CHAPTER IV
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
A finer day could not have been chosen for the picnic. When the party started for the pine grove four miles from home there were six carriages full of people. It was a lovely place for a picnic party and Joe and Lucy played hard all day with their little friends. Six o'clock came all too soon.
"Please stay a little longer and eat the rest of our lunch for supper," begged the children. The older people were quite willing.
"It is a good thing we can get plenty of good water from that spring," said Lucy's father. "It is nearly as cold as ice water and certainly as cold as anyone ever ought to drink. I should like to come here every day for the sake of a drink of it."
"I love to hear the water as it makes its way down over the rocks. They say the spring never dries up, even in the hottest days of summer," said Uncle Sam, who was standing near.
"Uncle Sam! A story, a story!" cried some one, as they settled themselves on the grass to eat chicken sandwiches and apple turnovers.
"That spring makes me think of something you might like to hear. It is true, though it is nearly as strange as a fairy story. I suppose the older ones all know it."
"Do tell it, Uncle Sam," cried the children, and their parents seemed as willing to listen as the little ones.
As the evening clouds changed from silver to gold and crimson, and the young moon peeped shyly out in the evening sky, Uncle Sam told the story of
THE FOUNTAIN OF EVERLASTING YOUTH
A long time ago there was a young knight in Spain named Ponce de Leon. He was gay and handsome, fond of dress and of good times. Columbus had made his voyages to America and come back to Spain to die.
The men whom he had left in the West Indies needed a governor. The king looked around his court. At last he chose Ponce de Leon as the best man to send to the New World. The knight was quite willing, so he went to live in the island of Porto Rico, one of the West Indies.
His life was an easy one. He did very little himself but was a cruel master over the poor Indians who had to work hard at his bidding. Before the white men came among them they had easy times, swinging in their hammocks, bathing in the clear waters, and eating the wild fruits which were so plentiful.
Everything was changed after the arrival of the cruel Spaniards.
"These white men are great and wise," the Indians had thought at first. "We must serve them and give them all we can. They wish gold. We will show them where they can find it in the earth and the beds of the rivers."
These poor savages of Porto Rico were gentle creatures. They knew little about war. When they found the Spaniards had no love for them and cared for nothing except gold, it was too late to save themselves. They were forced to wait upon their white masters. They had to work in the gold mines as they had never worked before. They missed the pleasant sunlight. They became weak and sick. Great numbers of them died.
All this time Ponce de Leon was storing away great piles of the gold the Indians brought him. He made a poor governor. The king of Spain at last sent word he should no longer rule over the island of Porto Rico.
He was now growing old. He had been sick many times. He began to think of what the Indians had told him. They said:
"Much gold can be found in the land north of us. Something better than gold can also be found there. It is a wonderful fountain. If anyone tastes of its waters he shall never be sick again but shall be young forever."
The heart of the Spaniard leaped for joy. "That is what I want," he said. "Such a fountain is indeed better than all the gold in the world."
He might very easily say this, for he already had all the gold he needed.
He started out with a gay company of his friends. They sailed about among the islands, stopping here and there to feast and make merry.
Still they sailed on toward the north till at last they came in sight of a land beautiful with flowers. It was a glorious Easter Sunday. The air was sweet with delicious odors.
"I will call this place Florida," said Ponce de Leon, "because it is the Flowery Easter."
He and his men spent some time wandering about through the country, always looking for the wonderful fountain.
"It may be here," he would think as he picked his way through a forest.
"Listen!" one of his friends would cry as he heard the sound of running water and thought it might be the Fountain of Youth they were seeking.
They were disappointed again and again. At last they went back to the ships and sailed for Spain. They had found plenty of fruits and flowers. They had met many Indians, some of whom were friendly and gentle, but others were fierce and warlike. Their eager eyes never beheld the Fountain of Youth.
Ponce de Leon did not give up his hope of finding it, however. He told the king of Spain of the beautiful country of Florida and that he hoped to find gold there. The king said:
"You may be the governor of this new land if you will take others with you and settle there."
The old man went back to Florida. Alas! he only went to pain and trouble. As he was about to land, a party of Indians came out to meet him. They were not willing to let the white men come on shore. A fight took place. Ponce de Leon was shot. A poisoned arrow entered his body and made a frightful wound. He went back to the ship and set sail for Cuba. His wound did not heal, for the poison from the arrow was still working.
He never again tried to find the Fountain of Youth, for he died in a few days.
"Nobody else ever found it, either," said Uncle Sam as he finished the story.
"People used to have such silly notions," said one of the party, as they packed up to go home.
"The more they traveled, the wiser they became," replied Uncle Sam. "There is nothing like travel to make our minds grow. Some time I may go round the world myself. I'm not too old yet."
"I hope you will let Joe and me go with you," said Lucy, as she took hold of his hand and pointed to the waiting carriage.