The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-23

| and sword and shield with other warlke
trophies hung suspended from the roof; the
sight of them kindled anew the ancestral
strife in his bosom; and in one Of those
paroxysms Of rage to which he was so liable
and which were but the outbreaks Of the
deliberate malice Of his cooler moments, he
exclaimed
sis il thus that thou threatenest guest
Thou askest soldier to thy banquet board
and insultest him by displaying the dishonored
arms Of his predecessors"
They are not dishonored," said Herman
dorff. a royal hand conferred them on
their ancestor; and although by the fortune Of
war he lost them, il must ever be remembered
that il was to signalize has prowess that the
royal gift was given. They are memorials OF
an honorable contest when thine and mine an
cestors belonged to different countries-serv-
ed different monarchs-spoke different langua-
ges---and acknowledged different faiths p
|" Prove thy profiered friendship by deliver
ing up that sword and shield-they hang there
but to insult rival!"
They were my fathers, and my fathers
fathers. They have hung there for centu-
ries They are heirooms Of the castle
will not dlsmantle these walls for the frie i'd
ship of all that is noble in Bohemia 20
+" Hernandorff, good night I" saying which,
the Baron abruptly took his departure.
While this scene was enacting within the
castle, very different one was enacted with
out. But before proceeding with our narra-
tive, It Is necessary to give some account Of
Hans Bachofner, the woodman to whose care
the horses were committed. He was about
hity-hve years Of age, stout-built, raw-boned,
Droad-shouldered person, with a short neck,
an unusually large head, an uncouth weather.
beaten countenance, fiat nose, immense
cheek bones. elflocks, and dark eyes with
decided squint. A broad belt, within which
Ratchet and pipe were generally thrust.
was buckled round his waist. Another belt,
sluDg over his right shoulder, supported
basket or panier in which the provisions Of the
day for himself and dog were deposited, to-
gether with plentiful store Of tobacco, with
out which the life Of Bohemian would be a
state of purgatory. A pair Of huge boots,
reaching far above his knees, served to pro-
tect him from the briers. We must not for
get his dog Rudolph, who was Of most fer
bidding appearance-his only companion and
sharer of his hut. He was a fine large ami
NAL, nearly as shaggy as the name of lion;
his grey muzzle indicated advanced age-and
the loss Of an eye-the remaining one being
what is termed wall-eye-gave him an OBJ
liquity Of look in unity with the askance
glance Of his master.
The woodman, as had been directed, with
the assistance Of the grooms, washed and
dressed the wounds Of the suffering horses
which detained him at the castle several hours.
It was near midnight, and the snow had long
been falling fast, when, with his dog he sal
lied forth, and imprudently yentured home
wards. The snow had obliterated the forest
footh-paths. 1t was dark, and he had neither
guide nor compass. The wolves howled, the
winds roared, the SHOWS rushed over him like
the simeon Of the desert, threatening every
moment to overwhelm him. He feared to adj
vance lest the next step should plunge him in
to pitfall. 1t was equally perilous to retreat;
double SO to remain where he was, since mac
ton would have lulled him into that deep sleep
which during intense cold is frequently the
precursor Of deeper one.
Whilst in uncertainty what to do, he heard
sound OF voices, as Of peasants carousing at
harvest home. As he approached the place
whence the noise proceeded, the snow began
to feel warm and comfortable to his feet-the
air became suddenly milder-the darkness, by
degrees, was dissipated-the winds hushed-
and the trees were hung with silvery foliage;
all seemed enchantment! The voices, at
first distinctly heard, became louder and loud
err they were evidently the accents Of song
and merriment, if not of hospitality, and more
welcome sounds could not have greeted his
eur at the present juncture. By-and-by he be-
held conclave ofmerry-looking fellows seat
ed around a table Of indurated snow, beneath
a canopy Of the same evanescent MATERIAL
Their attire bespoke their avocation-thcy
we're evidently woedsmen. The hatchets in
their grdles, their booted legs and mittened
arms, lent them the appearance of so many
greaved and gauntletted sons of chlvalry in
council of war. Many of them were smok-
ing pipes Of much larger dimensions than
Bachoffner had been accustomed to use. The
smoke perfumed the air most deliciously,
while it allayed the rigor of the frosty atlnos-
phere, and rendered it, in the opinion of the
woodman, warm and balmy as summers
eve. On his approach, the strangers Justify
chaunted the following lines:
"Throned upon Bohemian SHOWS,
We carouse while men repose.
Welcome welcome! forest brother!
Shelter none TO any other y.
Give we, than 10 woodmen true,
Those that heart of timber hew
Enter, then, our hall Of state;
Sit and learn thy future fate
Drink deep of our wassai bowl, IVA.
While, without, the sorm-winds how'll
Welcome welcomes woodman free
Welcome 10 our Jubilee ..%
When Bachofiner had seated himself, large
fagon Of Dutch sack was offered him, from
which he drank a hearty draught. A pipe
charged with the rich tobacco, the fumes Of
which had so gratefully saluted his nostrils,
was then handed to him. Here he sat for Sc
veral hours with the jovial foresters, in oil the
luxury Of an eastern satrap, Rudolph crouch
inc underneath the chair the while. The