Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-05

HOSPITALITY.
FROM THE GERMAN OF F. JACOBS,


overtaken by night and stopped at the house
of peasant, which lay short distance
from the banks of the river, under cover of
a cliff, overshadowed on both sides by old
nut-trees, which all around, up to the very
branches were enveloped with luxurious
growth of ivy. Before the house extended
the next courtyard in the back ground of
which leafy arbor of vines occupied nearly
the whole front wall of the house. Here
sat the owner of the house on his wooden
bench, the house dog at his feet, the maiIens
spinning at his side, and at little distance
the boy, who is engaged in making net
AS l entered the door of the house the
house dog raised himself, looked out at me
with his head bent forward and barked
several times, but SO lightly that every one
saw plainly that he only wished to give the
customary notice which was his duty. Even
that was to me good omen; and recol-
lected at the moment the saying of an old
poet that zone on entering house can
judge of his reception by the manner of the
dog" And at the present occasion the
omen remained good. 1 should be saluted
in the most cordial manner, led into the
house, abundantly supplied with food and
drink and finally conducted to a bed lofty
enough, and sufficiently large for three
others if it had been necessary. Then |
truly felt that were | to take the seat where
the father of the house. sat by the road side,
that when a wanderer should pass by, [
would invite him under the roof and re-
ceive him at the freside without asking
whence he came, what was his occupation
or how long he intended to stay.
For precisely like myself Ulysses enters
unknown the house of Eum@us, his old
servant. He too sat in front of his house
in a shady place, pacifying the dogs; and
after preparing for the stranger high seat
of soft furs, asks him to be seated, and sets
before him wine and food And when
Ulysses had refreshed himself with the
friendly entertainment. and wished the
giver blessing, he says: 81 am not al
lowed, even if a bad man pass by, to despise
him as a stranger; for the stranger and
the poor are equally under Gods protec-
ton"
so thought also my honest host in the
Engadinathal; and when at break of day l
was making preparations to leave, he
grasped nay hand with these words: Why
do you wish to depart so soon? Stay near
me and welcome" And when 1 replied
81 thank you for the kind wish which you
show toward me, but shall be a burden to
you," then he laid hold of my hand again,
and led me to q granary full Of corn and
wheat stored up, to a vault we'll stocked
with provisions of all kinds, to a cellar full
of old and young wines, aud finally to the
feeding, in their overlooking cribs. When l
had looked on them all in establishment, he
said: you have just seen all these. Is it
not right that should entertain you and
many others like you, when my dwelling
greets them? Therefore, remain as long
as you can; and the longer you stay, the
more grateful shall be to YOU"
l could not resist such friendly words,
and remained a whole week. During the
day L made excursions into the country
around, and was received each night at my
return with a. cordial welcome. At the
end of this period, when had taken leave
in earnest, the old man pressed my hand
and said: 81 should be gratifed if it would
please you to remain longer with US for
you have seen that you are not burden to
us. But this is our way; we receive our
guests with love, and when he will leave u.s.
We do not resist his desire''
This was now again in true homeric style,
where. Aenetaus said to Telemachus leaving
HIM" will not keep you longer here
since you desire to return; for it is alike
wrong to repulse the stranger and to restrain
him when he wishes to depart"
But now that the end might be homeric.
We exchanged presents; he presented me
with the picture of his house and the neigh
bOrhOOd which n German arti IT had skatcb