The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-16
II H E N e w Err A
From Meals Saturday Gazette.
THE SCHALKSTEIN
OR, THE MYSTERIOUS FLOWER.
AI.EocNn-Ry Mrs

Many years since, a we'll dressed traveller a.
bout thirty wears of age. in the y, rlnr of the inn
in the small haullrt Of Neujohnsdorf in the prov
ince of Lusatia. IL was not yet sunset, aud The
golden light bathed the richly wooded mountains
enclosing the landscape of which the windows
commanded view. A stream. that wandered
through the valley. could be seen Fishing al inter.
walls between the trees on it's margin, or bordering
a meadow of verdnre. Close to the foot of The
mountain. IL expanded into a small lakelet. that
lay in deep shadow, rejecting the sombre green
ut the FIR and pine rees-its CLASSY surface rppled
continually by the fishing boats that shot To- and
fro, giving animation TO a scene Of calm and pic-
turesgue beauty. t- a1lt
The stranger leaned forward thonghtfnly in
his seat near the window. and looked forth but
he seemed to have little enjoyment of tho quiet
Ioveliness of the landscape. lie had visited. in
fact, all the countries of Enrnpe remarkable for
romantic scenery. He was a traveller for plea-
sure. or rather to escape from himself; one of
those restless beings, who fndrelief from ennui,
only IN continual change of place. He had heard
much of the beauty of Iusa,ia. it would moi do TO
pass it by in his tour but its charms already
palled upon his taste.
Lucas said he to his attendant, who just then
entered | shall leave here To- morrow
Tomorrow ?-and yet Monsieur le comte has
not seen al! the wonders Of the regiont'
what are those 2 asked the stranger, yawn-
ing.
There is spot in the lake, which, they say
IS bottomless-a whirlpool on the other side of the
mountain, where men, venturirg IN bathe, have
been swallowed up; and wizard tree scarce a
league hence, ut which wild tales are told. But
the greatest curiosity of all is the Schalkstein.'
'What is that?
Does Monsieur note yonder conica rock rising
from the midst Of the wood IL crowns the sum
init of a mountain just behind thai we see close
at hand. Within that mounlsin-so rumor saws
"A treasure lies buried
"A treasurer
'Ay--fur thousand years has u lain there.
The sput is marked by strange flower. ,bat
grows and pershes in night. The only night
IN the year. in which it bluums is the eve of ST
John
A curious .radiion-in soo,h'
IL Is believed throughout the country, that he
whu finds that fower-and he alune-is destined
| Ia possess the treasure
Hem-is not to night the eve of ST. John p
1T is
And the moon is full. Why not search for
the flower, and dig for the treasure. Lucas p
Monsieur is pleased to jest. know no, one
flower from another
Well. them will go myself am anxious
to know If there be really any plant peculiar To
this season. whose growth could have orinina,.d
| so singular superstition
Monsieur has taste in flowers
True-Lucas-an in philosophy A walk
IN the moonlight cannot be hurtful at midsum
| mer, and 1t will be something TO think of Should
discover any rare plant-a specimen for the mu-
scum in BerIin--I shall have thanks for il AZ
least. Order supper early
| In the most shaded part of the vslley-sone
miles from the hamlet. stond a small hut. in from,
of a garden carefully cultivated, but SO limited in
Low OH {, Z
About the humble dwelling were evidences of
taste, and love of the beautiful A vine had
been trained so as To cover part of The rude
building, and twined IN graceful wTealhs, min
gled with roses, around the easement A lluIe
piece OF ground before the door was literally
wilderness OF flowers A large oak tree on one
side sheltered The cottage from the sun al noon
and added its share of picturesque beauty
AS the last beams ut sunlight faded from the
mountain tops weary l"uking man. coarsey at
tired, returned from the forest, bearipp his arc
and armful Of wood. He entered the cottage and
seated himself wping his forehead, and cum
planning bitterly os fatigue while the dame. with
care on her brow, was busted in preparing the
evening meal. This consisted Of coarse brown
bread and salt, few wild fruits, and a pitcher of
wafer from the spring. But those who psrto,,k
Of the frugal repast had long been used To no bet
ter fare. The man drew his seat in silence TO
me Iaole, and ate, CHANGING now and then at the
door, as u he expected some one.
Where is Roswitba?' he asked at length pee
vishly. Why comes she notP
will call her presently answered the dame.
She was spinning bat now--and, belize, hath
not yet finished her task
When the meal was ended. the dame went ont
10 seek her daughter. a few PAGES from the
house, in natural arbor, formed by wild vince
clustering over myrtle trees, Young girl was
seated. Her spinning wheel was before her. but
she had ceased work her bands were folded in
her lap; her face was uplifted as if in thoughtful
ness or prayer. So exguisiiey beautiful was il.
and so fair ln9ihe moonlight that poured into the
aTbor, 1t might have seemed the face of an anrel.
hts expression was that Of sadness. and tear
irembled in the soft blue eyes, without escaping
from the fringe Of their lids
Roswtha y said the mother gently.
The young girl started, and passed her hand
over her brow.
it is lpts my daughter, and thy fathor has
asked for tiss'
will come personal---very. mother
Thou hast been weeping oswitha p
Nay
Thou are wont to sing all day like bird on
the mountains. And now mark, thy cheek j.
pale. Hath evil CHANGED to thee, Roswitba /,
would break that thy mothers heart