Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-10
PETER KLAUS.


Wrinkle.
PETER KLAUS.
The Legend Of he Goathc'1
Peter Klaus GoathCrd of Slltendori,
and tended his ioclls in the HyThausen noun
tans; here he was accustomed TO let them rest
every evening, in mead surrounded by an old
wall, while he made his muster OF them; but Tor
some days he had remarked that one OF his iinest
goats always disappeared some time after coming
TO this spot, and did not join the flock till late:
watching her more attcntively, he observed
that she slipped through an opening in The wail
upon which he crcpt after the animal, and found
her in sor, of cave, busily employed IN CLEAN
ing the oat grains that dropped down singiy from
the roof He looked up, shook his ears amidst
the shower of corn that now fell down upon him,
but with all his inquiry could discover nothing.
At last lie heard above the stamp and ncghisfy
of horses, from whose Manager it probable
the oats had fallen.
Peter was yet standing in establishment nj the
sound of horses in unusual a place, when
boy appeared who by signs, without speaking
Il word, desired him to follow. Accordingly he
assembled few steps and passed over a walled
court into a hollow, closed on all sides bv lofty
rocks, where partial twilight shot through thc
corresponding foliage of the shrubs. Here,
upon Il smooth, fresh lawn, he found twelve
knights play wing grayely at ninc-pins, and not one
spoke SYLLABLE: with equal silence Peter was
installed in the Office of setting up the nne-pins
At first nc performed this duty with knees that
knocked against caChothcr, rs he now and then
stole partial look at the long boards and slash
ed doubes of the noble knights. BY degrees
however, custom gave him couragc he g;szed on
every thing with a iirmer look, and at last even
venturcd TO drink ont of a bowl that stood near
him, from which the wine eXhaled most deli
cious odour. The glowing Juice made him feel
as il terminated, and whenever he found the least
WEAKNESS, he again drew fresh v,guur from the
mexhauslible goblet. sleep at last ovcrcalnc
! him.
| Upon waking, Peter found himself in the
very same enclosed mead where he was wont to
| tell his herds. He rubbed hIs ewes, but could
see no sign either Of dog goats, and was be-
sides, not little astonislIcd at the high grass
and shrubs, and trees which he had never before
observed there. \ ot well knowing what TO think
lac continued his way oy er all the places that he
had bccn accustomed To frequent with his goats
but no whore could he find any traces of them;
below him he Sttendori, ani, at length, with
hasiy steps he descended.
The people, whom he met before the village
were all strangers 10 him; they had not the dress
of his acquaintance, yet did they exactly
speak their language, and, when he asked after
his goats, all stared and touched their chIns AT
last he did the same almost nyountarily, and
found his beard heightened by foot at least.
noon which he began TO conclude that himself
and those about hin equally under the in
luence of cnchantmcnt: still he recognised the
mountain he had descended, for the Is Williamson:
the houses too, with their Yards and gardens
were all familiar to him, and to the passing ques-
tons of ravcler, several bows replied by the
name of Sittcndorf.
With increasing doubt he now walked through
the village TO his house. II was much decavcd
ana before II lay strange goatherd's bow in a
rag; ed irock, by whose side was dog worn lank
by age that growled and snar}ed when he spoke
To hi'n lie then entered the cottage through an
orcning which had once been closed bv a door;
here 100 nc found all so VOID and waste, that he
totercd out again at lie back dour-as if intoxi-
Gated, and called his wife and children by Their
names; but none heard, none answered.
In short time, women and children thronced
around the stranger with the long hoary beard,
and all, rs If for wager joined in inquiring hat
he wanted. Before his own house, to ask others
after his wife, children, even himself seem
ed 50 strange. that TO get rid of those quersts he
mentioned the first name that occurred to him:
"kur! Stcfcr:" The by-standers looked at each
other III silence, till at last old woman said
ole has been III the church yard these twelve
years, and you'll not so there to day" s'Velten
Meter" ''Heaven rest his soul" replied an
ancient dame, leaning on her crutch; '.Heaven
rest his soul Tic has lain these fifteen years in
the house that he will never Ieavc.n
The Goatherd shuddered as in the last
speaker he recognized his neighbor, who seem
ed To have suddcnly grown old; but he had lost
all desire Tor father question. AT this moment
a brisk young woman pressed through the anxi-
ous GapcIs, carving an infant i'll her arms, and
leading by the hand girl of about fourteen years
old, all three the image of his wife. With in
creasiug surprise he asked her name: ssMaria.n
"And your athei's?n-s'Peter Klaus! Heaven
rest his soul! 1t is twenty years since we
sought him day and night on the Williamson
mountains, when his flock returned without him:
was then but seven years old.n
The Goatherd could contain himself no long,
or: IL am Peter Klaus" he cried, Il am Peter
Klaus, and none else" and he snatched the child
from his daughters arms. All for moment
stood as if petrilcd, till at length one voice, and
another, and another exclaimed yes this is
Peter Klaus Welcome, ncighbouri-W elcoinc
after twenty years"
TIE |stoping affecting .4nccdofe is from HE French
Of .45Ha Maria Porter.
sailor OF Martinique married a young woman
as vIrtuous She was beautiful; and she havinp
expended all her lille money her husband had left
her before lie embarked, had recourse to wealthy
ciiizeb To whose protection she was confded. The
citizen, nfamcd with the charms of the fair Dor
rover, demanded as the price of his services the
surrender of her virtue. Relying on the hone of
her husbands return, and shuddering with udipua
ton at the proposal, the insulted woman refused
without hesitation. The sailor did not arrive and
III few days all the resources of this unhappv
vile were exhausted; want too clearly made her
sensible of her situations; she was a mother and
dfcadmg To behold one infant perish at her breast
which npusIcd it. and the other whose matt,rcr aye
demanded bread, expire of hunger before her; she
sought the tyrant again, in the hope of softeninr
II