A long time of years back, a happy Wizard lived in the trunk of a tree. His tree was happy and bright. Leaves hung down from the tree every spring, and ice dripped from the trig's every winter.
His tree was found in the middle part of what is Meissen, Germany. The townsmen often went to the Wizard when God would smite them.
"You have done wrong," said God, "now you must become sick and weary of life."
"No," cried the Townsmen, "we have done nothing wrong."
But God was a jealous god. He waved his arm and a terrible drought came to be.
The wizard found his tree to be suffering. He could not bare to watch his home pass-away. So, he gathered some roots, sticks, and leaves, and built him a box from his home.
"I'll make you the water you need to live," Said the Wizard, "then I'll dig a mote around your roots and let you drink from the water I have made."
Days went by, and the box was still empty. The tree on its last breath of air, now fading and turning bare. The wizard, too, was sick, his rosy cheeks now gray, his blue eyes now silver, and his short blond hair now long and white.
The wizard had went to the Maple tree, still alive just a few miles away, when he came back to his tree, he held something in threes. A cane made from the bark of a root he dug up looking for water, the skin of a terrible serpent he had fought, and the ends made by jewels he had found to have healing powers.
"I have returned," said the wizard, " I have brought what I need to make you water."
But, the tree-house was silent, and when spoken too, refused to talk back.
"Why have you forsaken me," asked the Wizard.
"I have not forsaken you," said the Tree, "I have waited here days on your safe return. Watched as helpless townsmen have passed on. They were put in the ground, dry, and bitter, not as happy as before."
"I know they needed water, just the same as you and me," said the Wizard.
The Tree shook it's decaying leaves and fell into a deep sleep the rest of the day.
But, the Wizard, used his cane, raised high above his head. A brilliant spark of light streaked across the sky.
God was angry at the wizard, and asked the wizard why he had woke him up.
"I did not mean to wake you up God, but, my tree needs water, or it'll die."
God spoke deep and long, echoing his voice though the lands. The wizard shook his cane again, and again sparks flew into the sky.
"STOP THAT!," roared God.
But the wizard ignored his plea.
The Wizard sent more sparks into the sky. God was struck, and God began to cry.
The tears fell by the millions.
The Wizard put the box, made from his home, over his head. His home would keep him safe, just as the wizard had said.
God was angry, he blew from his mouth, and cried even more. The trees where blowing over, and the wizard was scared. He cast more sparks into the sky, and God's voice echoed though-out the land once more.
The Wizard's home was sucking the water, and it's roots stretched deeper into the ground to keep from being blown away. But, somehow the tree had forgot of the poor Townsmen who where buried just before. The roots broke into the caskets and sucked the townsman's dust and ashes.
The wizard held his long cane above his head and down to the ground he smashed the end. The cane broke, and sparks went out of control. The wizard was hit many times before his spirit left his body. But God, who was angry at the Wizard told him he was to smart for Hell, and to dumb for Heaven. God placed the Wizard's soul back into his body. His skin will rot, and decay, his eyes shall pop away, and his magic shall stray.
The Wizard looked at God, then to his home. The faces of the Townsmen formed into the trunk of the tree, just because the Wizard was selfish and full of greed.
God told the wizard from now on you are the cause of thunderstorms. The sparks from your cane will be called 'lightning' and my screams shall be 'thunder' and my tears, very sad tears, shall be called 'rain". And your house shall ever hold the faces of the Townsmen who upset me so. Your punishment, for startling me with that glow.
So, little one's when you see a face in the tree, don't be scared, remember the Wizard with the gray face, silver eyes, and white bushy hair, who sent a light into Heaven, and he just wants to be free.
© 2012 S. D. Blankenship
