The Wilmingtonian., 1823-11-06
THE GOATHERD.

ular and Traditionary Literature, taken
from late English work, will doubtless
Ibe acceptable to such as have read the
beautiful and romantic effusions Of the an
thor of the Sketch Book.
"Peter Claus, a Goathertl of Sittendorf,
who tended his flock on the Kyffaus Noun
|tain, used to drive it every evening to a
wild spot surrounded by ruined wall,
where he numbered his charge, and left it.,
to rest for the night. For some days he
observed that one of his prettiest kids va
Inished soon after she arrived at this place,
and appeared last of all the herd in the
morning. He watched her more closely,
and saw that she escaped through cleft
lin the wall. He followed her into cav
|crn, and found her busily engaged in pick
ling up the oat kernels which fell in conti-
|nual showers from the roof. He looked
upwards, the corn ratified about his head,
but with all his curiosity, the darkness
prevented his discovering any thing more.
lie listened, and at length heard the neigh
ling of high bred Nurse, from whose man
Iger he now guessed that the oat. FELL
The Goatherd stood fixed in astonishment.
Whence could the horse have found his
way through the almost trackless noun
tains that surrounded him? Presently ap-
lpeared dwarf, who made signs to him to
follow. Peter entered the cave, and pas
sed first into a court surrounded by high
walls, and thence to a valley embosomed
in lofty ridges of rock and overshadowed
by thick foliage, through which only a
scanty twilight made its way. Here, on
the cool plat of turf, were twelve knights
of grave department, who interchanged
not single word, but busted themselves
in playing at nine pins. Peter was or
dered by signs to employ himselfin fetch
ing the bowl. At first his heart quaked
and his knees trembled, as he stole side
long glance at the long boards and slash
ed doublets of the venerable knights. By
degrees he became bolder, he snatched
hasty glances around him, and at length
, became hardy enough to drink from can
that stood near him, whence arose the
!, fragrant perfume of generous wine. New
] life seemed to inspire his frame, and a.
: often as fatigue appeared likely to return
: he drew fresh vigour from the overfowine
can. Sleep at length overcame him.-A'
|, his awakening he found himself once more
e on the wild spot, surrounded by the rnin
led wall where his flock was wont to rest
e He rubbed his eyes, but neither dog moi
goat could be discovered, and over hin
,.hung shrubs and trees which he had neve
l. remarked till this day. He shook his hea'
$ and pursued his way over hills and dales
J. where his goats were used to wander du
a ring the day, but no where was there an,
! trace of them. Below him lay Sittendor
n and at last he rushed with hasty steps dow
l. the hill to enquire after his flock.
e e "The people who met him on the way t
the village, seemed to be all strangers
g they were differently clad, and did no
flspeak as his old neighbours did. The
: stared at him too, when he asked after hi
nIgoats, and stroked their chins. At las
!, he involuntarily did the same, and fount
Vito his astonishment, that his beard was a
II least a foot long. He now began to thin
''ihimself and all the world around him be
:, ,,,iwitcned--and yet he was sure that th
il mountain he was descending was the ky
in faus; and all the cottages with the gard en-
it and grass plats, were quite familiar to hin
: Some children too, in answer to the ques
Il tons of traveller riding by, called tn
= Village Sittendof. Again he shook his hea
t. and made his way through the village I
N his own hut. 1t looked sorely decayed
,e ,e and before it lay strange child in ra:
erIged frock, by the side of half starve
I'll hound, who snarled between his teett
e- while his old master called him by h
N, name. He went through the openin
IL. which door had once closed, into Il
rs, hut, and found all there so desOlate ar
that he reeled like drunke
he man out at the back door, and called Il
o'Ihis wife and children, but no one heal
~ him, and no voice answered. A crowd
We women and children soon collected to lot
md at the strange man with the long iron gr,
po beard, and all besct him with the questi
les |" What did he want!" To have to a
y others for his own house and wife childre
Bile and perhaps for himself too, seemed
his strange, that to get rid Of their enquiri'
: inIhe named the first person that occurr
.. AUTO him "Kurt Steftew !" said he. Most
~s .rs them held their tongues and stared at hi
my but at last an aged woman said. :" lie
wsyIlivtd for these twelve years beyond 81
=, lIonberg, you will not reach him to day p
J somlI" M Velten Meyer, them" "God bless hir
" -a;d tho old rra n n r, N q r nm crutchea 81