The Golden Youth Called Lover, A Fairytale

Long ago, before our time, there lived a Maiden Alone.  She was Alone because the great plague had taken almost every soul she had ever known.  At the edge of the great ancient forest stood her little wooden house.  She lived on hen's eggs and garden stuff for that was all she could manage by herself.  She wore her Dead Mother's clothing, and worked with her Dead Father's garden tools.

At last, she grew old enough to think of being wed, and lamented in her heart for there were no young men about at all.  And she was Very Handsome indeed.  Her hair was Raven Black, her skin was fair like porcelain, and her eyes deep blue.

Forgetting the GREAT GOD, in her haste and sorrow, she set about a plan of her own devising.  On the next moonlit night she stood naked before her own door on the little path holding a red rose in one hand and a white rose in the other.  She called out, "Friend! (perhaps I miss this and she said Fiend) make me a man for my own!" After waiting a bit there, she put on her linen chemise again and went into bed and to sleep. Perhaps she added a small Blood Sacrifice, from a pricked finger.

The next morning she arose and went out her door.   A Small Person about as big as a six year old boy, dressed in black like a clerk sat crosslegged before her on the ground.  He had a strange tall pointed hat.  Beyond him, asleep on the sweet grass lay a Golden Youth of surpassing beauty.  Hair of fine full curly gold, most likely blue eyes, but he was sleeping.  Tall and shapely he was, dressed in a linen shirt and green corduroy breetches.

The Small Person spoke up and said "you may have this fine fellow for your own true love, but there is a dreadful Rule."  You must never name him a Human Name, or call him by such, or he will cease.  "You must call him only Lover."

Our Maiden felt that this was Easily Done, and hastily agreed to the deal.  There followed many years of happiness and love, for he was exceedingly pleasant in manner and speech and a Good Gardener.  But there were no Children because Lover was only a dream solidified.

After some time, she began to think of him as Henry, but only in her heart.  Then one day, needing his help catching a Hen or something, it was An Accident, she called out "HENRY!, I need you!"

It was over in a second. The Golden Youth was Nowhere to be Found.  Many moons and years passed and  she thought of her Foolish Bargain much.  She turned Her Heart to the GREAT GOD after much consideration, and became wise, if several years older.  In time a Tired Human Man who was also a survivor, found her and they lived a normal loving life, with five or six children.  I am not sure how many. But she kept a yellow Tom Cat, whom she named Lover, for some reason.

I don't know what it means either.  That's what came to me last night