Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-06-05
S ELECT TALE
Hans, the Fiddler.
BY BERTHoLD AUERBACH.


yalloping along at the top of his speed, his
rider CRYING aloud. 'Fire-Fire Help, no
Fire = Away he rides straight to the church,
and presently the alarm-bell is heard pealing
from the steeple.
1t is no easy matter TO arouse the harvest
folks, after hard days work, from their first
sound sleep; there they lie, stretched as un.
consciously the corn in the fields which they
have reaped in the sweat of their brow But
wake they must-there is no help for l.. The
stable-boys are the first the alert-every one
anxious TO win the reward which, time out OF
mind, has been given TO the person who, on
the occasion of fire, is the first to reach the
engine-house with harnessed horses. Here
and there light is seen al cottage lattice-a
window is opened-the men come running out
of doors, with their coats half drawn on, or in
their shirt sleeves. The villagers all collect
about the market-house, and the cry is heard
on all sides, Where is it. Where is the
fret
In Elbingen.'
Question and answer were alike unheeded,
for in the distance, behind the dark pine-furest,
the whole sky was ilumined with bright-red
glow, il the Stiffness of the night, like the
glow Of the setting sun; while every now and
then shower of sparks rose into the air, as if
shot out from blast furnace.
The night was still and calm, and the stars
shone peacefully on the silent earth.
The horses are speedily put TO the fre-en-
gine, the buckets placed in row, couple of
torches lighted, and the torch-bearers stand
ready on either side holding Oh 10 the engine,
which is instantly covered with men.
Quick out with another pair of horses
two can't draw such a load down with the
torches No, no they're all right-'tis the
old wayr-Drive off, for Heavens sake
quick
Such like exclamations resounded on all
sides. Let us follow the crowd.
The engine, with Its heavy load now rolls
out of the village, and through the peaceful
fields and meadows: the fruit-trees BY the
road side seem to dance past IN the flickernc
light: and soon the crowd hurry, helter-skel-
ter, through the forest. The birds are awak-
ened from sleep, and fly about in alright, and
can scarcely find their way back TO their warm
nests. The forest is at length passed, and
down below, in the valley, lies the hamlet,
brightly illumined as at noon-day, while
shreks and the alarm-bell are heard, as if the
flames had found a voice.
See what is yonder white, ghost-like FORM
in tluttering dress, on the skirts of the forest.
road-no sounds can be distinguished in the
confusion. Away help! away
The folks are now seen flying from the vii
lage with their goods and chatlels-chiIdreni in
their bare shirts and with naked feet-carry-
ing off beds and chairs, pots and pans. Has
the fire spread so fearfully, or is this all the
effect of fright!
Where the fire
AT Hans, the Fiddler's.'
And the driver lashed his horses, and every
man seemed to press forward with increased
ardur to fly TO the succor.
As they approached the spot, it was clearly
impossible to save the burning cottage; aud
all efforts were therefore directed to prevent
the flames extending 10 the adjoining houses.
Just then everybody was busted In trying to
save a horse and two COWS from the shed but
the animals, terrified by the fire, wonld not
quit the spot until their eyes were bandaged,
and they were driven out by force.
Where's old Hansl' was the cry on all
sides.
Burnt in his bed. TO a certainty said some
Others declared that he had escaped. Nobody
knew the truth.
The old fiddler had neither child nor kins-
folk, and yet all the people grieved for him !;
and those who had come from the villages
round about, reproached The inhabitants for not
having looked after the fate of the poor fellow.
Presently it was reported that he had been
seen in Urban the smiths barn; another said
that he was sitting up in the church crying and
moaning-the first time he had been there
without his fiddle. But neither in the barn,
nor in the church was old Hans to be found,
and again it was declared that he had been
burnt TO death in his house, and that his groans
had actually been heard but, it was added,
all too late to save him, for the flames had al
ready burst through the roof, and the glass of
the windows was sent flying across the road
The day was just beginning to dawn, when
all danger OF the fire spreading was past and
leaving the smoudering ruins, the folks from
distance set out on their return.
A strange apparition was now seen coming
down the mountain side, as if out of the gray
mis,s of morning. In cart drawn by two OK
en-, sat haggard figure, dressed in his bare
shirt, and his shoulders wrapped in a horse
cloth. The morning breeze played in the long
white locks of the old man, whose wan features
were framed. as II were. by shurt, bristly,
snow-white beard In his hands he cutched a
fiddle and fddle-stck 1t was old Hans, the
village fiddler. Some of the lads had found
him at the edge of the forest, on the spot where
we had caught glimpse of him, looking like
a ghostly apparlton, as we ratlled past with
the engine There he was found standing in
his shirt, and holding his fiddle in both his
hands, tightly pressed to his breast
AS they drew near the village. he took his
fiddle and played his favorite waltz. Every
eve was turned the strengthening man,
and all welcomed his return as if he had risen
from The grave. .....
drin ha ,bo
person who held out hand to him. lin
burnt up with ihirstp
A glass of water was brought him.
BAH cried the old man; 'twere a sin tc
ouench such thirst as mine with water
bring me some wine.! Or has the horrid rec
cock drunk up all my wine, tooP 49,.
And again he fell TO fiddling Justify, unit
they arrived at the spot OF the fire. lie 60
down from the cart, and entered nelghbor
cstage. All the folks pressed up to the "it
fiddler, rendering words of comfort, and prom
ising that they would all help hun TO rebull'
his cottage. .,
No, no. replied Hans 'tis all well.
have no home-l'm m one of the cuckoo tribe
thai has no resting place of It's own, and only
now and then slips into the swallow S nest
For the short time have TO live, shall hav.
no trouble in finding quarters wherever ] go
/ can now climb up iuto tree again, and look
down upon the world in which have no long
er anything to call my own. Ay, ay, twas
wrong in me ever to have had anything of my
own except my precious little fiddle here =
No objection was raised to the reasoning O
the strange old man, and the country-folk.
f,5mn distance went their ways home with tht
satisfaction of knowing that the old fiddle