Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-05

sake-quick =
Such like ordinations rcsounded on all
sides. Let US follow the crowd
The engine, with its heavy load now
rolls out Of the village, aud through the
peaceful fields and meadows the frult-trees
/ by the roadside seem 10 dance past in the
Pickering light; and sUon the crowd hurry,
helter-skelter, through the forest The
birds are awakened 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 llumined
as at noon-day, while shrieks and the alarm
bell are heard, as If the flames had found 4
voice.
See what is yonder white, phost-like
form, in iuttering dress, on the skirts Of
! the forest The wheels creak and rattle
along the stony road-no sounds can be
distinguished in the confusion. Away
help away
The folks are now seen flying from the
! village with their goods and charlottesville
/ dren in their bare shirts and with naked
/ feet-carryng off beds aud chairs, pots and
/ pans Has the fire spread so featluily, or
is this all the effect of frightl
Where's the FIRE 2
At Hans, the Fiddlers
And the driver lashed his horses, and
every man seemed to press forward with in
creased ardour to fly to the succour.
As they approached the spot, it was clear
! ly impossible to save the burning cottage
and all efforts were therefore directed to
prevent the flames extending to the adloin-
ing houses Just then everybody was bu-
sIed IN trying 10 save horse and two cows
from the shed but the animals, terrified
by the fire, would not quit the spot until
their eyes were baudaged, and they were
driven out by force
Where's old Hans ? was the cry on all
sides.
Burnt in his bed, to a certainty, said
some. Others declared that he had escap-
ed Nobody knew the ;ruth
The old fiddler had neither child nor
kinsiolk, aud yet all the people gfieyed for
him; and those who had come from the
villages round about, reproached the iuha-
biiauts for not having looked after the fate
OF the poor fellow. Presently it was report
ed that he had been ~ Urban the smith ;
barn; another said that he was sitting up
IN the church, crying and moaning the
first time he had been there without his fid-
die. But neither in the barn nor Ia the
church was old Hans to be found, and again
II was declared that he had been burnt to
death IN his house, and that his groans had
actually been heard but 1t 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 smouldering RUNS
The folks from distance SET out on their re-
turn.
strange appartIon was now seen com
ing down the mouniau-side a. # out o
the gray mists of morning In a cart drawn
by two oxen, sat hargard figure, dressed
IN hls bare shirt, aud his shoulders wrsppec
~ d horse-cloth. The morning breeze play
ed 90 the long white lock, OF the old man
whose wan features were framed, as 1t wer,
by short, bristly snow-whte beard, II
his hands be clutched a fiddle aud fiddle
stick 1t was old Hans, tie village fiddler
Some of the lads had found him al the edg
of the forest, on the spot where we ha'
caught glimpse of ban, looking like
ghosty appautIon, as We ratified past Wit
the engine There he was found siandlu
in his shirt, and holding his fiddle IN bot
his hands, tightly pressed to his breast.
As they drew near the village, he too
his fiddle aud played his faYourie waltz
Every eve was turned on the strange-look
ing man, and all welcomed his return, as
he had risen from the grave.
Give me a drink = he exclaimed to tn
first person who held out hand to him.
I'm burnt up with thirstr
glass OF water was brought him.
Bah 2 cried the old man 'twere a 81
to quench such thirst as nine with waite
5rlng me some wine Or has the horn
red cock drunk up all my wine, too ?
And again he Tell to tiddling Justify M
Ill they arrived at the spot of the fire. II
got down from the cart, and entered
neighbours cottage. All the folks presse
up TO the old fiddler, rendering words
comfort, and promising that they would a
o. he p him to rebuild ms cottage.
sc No, no = replied Hans 'tis all well.
MS have no hOme-l'm one of the cdckC
e tribe, that has no resting place Of its ow
ht and only now and then slips into the swa
ell lows nest. For tie shor time have
live, shall have no trouble in finding qua
est ters wherever 60 | can now climb l
elr into tree again, and look down upon Il
ed world in which | have no longer anythII
Ids to call my own, Ay, ay, twas wrong
cir me ever TO have had anything of my ov
no except my precious little fiddle here
on No objection was raised to the reasonli
re- of the old strange man, aud the countr
w folks from distance went their ways hoT
with the satisfaction of knowing that /
use old fiddler was still alive and well. Ha
; properly belonged to the whole count
ow round about; his loss would have beer
OF public one much as if the old linden TT,
in on the Landeck Hill. close by, had be
ect thrown down Unexpectedly in the night.
ard Hans was as merry grig when c
the par, the smith, gave him an old shirt,
carpenter Joseph pair OF breeches-a
so on.
ed Well, to be sure, folks may nuw
ark that | carry the whole village on my bacl
led said he, and he gave to each article of dr.
OF the name of the donor. A coat, lnde'
IN like this, which friend has worn nc
OF smooth for one, fits to Il. was never
ON my ease in a new coat . and Won knO,