, a +strange, strange flower, for +on every stem hung a row +of little bleeding hearts.</p> + +<p>One day the Princess +Olga, seeing them from her<!-- Page 37 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +window, went down to them +in wonderment.</p> + +<p>"What do you here?" +she cried, for in her forest +life she'd learned all speech +of bird and beast and +plant.</p> + +<p>"We bloom for love's +sweet sake," they answered. +"We have sprung from the +old Flax-spinner's gift—the +necklace thou didst break +and scatter. From her<!-- Page 38 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +heart's best blood she +gave it, and her heart still +bleeds to think she is forgotten."</p> + +<p>Then they began to tell +the story of the old dame's +sacrifices, all the seventy +times seven that she had +made for the sake of the +maiden, and Olga grieved as +she listened, that she could +have been so ungrateful. +Then she brought the<!-- Page 39 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +Prince to hear the story of +the strange, strange flowers, +and when he had heard, +together they went to the +lowly cottage and fetched +the old Flax-spinner to the +castle, there to live out all +her days in ease and contentment.</p> + +<p>"See now," she whispered +to the Oak at parting, but +sturdily he held his ground, +persisting, "Thou <i>wouldst</i><!-- Page 40 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +have been forgotten, save +for that miracle of +bloom."</p> + +<p><i>And still the flower +we call BLEEDING-HEART +blooms on by +cottage walls and castle +gardens, to waken all +the world to grateful memories. +And ever it doth +bring to mind the lonely +hearts that bleed because +they are forgotten, and</i><!-- Page 41 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +<i>all they sacrificed for +love's sweet sake, to give us +happiness.</i></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING-HEART***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 17825-h.txt or 17825-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/8/2/17825">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/8/2/17825</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/17825-h/images/bhillus01.jpg b/17825-h/images/bhillus01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..279e6f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/17825-h/images/bhillus01.jpg diff --git a/17825-h/images/bhillus02.jpg b/17825-h/images/bhillus02.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a43c743 --- /dev/null +++ b/17825-h/images/bhillus02.jpg diff --git a/17825.txt b/17825.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfc088b --- /dev/null +++ b/17825.txt @@ -0,0 +1,722 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Legend of the Bleeding-heart, by Annie +Fellows Johnston + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Legend of the Bleeding-heart + + +Author: Annie Fellows Johnston + + + +Release Date: February 22, 2006 [eBook #17825] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING-HEART*** + + +E-text prepared by David Garcia, Sjaani, and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) from page images +generously made available by Kentuckiana Digital Library +(http://kdl.kyvl.org/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 17825-h.htm or 17825-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/8/2/17825/17825-h/17825-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/8/2/17825/17825-h.zip) + + Images of the original pages are available through the Electronic + Text Collection of Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1&idno=B92-277-32008329&view=toc + + + + + +THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING-HEART + +by + +ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON + +Author of "The Little Colonel Series," "Big +Brother," "Joel: A Boy of Galilee," +"Keeping Tryst," etc. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Olga, holding it in the hollow of +her hands, offered him the water.] + + + + +Boston +L. C. Page & Company +1907 +Copyright, 1900 +By L. C. Page & Company +(Incorporated) +Copyright, 1907 +By L. C. Page & Company +(Incorporated) +All rights reserved +First Impression, July, 1907 +Colonial Press +Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. +Boston, U. S. A. + + + + +IN MEMORY +OF THE ONES THAT GREW +SO LONG AGO, +IN OLD "Aunt Nancy's" GARDEN. + + + + +The Legend of the Bleeding-heart + + + + +In days of old, when all things in the Wood had speech, there lived +within its depths a lone Flax-spinner. She was a bent old creature, and +ill to look upon, but all the tongues of all the forest leaves were ever +kept a-wagging with the story of her kindly deeds. And even to this day +they sometimes whisper low among themselves (because they fain would +hold in mind so sweet a tale) the story of her kindness to the little +orphan, Olga. + +'Twas no slight task the old Flax-spinner took upon herself, the day she +brought the helpless child to share the shelter of her thatch. The Oak +outside her door held up his arms in solemn protest. + +"Thou dost but waste thyself," he said. "Thy benefits will be forgot, +thy labours unrequited. For Youth is ever but another title for +Ingratitude." + +"Nay, friend," the old Flax-spinner said. "My little Olga will not be +ungrateful and forgetful." + +All hedged about with loving care, the orphan grew to gracious +maidenhood, and felt no lack of father, mother, brother or sister. In +every way the old Flax-spinner took their places. But many were the +sacrifices that she made to keep her fed and warmly clad, and every time +she went without herself that Olga might receive a greater share, +Wiseacre Oak looked down and frowned and shook his head. + +Then would the old dame hasten to her inner room, and there she pricked +herself with her spindle, until a great red drop of her heart's blood +fell into her trembling hand. With witchery of words she blew upon it, +and rolled it in her palm, and muttering, turned and turned and turned +it. And as the spell was laid upon it, it shrivelled into a tiny round +ball like a seed, and she strung it on a thread where were many others +like it, saying, "By this she will remember. She will not be ungrateful +and forgetful." + +So years went by, and Olga grew in goodness and in beauty, and helped +the old Flax-spinner in her tasks as blithely and as willingly as if +she were indeed her daughter. Every morning she brought water from the +spring, gathered the wild fruits of the woods, and spread the linen on +the grass to bleach. At such times would the bent old foster-mother hold +herself erect, and call up to the Oak, "Dost see? Thou'rt wrong! Youth +is _not_ another title for Ingratitude." + +"Thou hast not lived as long as I," would be the only answer. + +One day as Olga was wandering by the spring, searching for watercresses, +the young Prince of the castle rode by on his prancing charger. A +snow-white plume waved in his hat, and a shining silver bugle hung from +his shoulder, for he had been following the chase. + +He was thirsty and tired, and asked for a drink, but there was no cup +with which to dip the water from the spring. But Olga caught the drops +as they bubbled out from the spring, holding them in the hollow of her +beautiful white hands, and reaching up to where he sat, offered him the +sparkling water. So gracefully was it done, that the Prince was charmed +by her modest manner as well as her lovely face, and baring his head +when he had slaked his thirst, he touched the white hands with his lips. + +Before he rode away he asked her name and where she lived. The next day +a courier in scarlet and gold stopped at the door of the cottage and +invited Olga to the castle. Princesses and royal ladies from all over +the realm were to be entertained there, seven days and seven nights. +Every night a grand ball was to be given, and Olga was summoned to each +of the balls. It was because of her pleasing manner and her great +beauty that she had been bidden. + +The old Flax-spinner courtesied low to the courier and promised that +Olga should be at the castle without fail. + +"But, good dame," cried Olga, when the courier had gone, "prithee tell +me why thou didst make such a promise, knowing full well this gown of +tow is all I own. Wouldst have me stand before the Prince in beggar's +garb? Better to bide at home for aye than be put to shame before such +guests." + +"Have done, my child!" the old dame said. "Thou shalt wear a court robe +of the finest. Years have I toiled to have it ready, but that is naught. +I loved thee as my own." + +Then once more the old Flax-spinner went into her inner room, and +pricked herself with her spindle till another great red drop of her +heart's blood fell into her trembling hand. With witchery of words she +blew upon it, and rolled it in her palm, and muttering, turned and +turned and turned it. And as the spell was laid upon it, it shrivelled +into a tiny round ball like a seed, and she strung it on to a thread, +where were many others like it. Seventy times seven was the number of +beads on this strange rosary. + +When the night of the first ball rolled around, Olga combed her long +golden hair and twined it with a wreath of snowy water-lilies, and then +she stood before the old dame in her dress of tow. To her wonderment +and grief she saw there was no silken robe in waiting, only a string of +beads to clasp around her white throat. Each bead in the necklace was +like a little shrivelled seed, and Olga's eyes filled with tears of +disappointment. + +"Obey me and all will be well," said the old woman. + +"When thou reachest the castle gate clasp one bead in thy fingers and +say: + + "'For love's sweet sake, in my hour of need, + Blossom and deck me, little seed.' + +Straightway right royally shalt thou be clad. But remember carefully the +charm. Only to the magic words, 'For love's sweet sake' will the +necklace give up its treasures. If thou shouldst forget, then thou must +be doomed always to wear thy gown of tow." + +So Olga sped on her moon-lighted way through the forest until she came +to the castle gate. There she paused, and grasping a bead of the strange +necklace between her fingers, repeated the old dame's charm: + + "For love's sweet sake, in my hour of need, + Blossom and deck me, little seed." + +Immediately the bead burst with a little puff as if a seed pod had +snapped asunder. A faint perfume surrounded her, rare and subtle as if +it had been blown across from some flower of Eden. Olga looked down and +found herself enveloped in a robe of such delicate texture, that it +seemed soft as a rose-leaf and as airy as pink clouds that sometimes +float across the sunset. The water-lilies in her hair had become a +coronal of opals. + +When she entered the great ball-room, the Prince of the castle started +up from his throne in amazement. Never before had he seen such a vision +of loveliness. "Surely," said he, "some rose of Paradise hath found a +soul and drifted earthward to blossom here." And all that night he had +eyes for none but her. + +The next night Olga started again to the castle in her dress of tow, and +at the gate she grasped the second bead in her fingers, repeating the +charm. This time the pale yellow of the daffodils seemed to have woven +itself into a cloth of gold for her adorning. It was like a shimmer of +moon-beams, and her hair held the diamond flashings of a hundred tiny +stars. + +That night the Prince paid her so many compliments and singled her out +so often to bestow his favours, that Olga's head was turned. She tossed +it proudly, and quite scorned the thought of the humble cottage which +had given her shelter so long. The next day when she had returned to +her gown of tow and was no longer a haughty court lady, but only Olga, +the Flax-spinner's maiden, she repined at her lot. Frowning, she carried +the water from the spring. Frowning, she gathered the cresses and +plucked the woodland fruit. And then she sat all day by the spring, +refusing to spread the linen on the grass to bleach. + +She was discontented with the old life of toil, and pouted crossly +because duties called her when she wanted to do nothing but sit idly +dreaming of the gay court scenes in which she had taken a bright brief +part. The old Flax-spinner's fingers trembled as she spun, when she saw +the frowns, for she had given of her heart's blood to buy happiness for +this maiden she loved, and well she knew there can be no happiness where +frowns abide. She felt that her years of sacrifice had been in vain, but +when the Oak wagged his head she called back waveringly, "My little Olga +will not be ungrateful and forgetful!" + +That night outside the castle gate, Olga paused. She had forgotten the +charm. The day's discontent had darkened her memory as storm-clouds +darken the sky. But she grasped her necklace imperiously. + +"Deck me at once!" she cried in a haughty tone. "Clothe me more +beautifully than mortal maid was ever clad before, so that I may find +favour in the Prince's sight and become the bride of the castle! I would +that I were done for ever with the spindle and the distaff!" + +But the moon went under a cloud and the wind began to moan around the +turrets. The black night hawks in the forest flapped their wings +warningly, and the black bats flitted low around her head. + +"Obey me at once!" she cried angrily, stamping her foot and jerking at +the necklace. But the string broke, and the beads went rolling away in +the darkness in every direction and were lost--all but one, which she +held clasped in her hand. + +Then Olga wept at the castle gate; wept outside in the night and the +darkness, in her peasant's garb of tow. But after awhile through her +sobbing, stole the answering sob of the night wind. + +"Hush-sh!" it seemed to say. "Sh-sh! Never a heart can come to harm, if +the lips but speak the old dame's charm." + +The voice of the night wind sounded so much like the voice of the old +Flax-spinner, that Olga was startled and looked around wonderingly. Then +suddenly she seemed to see the thatched cottage and the bent form of the +lonely old woman at the wheel. All the years in which the good dame had +befriended her seemed to rise up in a row, and out of each one called a +thousand kindnesses as with one voice: "How canst thou forget us, Olga? +We were done for love's sweet sake, and that alone!" + +Then was Olga sorry and ashamed that she had been so proud and +forgetful, and she wept again. The tears seemed to clear her vision, for +now she saw plainly that through no power of her own could she wrest +strange favours from fortune. Only the power of the old charm could make +them hers. She remembered it then, and holding fast the one bead in her +hand, she repeated humbly: + + "For love's sweet sake, in my hour of need, + Blossom and deck me, little seed." + +Lo, as the words left her lips, the moon shone out from behind the +clouds above the dark forest. There was a fragrance of lilies all +about, and a gossamer gown floated around her, whiter than the whiteness +of the fairest lily. It was fine like the finest lace the frost-elves +weave, and softer than the softest ermine of the snow. On her long +golden hair gleamed a coronet of pearls. + +So beautiful, so dazzling was she as she entered the castle door, that +the Prince came down to meet her, and kneeling, kissed her hand and +claimed her as his bride. Then came the bishop in his mitre, and led her +to the throne, and before them all the Flax-spinner's maiden was married +to the Prince, and made the Princess Olga. + +Then until the seven days and seven nights were done, the revels lasted +in the castle. And in the merriment the old Flax-spinner was again +forgotten. Her kindness of the past, her loneliness in the present had +no part in the thoughts of the Princess Olga. + +All night the old Oak, tapping on the thatch, called down, "Thou'rt +forgotten! Thou'rt forgotten!" + +But the beads that had rolled away in the darkness, buried themselves in +the earth, and took root, and sprang up, as the old woman knew they +would do. There at the castle gate they bloomed, a strange, strange +flower, for on every stem hung a row of little bleeding hearts. + +One day the Princess Olga, seeing them from her window, went down to +them in wonderment. + +"What do you here?" she cried, for in her forest life she'd learned all +speech of bird and beast and plant. + +"We bloom for love's sweet sake," they answered. "We have sprung from +the old Flax-spinner's gift--the necklace thou didst break and scatter. +From her heart's best blood she gave it, and her heart still bleeds to +think she is forgotten." + +Then they began to tell the story of the old dame's sacrifices, all the +seventy times seven that she had made for the sake of the maiden, and +Olga grieved as she listened, that she could have been so ungrateful. +Then she brought the Prince to hear the story of the strange, strange +flowers, and when he had heard, together they went to the lowly cottage +and fetched the old Flax-spinner to the castle, there to live out all +her days in ease and contentment. + +"See now," she whispered to the Oak at parting, but sturdily he held his +ground, persisting, "Thou _wouldst_ have been forgotten, save for that +miracle of bloom." + +_And still the flower we call BLEEDING-HEART blooms on by cottage walls +and castle gardens, to waken all the world to grateful memories. And +ever it doth bring to mind the lonely hearts that bleed because they are +forgotten, and all they sacrificed for love's sweet sake, to give us +happiness._ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING-HEART*** + + +******* This file should be named 17825.txt or 17825.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/8/2/17825 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/17825.zip b/17825.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d50a1f --- /dev/null +++ b/17825.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b78afb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #17825 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17825) |
