Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-04-26
LEGENDS OF THE RHINE.
THE DRAGONS 5 ROCK.


The tradition giving the origin of the
name of Drachenfeis Or Dragons Rock.
states that once upon time the mountain
was inhabited by a dragon, whose den
still exists. To this monster the people
pad divine honors, and pampered his ra-
paclous appetite with human victims, who
were usually selected from the enemies
taken during their predatory wars. 1t
chanced that, among other captives,
lovely virgin of high birth, who had be-
come Christian, fell into their hands.
Her surprising beauty excited ardent feel
mgs of love in two of the younger chiefs,
who disputed possession of her charms.
The elders OF the Assembly, fearing that
an object of SO much loveIiness might en-
gender discord and animosity, doomed the
hapless maiden as an offering to their
dreadful idol. Clothed in white-meet
emblem Of her purity-and crowned with
a roseate wreath, she was conducted be-
fore the morning dawn to the mountain.
and her fair and delicate form bound to
the fatal oak, before which was a stone
that served for an al "a. As soon as the
rising sun had gilded the lofty crags of
Dracheniels, and emitted a faint raw of
light into the monsters cavern, with sinu-
Gus and seal y body, and wide-extended
mouth, he writhed towards his prey. A
large concOurse of people had focked from
the surrounding country to witness the
tragic spectacle and few hearts were
found unmoved with compassion at the
tate OF the innocent and unhappy victim.
She, the source of their commiseration.
with beaming eyes 'fixed on the heavens,
and her hand devoutly appraised, seemed
to await, with silent.and pious resignation, |
her impending destruction. As her dire
enemy approached, feeling already the !
banetul influence of his pestilential breath, |
she drew from her bosom a small crucifx, /
and held with firm vet humble confidence
the image of the Saviour opposed to the !
attack of her sanguinary destroyer. In a
the dragons advance was arrested: .
rccoiling with horror and alright, and
sending forth dreadful hissings and hide
Gus yels, he precipitated himself into the /
profound abyss of the neighboring forests,
and was never seen or heard of more. II
was owing to this plous maiden, thus mi
saved, that the Drachenfels be-
came changed from mountain of idolatrv
% a stronghold Of Christianity, where
hose who had been converted by the mir
lcle worshipped.
THE WHITE MAIDEN.
The legend of the s. White Maiden is
connected with Thurnberg. A young no
oleman of st. Goar, while hunting one
day, pursued stag to the ruin, where it I
disappeared. He sought ii in vain, and as
ii was midday, an August midday at that, (
he sought shelter in the shade of ruined
staircase, saying, as he stretched himself
out on the ground, Il wish some kind
fairy would bring me beaker of the
Rhenish wine that the old women say has
been buried for ages in the cellars of this /
old castle Scarce had he spoken
the words, when a beautiful maiden
stepped from a crevice with large beaker +
fowing TO the brim she was arrayed in
white. . fair was she as lily in June
mi her loving eyes made the blood course
asst through the hunters heart. Drink
md be satisfied" said she. and soon his
passions were infamed by love and wine
but just at that moment the maiden dis
ppearcd. In vain did he search for her
he only disturbed the owls and the bats,
md from that day he was changed man.
Wherever he was, but the one thought of
Ter haunted his mind, and his only pleas
ire consisted in ransacking the ruins.
The sun scorched hin-the rain drenched
lim-n jmporte! At length a deadly fe-
-er seized him, and in his delirium he
ought the spot where he had seen the OBJ
Get of his alteration, that he might there
i've up the ghost. But life would not
orsake him, and while in great torment,
he white maiden re-appeared She came
nd bent over him-with conyulsive ef-
ort he raised his head-She kissed his
ips--and with smile of happiness he
ell back and died. No one has seen her
ince,