Iron John. Chapter 2. When the Wild Man had reached the dark forest once more,he took the boy from his shoulders, put him down on the earth and said "You will never see your mother or father again, but I will keep you with me for I have set you free, and I feel compassion for you. If you do everything as I tell you, all will go well. I have much and treasure, more than anyone else in the world." The Wild Man prepared a bed of moss for the boy to sleep on, and in the morning took him to a stream. "Do you see this golden spring? It is clear as crystal, and full of light. I want you to sit beside it and make sure nothing falls into it, because if tthat happens it will wrong the spring. Ill return each evening to see if you have obeyed my order." The boy sat down at the swpring s edge Occasionally he glimpsed a golden fish or a gold snake, and he took care to let nothing fall in. But as he sat there, his wounded finger was so painful that without intending to, he dipped it into the water, He pulled it out instantly, but saw that his finger had turned to gold, and no matter how much he washed it, the washing did no good. Iron John came back that evening and said "Anything happen with the spring today?" The boy held his finger behind his back to jeep Iron John from seeing it, and said "No, nothing at all." 'Ah youv e dipped your finger in the spring !"said the Wild Man.We can let it pass this once, but don t let it happen again."Early the next morning the boy sat again at the spring, watching over it. His finger still hurt and after a whike he ran his hand up through his hair. One hair alas, came loose from his head and fell into the spring.He immediately reached down and pulled it out, but the hair had already turned to gold.
The moment Iron John returned, he knew what had happened. "Youv e let a hair fall into the spring. I ll allow it this time but if it happens a third time it will dishonour the spring, and you will not be able to stay with me any longer."
The third day as he sat by the spring, he was determined no matter how much his finger hurt him, not to it move.Time passed slowly and he began glazing at the reflection of his face in the water. Hr got the desire to look straight into his own eyes, and in doing this, he leaned over further and further. All at once his long hair fell down over his forehead and down into the water. He threw his head back, but now all his hair, every bit, had turned gold and it shone as if it where the sun itself. Now the boy was frightened! He took out a kerchief and covered his head so that the wild man wouldn t know what had happened. But when Iron John arrived home, he knew immediately. "Take the kerchief of your head", he said. The golden hair came tumbling over the boy's shoulders, and the boy had to be silent.
"You cant stay here any longer because you didnt make it through the trial. go out into the world now what poverty is. I see no evil in your heart, however, and I wish you well, so I ll give you this gift: Whenever you are in trouble, come to the edge of the forest and shout "Iron John, Iron John!" I ll come to the edge of the forest and help you. My power is great, greater than you belive, and I have gold and silver in abundance."