By Nathaniel Hawthorne
Adapted to chat story format by Captivated Chat
But did anybody ever find the Fountain of Youth?
No. But it is to be found and has been found on the southern Floridian peninsula. Its source is overshadowed by huge, unaging magnolias. An acquaintance sent what you see in the vase.
Ahem! And what may be the effect of this fluid on the human?
You shall judge for yourselves, my respected friends, you are welcome to so much of this fluid as may restore to you the bloom of youth.
Marvelous how the little bubbles continually are ascending from the depths of the glasses and bursting in silvery spray at the surface.
As it diffuses a pleasant perfume, I am sure it possesses cordial and comfortable properties, though I remain sceptical as to its powers.
I agree, but I am still inclined to swallow it at once.
Stay a moment. First draw up a few rules for re-entering the perils of youth. Become patterns of virtue and wisdom to all young people!
Ha!
Heh-heh. It is so very ridiculous to think that, knowing how closely Repentance treads behind the steps of Error, we should ever go astray again.
Drink, then! I rejoice that I have so well selected the subjects of my experiment.
A toast to our health, and our repentance!
Toast! Results!
I believe there is much to the power of suggestion, for I feel much livelier already and you all look it.
Yes, it is true!
Give us more of this wondrous water!
Indeed! We are perhaps a bit younger, but we are still too old. Hence, give us more!
Patience, patience! You have been a long time growing old; surely you might be content to grow young in half an hour. But the water is yours. Therefore I am refilling your glasses with the liquor of youth. Drink up!
Even while the draught was passing down our throats it seemed to have wrought a change in me.
Your eyes grew clearer and brighter as you spoke just now!
My dear widow, you are charming!
Perhaps, as of old, your compliments are not always measured by sober truth. That mirror, though! I must run over there to see for myself.
Don’t run, walk!
I can see in the mirror that it has made a remarkable difference! And I can feel it, for I hadn’t been able to run in years!