The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-08-07

"Lisbeth if thou dost not come directly II,
will 60 away without thee, as sure as stand in
here" -
An old clock which hung by the wall point W
cd at the same instant to nine, and struck d.
with a hoarsc tone, Cuckoo. Cuckoo"
"What wretched taste is that" said one S
Of the travellers; 'have you sold the hand b
some clock, and hung this up to plague your b
selves the whole year through with its death f;
note Z"
Yes, yes" said the host, smiling, make 8
yourselves merry at your pleasure over this =,
bird; it brings me in yearly fifty Dutch guild !
ers-a good crop that needs no ti!lage"
Four cannon shots wero heard at the same
moment.
40, heavens" shriekcd Peter Joostens
''the feast has begun. The women take nv
life with their hunting here and there"
But, Peter Joostcns." asked one OF the
travellers, what is this that is going on in the
village: Is it the wake that would be
, odd on Thursday-or is the King coming
t to the villase?"
z at is very extraordinary thing" replied
: the host it is an unheard of thing. If YOU
, knew the story YOU might fill whole book
t with it, without any invention. And the old
h cuckoo here has its place in Blind Rosa's sto-
ry."
Blind Rosa" said the younger traveller,
: astonished, what a charming title. That
would make fine counterpart TO The Sick
Youth"
NAY, that won't do :" said the elder IF
=, we 90 out together to collect material for
stories, We must honorabiy divide the spoil"
We'll, We can hereafter draw lots ior H.
h said the younger, haltrcluctantly.
D." "In the mean time observed the elder,
;. dcte,taLle >hirt-collar from your ears, Peter
d ,Joostcn- aud begi and regularly tell u. ali {:
e and for your reward YOU shall have book
# as soon aS it is printed
d Now have no time for it answered the
re host; Il hear my wife coming down stairs :.
lie but come along with us TO the village, and on
lie the way will tell YOU why the cannon are
" fired and the music plays.
The. hostess entered the room. and dazzed
p, the travellers ewes by her dress, SO did it
III blaze in all the color's of the rainbow She
Is rushed up TO her husband, pulled up his shirt
ut collar Co.. high .I.., o...-. .r.l his arm
and issued out of doors with him. The two
ut travellers accompanied them, and Peter Joos-
er tens related to his attentive hearers the whole
le story of Tall Jan and Blind Rosa; and though
at he had almost talked him>el. out of breath,
he became bc>ciged with all sorts of questions.
They learned of him, however, that Herr
> Slaets bought of him the old cuckoo clock,
that ii might hang in its former place in the
inn; that Tall Jan had been four and thirty
years i'll Russia, and i'll the fur trade had be-
come very rich, That he had bought an es-
~ tate and meant to live upon it with Blind
Rosa and the besom maker Nelis' family
- whose children he had already adopted. Tha
g., he had given the srave-dgger considerable
sum of money; and, finally, that this evenin;
" there was to be held grand folks OIL
the estate, for which occasion a whole calf wa
-, Wv to be roasted, and two whole copper-iuls OF
-, rice tcrmety to be boiled.
Peter Joostens ceased as they came benin
-, a house upon great byroad. And now tn
"' travellers listened no longer, for they were r,
solved to be present. and see all the sayct
which offered itself to their gaze.
IL All the houses in the village were adorne
49,, with green boughs, bound together with ga
lands Of white and many-colored flowers, al
between these, over the heads of the spect
tors, hung everywhere testoons. with sms
lamps and with large red letters. Here a,
l.; there stood stately May-poe, with hundre
dy of little flags eltering with tinsel, and ador
ed with garands of birds; s;eggs and pieces
my glass. Along the sides of the way the DO
ceie- and girls had laid wreaths of flowers upon
r. ver-whte sand and bound them together
e' us regular distances, showing the alternating
ltlaS d. ana IL. LOT Jan anu Rosd, tile ih't
ton of the schoolmastcr.
reter Amongst all this ornament swarmed
n the throng of spectators from the neighbour
villages to witness this extraordinary VI
ected ding. The young travellers went from {
group to another, and listened to what
and people said. But before the procession, ,wh
mo- came across the fields, arrived at the villa
!. Pe- they hastened to the church, and placed tht
the selves in front of it on a mound so that Il
lg IN might overlook the whole.
greet They beheld the procession with feel
smile almost bordering on -veneraton an
ntest- really was so beautiful and touching that
H. tor heart of the younger one beat with poetic
ut his ture. More than sixty young girls from
to ten years of age came clad in white,
-I, with childhood's enchanting smile, like !
49, bright clouds floating through the azure
., w ven. Upon their free locks, hanging arc
their fresh countenanccs, rested garland:
- monthly roses. which seemed to conten'
:.Ll.- beauty with the verme lips of the childl
at is like saga of Andersen's," said
.. ,ou younger of the companions 1.-THE syl phs
Quilted the bosoms of tho flowers. lnnoc
ou, =. and simplicity, youth and JOY . wha
onons enchanting picture"
Nf''' ,.tL ,b s,;1 tba 6.bor ttbare com