Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-05-15

lnd no traces ot them lett. Yet he
Jaw the village just before him il was
the same LittrndorR, and scratching
his head he FASTENED ut a quick pace
down the hill 10 inquire after his flock.
All the people whom he met going
INTO the place, were strangers TO him,
were differently dressed. and even
spoke ia u different style TO his old
neighbours. When he asked about his
goats, they only stared at him, aud FIX
ell their eyes upon his chin. lie put
his hand unconsciously To his mouth.
and TO his great surprise found that he
had got 4 beard, At least foot long.
lie now began to think that both he
and all the world about him were in o
dream: and yet he knew the mountain
for that Of the kyfihausen (for he had
just come down it) we'll enough. And
there wete the cottages with their gar
dens and grass plots. much rs he had
left them. Besides, the lads, who had
all collected round him. answered To
the inquiry Of passenger, what plate
10 was! " Littendorf, sir"
Still shaking his head. he went far
tlier into the village TO look for his ou
house. lie found it, but greatly alter
ed Tor the worse; a strange goaiherd
IN an old tattered frock Law before the
door, and near him hts old dog, which
growicd aud showed its teeth At Peter
when he called him.
lie went through the entrance which
had once q door, but all within was
empty and deserted; Peter staggered
like = drunken man out of the house.
and called Tor his wife AMI children
by their names hut no one heard
him, and no one gave him any answer.
| Soon. however, q crowd Of wome n
and children got round the inqui.itive
stranger, with the lorg hoary beard,
and asked him what il was he wanted:
/ Now. Peter thought il was such a
strange kind Of thing, 10 stand before
his own house. inquirins for hi, ow
wife and children, as well as about
himself. that evading these inquiries,
he pronounced the frat name that came
into his head; .Kurt S,efien, the
blacksmith" Most Of the spectator.
were silent. and only looked at him
wistfully. till an old woman at las,
said: why, for these twelve years
! he has been nj Saehsenburg. whence
suppose You are not come to-day ~
T." Where is Vaientine Meier, the tai
ior." The Lord rest his soul" cried
another old woman. leaning upon her
cruich. she has been lying more than
these fifteen years in \ house he will
never leave"
Peter recognized in the speakers.
two Of his young neighbours. who seem.
ed to have grown old very suddenly.
but he had no inclination TO ipq sire an v
/ further.
At this moment there appeared, max
iEg her way through the crow Of spec
tators, sprightly young woman with
q year old baby in her arms, and o
girl about four, taking hold Of her hand
all three IS like his wife he was seek
ing Tor a. possible. What are your
names ~ he inquired in a tone Of great
surprise. Mine is Maria" "And
your fathers - continued Peter. God
rest his soul. Peter Klaus, 10 be sure.
IL IS twenty years ago since we acre
all looking for him, day and night, upon
the kyGhausen; for has flock came
home without him; and I was then, -
continued the woman, "only seven
\ years Old"
The goatherd could no longer bear
this: IL ana Peter Klaus" he said,
i"Peter and no other" and he took hi,
daughters child aud kissed IL. The
spectators seemed struck dumb viii,
AstODIshmeRt, until first one and then
another began to say, "Yes, indeed.
/ this ~ Peter Klaus! Welcome, good
Neighbour, after twenty years' absence.
welcome home"