The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-06-15
VOL. X.-NO. 46.

anything of this attempt No. he would never
endanger the life Of this beautiful and kind friend
as little as lie would lesye her for he knew how
much she loved him and that she would Weep
her clear blue eyes blind if he we're to desert her
But rs he thought SO, he had already gained the
last steps; and now all his good intentions were
suddenly forgotten, he would and must again b.-
hold the beautiful green earth and the blue sky
and with all his strength he pressed against the
crystal ceiling, through which he had entered RS
through door.
The fairy who, as I have above related, was
watching close behind for n child, now suddenly
perceived her faithless favorite; she saw his dan
ger; he would Immediately die if he left her do.
mains (whitherh he had gone OF his own free will)
alone; she saw that the door began to move. by
the heavy pushes Of Seppi, and forgot her own
safety in her anxiety 10 save him Quick as
lightning she flew to hs side, took him by the
hand, aud she herself opened the portal, SO that
Seppi in an instant was above the waters
Greedily lie breathed the fresh mountain air
that waited across the Alps--bu., alas IA broad
ray of the sun fell Ike melted gold through the
portal upon the poor fairy, and with dying voice
she sighed aloud. Frightened, Ssppi turned and
looked around towards her. md he saw how the
folds of the green veil she wore turned into green
leaves. her feet and golden sandals changed into
yellow roots and her tall beautiful figure appear
ed "a reed shrub above the water. And then
the waves took Seppi, and carried him playufy
to the shore be rubbed bis eyes, stretched ont
his arms towards the reed, which few moments
before had stood BY his side. but which now rais-
ed its head in the middle Of the pond, and reach.
ed its thin trembling arms languishingly towards
the shore 4 soft wall and sigh passed through
the reeds, and cut like bitter reproach through
poor Seppis soul. lie covered his face with his
hands, and ran away, so not 10 the sad reed.
shrub any more, Thus he finally reached the sen.
nor's cottage, which belonged to his master, Peter
Saibel There he found an old man, Of whom he
inquired for the senner
81 am the senner," replied the other
"But what has become Of Peter Sabelr asked
Seppi, in astonishtnent
"Why youngster, you must have been drinking"
replied the old man; "Saibel owned this senners
hut long before me, and has been dead these eigh.
ty years. My father used to tell me the story
about him, and about young lad, ang that both
of them had disappeared OH the very same day
and that i; was Just on the day when the cattle
were driven out for the first time in spfDg--Pe.
tcrs body was found by some Of the mountain
GERS; but he had always been loose character,
and stayed, perhaps too late at the tavern then
he probably crossed harach frozen snow drift
between the mountains) and was lost. But the
young lad, the goathegd, neyer was heard OF Il
gain"
At first Sepp thought the old man was crazy
but young maiden came in, who seemed 10 as.
sert all that her father had said. Eighty yearl
then had passed and this long time had seemed
To him, Whilst in the fairy dominiuns, scarcely as
many days If he only had but a little more pa.
jience century would have been passed, and the
beautiful fairy might have brought him back to
the lps without losing her life in tie attempt
And now MI Joy for him was at m end, for he
could indeed no longer look upon the clear blue
sky, with pure heart md a clear conscience; for
had EenUt become stained with gui!t--did not the
death of the beautifl! fairy rest upon bis mindl
He no longer found Joy in contemplating tile
mountains, and the valleys, OF 10 the bright sim
slime; nll the day long he lay by the side Of the
lake, and Listened to the sad signing Of the reeds.
Nay he even once passed night there, in order
that be might be as near rs possible to the fairy
lie ihen dreamed that he saw her again floating
upon the water, rs lie had first behcd her, wrap
ped in a thin green veil Of fog, and that she r.
gum in all her beauty md lovliRess offered him
her hand 10 conduct him down TO her submarine
palacn. And be hastily arose to- walk towards
her, but no kind hand now held him above the
wate. he sank-anj the cool waves closed over
him For a moment the mirror Of the lake trem-
bled and shook and then it again became quiet
ani calm as before.
Srppi never again rose from the waters; and
70 this daya soft signing and murmuriugis heard
through the reeds tia; grow IN solitary lakes and
ponds and that is the endless sorrow Of the poor
transformed fairy, for her .oat iavOritc.