Demoine courier., 1856-11-06

LL Hr-
profound sadness. and I felt sure that
should never leave them alive. arriv-
ed At Berne in detection of spIri,e. and
remained there two days TO make my arr
rangements. and finally decided upon the
valley Of Lauterbrupn for my hsbi,ation.
| rose q, six, took a guide anc began my
march; bu, the grand and ~inposing
scenes of nature were not in harmony
with my physical strength, and what TO
others would have been a source Of un-
bounded pleasure, was to me . suffering.
W. stopped for the night in the valley Of
Grindlewold, and in tho morning, for the
first time in many months, had . good
appetite. aaa ls ra,r
At sunse, | arrived Al my destination,
and entering the first house. | asksd the
hospitality Of the inmates, which was
c~heerfally accorded me. assumed =
shepherds dress. and LEFT the friendly
roof, no. to enjoy the charms Of nature,
bu, 10 indulge in my W sad reflec-
lions.
i had taken but a few steps when |
heard the sound Of music, and the village
rapidly filled with people to attend de
vine service. The crowd proceeded to-
wards the church, and awaited the en-
trance OF the pastor, q venerable man.
inspiring respect and esteem. Hardly
we're the services concluded, when the
Au,es and hau,-boys were heard anew.
and . young man and woman knels be-
fore the altar and received the nupsial
benedicdon. Happiness and gsie.y
shone 10 all faces. glanced toward the
seat occupied by the young girls Of the
valley, and observed one with her e.es
fixed upon ma. Her beauty was more
delicate and noble than that Of her CON-
p~snions, and occasionally q tear would
.,esI from beneath her eyelashes. Her
sadness gave her an additional charm in
my eyes: Like me, she 10 unhappy
said, 'bu, happiness will soon smile upon
her. while with me death only will put
an end 10 my misery gszg
Next followed a bail, ant two hun
dred young people danced merrily to the
sound Of the same instruments that We
had heard, ia the church. Seeing a
strange young shepherd reclining in the
shade of an ancient pine, some OF the
dancers approached and invited ne to
Join in their amusement; but | declined,
and they abandoned me TO my " re-
Elections. The young girl with whose
beauty l hat been so struck was no. a.
mong the gay ,brong. she had dissp
peared Immediately upon leaving the
church. s.
After the rustic hall toe girls, HAND in
hand. singing gaily as they went, advan-
ced 10 the fort Of q high hill. whose
summit was covered with ice. All at
once they star,ed and rushed with full
speed up the slippery eminsnee. They
seemed like 4 troupe of angels ascnnd-
ing to Heaven. Blu, what was my ter
ror when they began TO descend in the
same rapid and p~erilous manner. With
grea. speed they cams springing down
the dscliviiy, their hair unbound and
floating in the wind. while their lovers ..
the base Of the hill. with their rms OK.
tended, received them with innumerable
kisses.
Happy shepherds! ] exclaimed,
'how ! envy you!
Upon arriving 81 the house learned
that my guide had purchased for me q
flock Of . dozen goa,s, and . htAs cabin
upon one Of the ns~ighboring mountains.
This transaction had consumed almos,
all my money, and if ] wished to live,
mus. labor like my new companions. no
richer than any Of them.
Nv dwelling was neat, AMI furnished
with everything necessary for comfort;
I bench. . table. and . bead. . little hard
10 be sure, but soft enough for the robus,
limbs Of : tired shepherd. 1a
My frs. few days were frightful.-
The isolation in which ! lived. the coarse
fare, to which | was uaaccustomed. the
violsn, exercise in following my goats
over steep rocks and precipises, all COM
bined to drive me 10 despair. Soon |
aad not strength TO leave my cabin; .
burning fa,er consumed me. and my
senses were lost IN dslirium. remain.
90 ten days hovsfing between life and
death. Sometimes believing myself ia
my own country. sometimes on q dsser,
Island. pursuing phan,oms that fled be
fore me. Sometimes l seemed to see al
my bedside the young girl whom ras.
II chureh. hut hap awaet face vaa AEON