The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-09-21


the lapse Of time, and every evening wa
spent in lovely twilight walks ; for in th'
hours lha, darkness was upon the earth, ,h'
us,er Of the diamond would wax dim here
below; au artificial night then succeeded
not dark indeed, but pale as the evening
glimmer in the aisles Of some antiqualed
abbey. On such occasions Hans was ever
pleased and cheerful, but Eliza would oien
think Of the life above, where men dwell
beneath the changing orbs Of Heaven
Still, however, this was but passing shad
ow Of the moment in listening TO him she
loved, all else was speedily forgotten.
!, once happened tha, they walked far,h.
or than was their custom, till ,ley at last
found themselves beneath the very spo,
where the mountain opened TO let out the
dwaris into the upper world. ona sudden
they heard the growing Of many cocks
from the earth above, sound that had no,
reached them for twelve long years, with
Il awoke, in Eliza's breast thousand rec
objections Of the earth Of her home, and
her dear parents, and the playmates OF
childhood of the flowers Of spring, and
winters fireside. Her heart was full ; she
fell upon the bosom Of her lover, wetiing
his cheek with her tears, while, for time
the words died away upon her lips. A,
length her passion found language for ex.
preston. at is beautiful here below, and
the little race are kind and gentle, but ye,
my hear, is not at home here, aid never
can be. This is 10, life for human beings:
every night dream Of my parents, and Of
The church, and Of the Sunday crowds wait
ing around my father; and then, oh then
my heart throbs 10 be with them. Here,
loo, we can never be man and wife, for
here is no priest 10 marry us, and we must
grow old and gray in singleness. Think
OF this, and contrive some means for our
departure" ..
"Yes, Eliza, for the first time my heart
is heavy. will no, stay here day long
er, for they dare not keep me; am their
MASTER" At these last words Eliza be.
came as pale as death; they reminded her
ofwha, she had too lightly forgo,ien-of her
servi,udc, and its necessary duration fol
fifty years before she could revisit earth.-
"Alas ~ she said, '',his is well for you
who have power above that oflhe dwarls;
but cruel law holds mo 10 this place fol
fly years, what have | to do on earth,
when my father and my mother arc dead
and the playiellows Of my youth are old
and gray! Age will be upon your head
also, and wha, then will il avail me that 4
am young, and only in my twentieth year
Poor, poor Eliza"
Hans felt The truth of vha, she had spok
en-; but he pressed her hand 10 his hear,
and promised never 10 leave that place o
middle Garth, until he could leave will
Eliza. With this they parted, sad and al
mos, hopeless.
The whole nigh, through Hans mediia'
ted upon the way Of freeing his beloved
When morning broke, he summoned ic
him the six chief dwarfs, with whom he al.
ways sa, a, dinner. Much as they were
astonished at his call, they were forced &c
obey it; and when all were present he de-
rnanded Of them his Eliza. This was a,
once refused; upon which Hans, in great
wrath exclaimed, "You can and shall give
up Eliza. You know my orders; | enlrea1
no more; le, me sec you again with The
morrow"
And the morrow came, but with il no al.
tera,ion in the resolves OF tho little people.
Hans therefore began 10 show his power, by
employing them in breaking and dragging
huge stones, and other hard work, thai
marly:ed their tender limbs as If they had
been stretched upon the rack. Sill all
was in vain. He made them mangle each
other with iron scourges, till tho blood
poured down in torrents but ho got nc
nearer TO his object. AT last he could nc
longer bear the sigh, Of their tormenls. and
cea,ing TO plague them, he separated him
self from their society and lived almos, a:
a hermit.
In one Of his lonely walks, he was break.
ing the stones agains, each other for wanl
of occupation, when suddenly toad sprang
from piece Of rock ,ha, had jus, shivered
At this sight the tales Of the old cow-herd
flashed upon his memory, and he cxclam.
cd, "Now, then, Eliza.is mine: tho mali
icious dwarfs could endure the scourge, bu
here is an enemy whose sight will sting
them worse than the sting Of iron or the
bite Of a Scorpion" With tis he enclosed
the creature in vase Of silver, and again
summoned The little people 10 his presence
No sooner had they come within a fov
PAGES oflheir nOxiOus enemy, than lis TO-
iluence acted upon them like an eleciri,
shock. They fell TO the earth convulsed
shivering. shrieking, and wrlihing, like
half bruised serpents. Every hand wa,
stretched forth 10 pray for mercy, and every
voice was loud in promises. Hans, feeling
,ha, the power was now with himself, ,ol,
them ,ha, he should depart that night, be
tween the hours Of eleven and twelve, will
his Eliza, and ordered them 10 load fiv,
wagons with the riches Of their kingdom
their books, their gold, their emeralds, ans
their diamonds. To this they promised as
sent, and even TO his wish, that all ihei
servants should be free. who according I,
earthly reckoning, were more than ,went,
years Of age.
Nwas an hour ailer midnight; the noun
tain opened, and they stood again upon tn,
II II. y