Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-02-22
THE THnrr HUscHBAcks OF DoUAl


of river, near bridge. The master
of this castle was hunchbacked. Ma
ture had exhausted her ingenuity in
the formation of his whimsical figure.
In place of understanding she had given
him an immense head, which. neverthe-
less was lost between his two shoul-
ders; he had thick hair, short neck,
and horrible visage. Spite of his de-
formity, this burgher bethought himself
of falling in love with beautiful young
woman, the daughter of poor but re-
spectacle burgher of Doual. He sought
her in marriage, and as he was the
richest person in the district, the poor
girl was delivered mp to him.
After the nuptials he was as much an
object of pity as she; for, being de-
voured by jealousy, he had no tran
guilty night nor day, but went prying
and rambling everywhere, and suffered
no stranger to enter the castle. One
day during the Christmas festival, while
standing sentinel at his gate, he was ac-
costed by three hunchback minstrels.
They saluted him as brother; as such
asked him fer refreshments, and at the
same time, to establish the fraternity,
they ostentatiously shouldered their
humps at him. Contrary to cxpecta-
ton, he conducted them to his kitchen,
gave them capon with peas, and to
each piece Of money, over and above.
Before their departure, however, he
warned them never to return, on pain of
being thrown into the river. At this
threat of the Chatelain the Ministries
laughed heartily, and took the road 10
the town, singing in full chorus, and
dancing in grotesque manner, in deri-
sion of their brother hump of the castle.
He on his part, without paying further
attention, went to walk in the fields.-
The lady, who saw her husband cross
the bridge, and heard the minstrels,
called them back to amuse her. They
had not been long returned to the castle,
when her husband knocked at the gate,
by which she and the minstrels were
equally alarmed; fortunately the lady
perceived in neighboring room three
empty Golfers. Into each of these she
stuffed a minstrel, shut the covers, and
then opened the gate to her husband
He had only come back to espy the con-
duct of his wife, as usual, and after a
short stay went out anew, at which you
may believe bis wife was not dissatisfied.
She instantly ran to the Golfers to release
her prisoners; for night was approach
ing, and her husband would not proba-
bly, be long absent. But what was her
dismay when she found them ali three
sufocated-
Lamentation was useless. The main
object now was to get rid of the dead
bodies, and she had not moment to
lose. She ran to the gate, and seeing
peasant pass by, she offered him re-
ward of thirty livres, and leading him
into the castle, she took him to one of
the Golfers, and showing him its con-
tents, told him he must throw the dead
body into the river. He asked for a
sack, put the carcass into it, and then
returned, quite sut of breath, to claim
the promised reward.
4 certainly intend to reward you, >
said the lady, but you ought first to
fulfill the conditions of the bargain; you
have agreed to rid me of the body,
have you not? There, however, it is
STILL
Saying this, she showed him to the
other Golfer, in which the second hump
backed minstrel had expired.
At this sight the clown was perfectly
confounded-
'How-deuce-come back-a sorce-
rerP
He then stuffed the body into sack
and threw it over the bridge. taking
care to put the head down, and to OBJ
serve that it sunk. Meanwhile the lady
had changed the position of the Golfers,
so that the third was now in the place
which had been successfully occupied
by the two others. When the peasant
returned, she showed him the remain
ing dead body.
You are right, friend said she; he
must be magician, for there he is
again.
The rustic CRASHED his teeth with
rage.
what the duce-am / to do nothing
but carry about this humpback?'
He then lifted him up, with dreadful
imprecations. and having tied stone
round his neck, threw him into the mid
die of the current, and threatened if he
came out again to despatch him with a
cudgel. The first object that presented
itself to the clown on his way back for
his reward, was the hunchbacked mas
ter of the castle, returning from his eve
ming walk, and making towards the gate.
At this sight the peasant could not re-
strain bis fury.
Dog of a hunchbaek are you there
again.
So saying, he sprang upon the Cbate-
lain. threw him over his shoulder, and
hurled him headlong into the river after
the minstrels.
I 'PD venture wager you've not seen
| him this last time,' said the peasant, en-
/ tering the room where the lady was