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Updated: May 7, 2025
"Little Bluewzng has found the goldpowder!" said the clergyman, as soon as he entered the drawing-room. "And now the whole village will be rich before long, because it is sure to become a summer resort." And it became a summer resort before long; steamers and shop people arrived; an inn and a post-office were built; a doctor settled on the island, and a chemist.
He assembled all the school children one day, and offered a prize to the one who could bring him a plant called "goldpowder," in Latin Chrysosplenium, which will only grow near a spring. "It has a flower," he said, "like the bird's-eye and leaves like the saxifrage, and it looks as if it had gold dust on its top leaves. Remember that!"
"And now, let's see about the goldpowder," he said for the third time, "which has flowers like the bird's-eye and leaves like the saxifrage. That's its distinctive mark, and tells you where water can be found. The bird's-eye collects dew and water in its leaves, and is in itself a tiny, clear rivulet; but the saxifrage can break mountain rocks.
There is no spring without a mountain, be the mountain never so distant. This is what the goldpowder tells all those who can understand its message. It grows here, on this island, and you shall know the spot, because your heart is pure. The rich man shall receive water for his parched soul from your tiny hand, and through you all the island shall be blessed.
"A flower like the bird's-eye and leaves like the saxifrage," repeated the children; and they ran into the wood and the fields to look for the goldpowder. Not one of the children found it; a little boy, it is true, came home with some milk-weed, which have a tiny bit of gold dust on the points of its leaves; but the milk-weed is poisonous, and it was not at all what was wanted.
Yes, now you can form an idea of the generosity and wisdom of nature. "And now, let's see about the goldpowder." He paused to see whether Little Bluewing was at all curious. But she was not. "And now, let's see about the goldpowder," he repeated. Another pause! No, Little Bluewing could hold her tongue, although she was as not much more than a baby.
Little Bluewing thought it strange, but continued her way without giving him as much as a look. "And you aren't curious, either," said the milkman. And now Little Bluewing was standing at the foot of the mountain; the sunbeams fell through the hazel bushes on the green leaves of a luxurious plant which shone like gold. It was the goldpowder.
Go in peace, my child, and when you come to the wood where the nuts grow, you will find a silver-linden on your right; at its foot lies a copper coloured slow-worm, which is not dangerous. It show you the way to the goldpowder. But before you go, you must give the old man a kiss, that is to say, if you want to."
The slow-worm was really there, although its copper looked a bit rusty. "Hallo! There is Little Bluewing, who is to have the goldpowder," said the copper snake. "Well, you shall have it on three conditions: no to talk, not to be led astray, not to be inquisitive. Now go straight ahead and you will find the goldpowder." Little Bluewing went straight ahead. On her way she met a woman.
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