The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-06-15
- From tae Home Journal.
The G0atherd.

I DIOOflltI
upon the hills, and the wall wort on tho edge oi
the forest or among the hedges which enclosed
heids md gardens; and the senners that is, the
lcowherds and the eoatherds Of the Ptister-yaliey
prepared for departure with their flocks 10 the
beautiful pasture among the Alps For miles O.
ven before the dr0ves Of cattle came in sight could
the bells Of the herds and the merry lowing Of
the cows be heard, for Peter Sable, the biz sen
ner, alone, drove more than one hundred COWS TO
the Alps. Slowly, and with solemn mien, he hca.
ded the procession. In his hand he carried the
long staff, and his hat and shoes were adorned
with loops and rosettes Of many colored ribbons.
Close behind him, and. as it we're initiating him
IN grandeur and pride, followed the beauty Of the
herd, the queencow, the victress of the cow-fgh,s
winch frequently take place IN the Alps As n
Idiadem, she wore an immense wreath of mountain
flowers, and her large bell was suspended from
her neck by an embroidered collar Behind her
came the other cows, all adorned with variegated
ribbons, with wreaths, boquets and merry bells
following these. came the keeper of the Young
cattle, with the calves and oxen and lastly came
Seppi the goatherd, with hi. numberless flock o,
goats, handsome and good boy Of about four
teen years, with long blonde curls, tall, well.
formed bgure, and SO kind an expression Of face
that every child in the valley was fond of him
No one, at all the farm houses which the inlpo
sing procession passed paid much attention to the
valn and stylish senner who proudly strutted in
front OF his herd, but young and old had smile
and friendly nod for Seppi who looked extremc
y well in his red vest and clear white shrt-colar
and even the boys SAID to each other: Just look,
what fine fellow our Sepp is he will be the
smartcst man in the valley when he once gets n.
long in the world, and earns money 10 dress him.
self better But just look at the senner: he looks
like 81 Stephen IN cabbage gardenl" and al!
| Ian. Iai md 4, a,
When the drovers had reached the plains n.
mong the Alps, and the cattle quietly saught pas.
ture, the herds divided, and Seppi with lis goats
came near pretty large pond The yoatherd
was tired Of his long walks and stretched himself
among the high grass by the waters edge: and
although the sun still stood very high it was cool
Ell by the waters side, and geu;lc air rppled
the waves, ard the blue sky reelected It's iniare
back on the surface of the clear water. Seppi
always was happy at heart, though hc was the
poorest lad in the whole Pusler- valley, but to day
he was especially happy, because spring had re-
turned upon the beautiful gr eu Alls, and our
boy could again take his herds TO pasture upon
I the rich blooming mcadows And for ihi. rc:,.,i
he sang one merry song after tie other for the
world aud all around him delighted lin.
! Suddenly, as he lay quietly in the high gra,e
he saw a light fog arse on the topof the waters
and the fog became thicker and thicker cyarv mo
mcnt lie closely watched thI- phcnuue a. and
observed i most lnyey figure gr ,iuaily cucr.in,
from the fog as fiQm n CLOSE veil. She wore a
wreathe Of water lilies around her luug black
hair, n golden crawn rested upon that anG in Il
midst uf the crorn sparkled hrs. diamond
She was more beautiful than the picture Of the
Madonna IN the forest chapel. which was tie
m",t tvau'ifu th'ny sep; had os"- "e.',
ii wonder II tIatis lie II f,ry Scppi thought
IN 4
way. But the beautiful lady bcckuncd him. and
said, "Sin, that beautiful song again my boy, fur
that has called me hi.her a.d / will Inhly reward
yuu for It,"
We'll sad Scppi To himself ne he lost MI fear,
SIZE speaks 81 kindly and 50 friendly and think
SIC l. too beautiful 10 do me any harm. a, .tupid
people say that m lrinaid' are apt 20 do" And
h. -uuc hlS song lgin anl agin, unil tie firy
ipliii,d that she was obi geI to him and had
he ri enough
81 will now give you a cup full Of gold sand {;
with imtyou can buy land, line people, and have
/ rs Og u herd "a NUar seuner' she said. "Or PET
( Ihlp- you have auo;Aer wish, wlich you wan: mc
10 fulfil e
"lf You are q water f.irv," replied Scppi conf.
IDENTIFY, 81 would rather that sou showed ulr your
sub marine domi,i,ns 1t must be very COO! and
beautiful beneath the blue waters"
| Give me your hand therr' sal the fiiry. who
guided him across the waters, and Sepri found 10
his astunl,hment that lis feet remained peifrctiv
dry; in the middle uf the pond she stopped aud
touched The surflcc uf the water with small
wand of whalebune; aud the waves opened. and
n large staircase appeared, the steps uE WI ich
were uf pure crystal, the fairy conducted Seppi
| down the starr. who wondered whether down
below there he would find such beautiful green
mats and such handsome flowers n aboyc where
t.U1 4 l.1..a 4
jumped down three or four steps at a time, in or.
der to bc quickly there. But this was not 80 easi.
| ly DONE for he seemed 10 have walked more than
m hour already and still the stairs appeared to
have no end. But every moment the fairy seem.
cd To him more beautiful. he loved her more and
more, and It appeared rs II all TINT shonG around
hIm only came from her evcS, which were a. blue
as the horizon he loved 10 hook upon Her hnni
WAS as white as snow. and her nails looked Ike
painted ruSe.leayes her small flt scarcely touch
ed the ground, and laId like lily IN its sandal
Scppl could not cease looking nj her and he felt,
Of sudden as If i, would be the greatest misfnr.
tune that could happen 20 him, II he were com.
PEELED again 10 separate from her iur in nil the
world, as far as he had seen il he had never SEEN
] anything rs beautiful ms the water fairy and he
required no other IN from her than the pcrluiss
ion to remain near her "a long rs he should live.
And this he told her in NIL confidence, and even
before they had reached her domains hu, though
she listened to thusc words with kindly smile.
aud gently smooihed has golden hair, she madame
reply
| Then Seppi took courage and sai IL, did you
not promise me- in payment for my sang. 20 fulfil
my dearest wisht Now there will never b. any
tlrng 70 dear to me as yourself and therefore yon
must 60 with me To the beautiful green Alps, and
always remain there with me"
u dare M, live hy the light, or among men
answered lac f,iry, sadly and cannot, therefore,
grant you HAT wish, Ne much as ! might desire TO
do - Lu. come first down to my dwelling, and
you viii tinI many other things worthy uf Your
, wish
"lf YOU dare not return to the light with me,
no one ,h.l prevent me from staying down below
here with YOU and that yon may see that am in
earnest in MY request Just have tie stairs destroy
Ell ~ soon NJ we nrc down, fnr. without you do
not with To return 10 lie world"
"ony once every hundred years. md then only
fnr one day. | may rise above III. surface Of the
waters snid the fairy. "and no ons but myself
can conduct YOU back to your home Therefore
consider well what you desire; for | either lead
YOU up this day before the sun goes down, ar you
must remain u hundred wears here in the depths
of the water And if even conduct you back
If afterwards YOU should change your mind,