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A Tree Witk Strange Apples 

 By Mary Isabel Curtis 



Y OU have never seen a tree with golden apples, have you? Neith- 

 -* er have I. But there was such a tree, so I've heard, that grew 

 in the garden of the Hesperides in those far off days when many 

 things happened that seem strange to us now. 



The garden where this wonderful apple-tree grew was so far away 

 from where everybody lived arid so hard to find that very few people 

 saw the tree, even in those days. Besides, if anyone did find the 

 garden it was next to impossible to pick any of the apples because 

 a horrible dragon with a hundred hissing heads guarded the golden 

 applc-trce, and this dragon never slept. 



Now Hercules wanted some of these apples. Hercules was the 

 strongest man that ever lived. Why, he was so strong that he could 

 grasp a big tree with one hand, and uproot it as easily as you could 

 pick a dandelion! So he started out to find the way to the garden, 

 and after walking many days he came to where a huge giant stood 

 in a deep forest, holding up the sky on his great shoulders. .. 



"Can you tell me how to find the garden of the Hesperides?" 

 shouted Hercules with all his might in ordfer that the giant, far up 

 in the clouds, could hear him. 



"To be sure I can," thundered the giant whose name was Atlas. 

 "But who are you and what do you want in the garden?" 



"I am Hercules," replied the other, "and I am after some of the 

 golden apples growing there." 



"I've heard you are a strong man, Hercules," said Atlas. "Do 

 you think that you are strong enough to hold the sky upon your 

 shoulders?" Hercules tho:jght what a great thing it would be if he 

 could boast that he had had the strength to bear the burden of the 

 sky; and the upshot of the matter was that Atlas agreed to go for 

 Hercules and gather the golden apples if Hercules would hold the 

 sky till he returned. So Hercules climbed a mountain nearby, to 

 make himself as tall as possible, and received the sky upon his 

 shoulders, and the giant strode away. 



To tell the truth, the sky was very heavy, and Hercules was glad 

 enough when he saw Atlas coming back again carrying a branch 

 from which hung three great, golden apples. But the giant had" 

 enioved his little vacation, not to mention the pleasure he had had 

 in killing the hundred-headed dragon, and he w^as in no hurry to take 

 back the burden of the skv. "You keep it a while longer," said he, 

 "and I'll take the apples for you anywhere you say." 



Hercules was dismayed at this suggestion, but he didn't dare to 

 show it. After hesitating for a moment he agreed, only he asked 

 Atlas before he went to hold the sky for a moment "Just while 

 I make my coat into a pad for my shoulders," he explained. 



"Certainly, I'll do that." said the stunid giant ; and throwing down 

 the apples, he took back the sky. Then Hercules picked up the 

 three golden apples and marched ofif while Atlas shouted after him 

 in vain. Now. when vou hear the thunder rumbling you can fancy 

 it is Atlas calling to Hercules to come back again. 





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