The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-09-17

Il
Erzsi began, in low voice, to relate as fol-
lows:
Not far from here is a large market-town,
which, with other estates in the country, be-
came the property Of German Count, on his
marriage with the only daughter Of a rich
magnate. After tho death of this lady--who
held some office about the person Of the En-
press-her husband came from Vienna to live
ON the estates, which he administered during
the minority of his two sons, as their guar
dian. Great alterations were now introduced.
The old officials and serVants-most Of whom
had inherited their situations from father to
son. for generatiOns-were replaced by Aus
trians. Before long, not word oil Hungarian
was to be heard in the castle, the family itself
did not understand syllable of the language.
! All judicial proceedings were transacted in
German; none of the officials had the slightest
acquaintance with our mother tongue; and, if
the poor peasant brought forward complaint
or petition, he was not only unable to make
himself understood, but was even mocked and
insulted on that account. When thus woun-
ded in his tenderest feeling, (his pride, in our
noble language,) he appealed to the Count
himself, he gained but repetition of the same
treatment, only accompanied with increased
scorn. The sole results of every such attempt
was appreciation for the officials, and harsh
words or blows for the peasant. Despair fell
gradually on the people, like an endless night,
and wore deep burrows in their haggard faces.
Janos was a gamekeeper, and had until now
led a life of domestic happiness with his wife
and child. He was replaced by an ignorant
upstart, better skilled in the arts of fawning
and flattery, than those of hunting and wood
craft.
Driven from his house and home, Janos re-
moved with his family 10 a clay hut, on the
banks of the Danube, not far from the castle.
He tried in many ways to provide for their
support; but, like his father and his grand
father, he was only huntsman. His skill,
therefore, was limited to the green forest, and
his unerring ball. His utmost efforts in field
work and fishing, brought small gain and
great vexation.
His child fell ill, and the blooming cheel
of his young wife grew pale from want anC
anxiety. Janos knew not where to turn. Tht
village doctor had declared meat and nour
ishing food to be the only medicine for mOthe
and child. The prescription was received IL
silence; it was given with the coldness AM
indifference Of one who, grown dull to sucl
sad scenes by their frequent repetition, care
little whether the advice he gives eau be fol
lowed or not.
For many hours after the departure of tn
doctor, they remained broOding gloOmily owe
his words. The young wife had at last
through sheer weariness, fallen asleep, witt
her little one on her arm. The huntsmal
gazed on the mother and child, and two larg
tears-strange visitants to his proud face
fell down his cheeks on to his dark beard -
Suddenly his eye flashed. A resolve seeme
to burst, struggling from him; his lips grey
pale. StealthilY he arose; and cropping i'll tn
straw that formed his bed, drew forth dou
bled- -barreled gun from its cOncealment;
he threw over his shoulders his large bnHde!
and, hiding beneath it gun, pouch and powde
flask. he fastened through the doorway.
1t was already dusk, when the crying of he
child for food awoke Terka from fcVeris
sleep. She raised herself with difficulty, look
ed around, and saw she was alone. Wher
; !; was Janosp She knew that for week he ha
been without work; what could have induce
him to forsake his sick wifc2 A horrible fore
boding, which she could not define, seized her
y She rushed out, and called him with a lou
/, voice. There was no answer. She returne
to the hut, took the wailing child in her arms
and darted from house to house in the village
:. asking for her husband. Some had not see
him others answered with embarrassment
: and sought to persuade her to return to tn
hut. This only rendered the dark image {
coming evil more distinct. Onward and on
!, ward, nameless presentiment seemed to i'm
: night had completely closed in. The starv
!. ing child shuddered on the breast Of its mothe
! who, though only half.clothed, neither felt tn
raw night-wind, nor needed her infants cry
u She had now arrived in front OF the Castle; til
" gates were wide open, but the entrance WI
o filled with crowd Of people. Terka stoppe
: for moment, and turned her large black ey
! on the bystanders, who, motiOnless with tel
. rOr, stood gazing towards the interior Of Il
, castle-yard
IL Silence reigned for moment; loud, no
: rible cry then pierced the air-One that seemC
. rather forced from a sense OF powerless raj
= than from pain, A cold shudder ran throqe
all present; Terka had sunk on her knees, b
n rose at once; and with the strength of MAJ
: ness, pushed aside her neghbors who sougl
y to detain her, reached the space within.
4 Itwas lighted by the ruddy glare of torche
:. held by number Of servants who were RAM
r ed around. The husband lay bound wi
cords; and the Kissing scourges fell with fea
n full rapidity upon him. A few PAGES distal
! stood the gray headed Count with his tv
il beardless sons. All three appeared to loo
: upon the scene as on an unexpected excit
/. ment. If groan or cry from the poacher d
q had been caught in the act) caused the ex
!, cutioner, who had been created for the o.
n casiOn, to pause involuntarily, a heavy bio
q on his shoulder, dealt by the right hand
3 his gracious lord, taught him to do his dut
4 better; and, urged by afeeling Of revenge, !
a visited this insult to himself with threcfo
force on his victim.
/, Terka gazed with vacant eyes; no cry g
d capped her lips. The storm had Ioosened h
If long black hair, which she thrust from b
b pallid brow as though she wished 10 see mo
z clearly. Mechanically she drew nearer
J. her husband--and now he secs her A frei
Is scream of rage burst from him--it was like
human sound
y "AwayI' he cried, in the Hungarian tongu
Ie "what would an angel do among demonsF'
le The young wife made no reply; uncoI
10 sciously, she opened her arms--the child fe
g on the stones Of the courtyard, and she sar
y fainting by its side.
Is Silently, as at the funeral procession Of
IS murdered man, did the neighbors carry Il
Is father, mother, and child, all three cOver'