134 FERNS OF KENTUCKY. 
turf like a young fawn in his native glades. Often in the 
stillness of a summer’s evening did the mother and her fair- | 
haired child sit beside the lake to watch the dripping and 
splashing of the father’s oars as he skimmed right merrily 
toward them over the deep blue waters. Sounds as of 
hasty steps were heard one day, and presently a company 
of fugitives told with breathless haste that the cruel Danes 
were making way toward the ferry. Osmund heard them 
with fear. Suddenly the shouts of furious men came re- 
motely on the ear. The fugitives rushed on. Osmund 
stood for a moment; then snatching up his oars he rowed 
his trembling wife and fair child to a small island covered 
with the great Osmund Royal, and, helping them to land, 
bade them lie down beneath the tall ferns. Scarcely had 
the ferryman returned to his cottage when a company of 
Danes rushed in; but they hurt him not, for they knew 
he could do them service. During the day and night did 
Osmund row backward and forward across the river, ferry- 
ing troops of those fierce men. When the last company 
was put on shore, Osmund, kneeling beside the river’s 
bank, returned heartfelt thanks to Heaven for the preser- 
vation of his wife and child. Often in after years did 
Osmund speak of that day’s peril; and his fair child, 
grown up to womanhood, called the tall fern by her 
father’s name.” 
The Royal Fern may be readily cultivated in mounds, 
with a rich, deep soil which retains the moisture, and is 
not exposed, at any time, to a parching summer sun. 
