The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-04-26
SELECTED TALES.
THE BRIDAL OF GERTRUDE.
BY C. p. X. JAMES.

BY C. p. II. JAMES.
At the distance of about twelve miles
from the point al which the Necker falls in
to the magnificent Rhine, between the small
and beautiful town of Neck ersteinach, and
the famous city Of Hebron, deep and
narrow gorge, lined with wood, aud flankod
on either hand, by rocks, carries down a
small and sparkling stream into the wider
channel of the Necker. Following the
course of that rivuet up towards the noun
tains of the Odenwald, in which it takes its
rise, lies small village domincered by one
of the frowning castles of one Of the ancient
feudal lords of Germany. That castle now
stands gray ruin, raising its proud but
shattered head in the majesty of desolaton,
twined with immemorial ivy, and with its
aged brow crowned, by the fantastic hand
of nature, with rich gailands of wild flow
ers. Thus have | seen it myself, catching
the shadows of the clouds ms they fitted
across the sky, whilst the humber village,
that has grown up at its feet, lay smiling
/ in the calm sunshine. Blu; in the days that
speak of, though the lords of that castle
| dwell amidst the clouds and storms of am-
bilious life, yet the light and the sunshine
of prosperity was upon those castle walls,
and splendour and pageantry, the song, the
revel, and the feast, rioted day after day,
within The stately halls. How the means
were obtained by which that profuse ex-
pendture was kept up, how often the groan-
ing peasant was forced to yield his hard
earned produce to supply his lords ex-
travagance, how often the wandering mer-
chant was despoiled Of the fruits of his
industry, to furnish resources to the idle
and the turbuleat, how often plunder, mas
sacre and crime were the sources from
which that luxury was derived, may easily
be OWNED by all those who know the his
tory of those times, and of that country.
For the present our story leads us to the
humber dwellings which lay below.
1t was pretty village, and peaceful
spot, for the inhabitants paid highly for the
projections of their lords above, and, in gen.
eral, obtained it in due measure, so that the
evil days they knew were few. Each cot
tage stood by itself, surrounded by the host
of apple trees, which still distinguishes that
part of the world each had its little garden
of herbs and fruit each had its little por-
ton of allotted woodland; and when the
lords of Erach look ed out from their strong
hold. over the world of forest that lay ex-
tended at their feet, they ceuld distinguish
their own immediate villages by the glow
of the apple blossoms, or the snowy flow
ers Of the cherry, chequering the darker
/, foliage of the beech and the oak. Little
variety existed amongst the houses; some
were larger, and some were smaller, but all
were built very nearly on the same plan,
and the only two which distinguished them
selves at all from the rest, were those of the
pastor of the place, and Of the forester Of
Count Erlacb. The latter was wealthy
man, as the affairs Of the village went. lie
; had been a great favourte with his lord
who was one Of the best Of the mobiles Of
: those days and under him, Muller, tht
:. forester, had accumulated no jnsgnifican
wealth. On the death of the old lord, som,
apprehensions had been entertained by th'
worthy peasant, regarding the duration o
, his favour with the young Count, who ha'
been absent for many years from his pater
: nal home, graciDg the Imperial Court, 4
which the emperor was, at that time, max
ing every effort to draw the young nobili,
| Of distant principalties. He was reporte
10 De y gay uHu shiidhl youtub sohe"hh
S too much addicted to the pleasure Of th
4 court, more familiar with the camp, tn
4 battlefield, the ballroom, and the capital
than with the sports of rural life, and tn
usual ayocatious Of feudal noble, aud oil
Karl Muller shook his head, when the new
s came that the old Count had died in Vienna
:, whittier he had gone to see his son.
The villagers found no difficulty in trans
, !ating that prophetic shake Of the head
easily diyining that the worthy forester be
lieved new days and less pleasant ones wer
y about to fall upon them. No immediat
e change, however, was percepiible; the for
ester was continued in all his privileges an
charges all the old servants Of the castl
q were retained aud provided for; ever
: month couriers from Vienna brought th
is orders Of the young Count, displaying gre'
care and erac,itude in maintaining ever
thing in the state wherein his father ha
kept itup. The feudal retainers necessar
C. for the protection Of the peasaniry, wei
at always held in due state OF preparatlo
Of and discipline and so promP, aud W.