Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-12-26

ows near Coburg, for instance, the Duke and
Duchess attend, and any Kirmse-boy ispfiy-
ileged to call out the latter while the Duke
IN his turn, waltzes with the prettiest peas
ant-girls. ,.s
We went again TO Thall on the last day Of
the klrinse. The fine weather was past,
the air Threatened snow, and the reyelers
were beginning to show signs of fatigue;
but the forester comforted US with the assu-
rance that in the evening all would be mer-
ry enough. Soon after our arrival the vii
lage band appeared and performed mel
aneholy serenade under the window. It was
followed an awkward aud riotous company,
who proved to be masqueraders--she boys
being girls in male attire, and vice VERSA
having paid our initiation fees to these yisi~
] tors, they withdrew, and we took advantage
! of the temporary quiet to climb to the tow
erof tbe Scharfenstein. We found moth
ing left but Che tower, whose walls we're of
remarkable thickness, aud solidity, and
4 fragment of wall and gateway, over which
was sculptureda coat Of arms, with the in
seriptiOn, blouse and Hearth Of the Lord
of Seharfenberg, A. D. l442.v The snow
was blowing fast down the saIley, and By
the time We reached the Forester,s house
his daughter announced that dinner was
ready. - ..r-s ,--..--.f f,,i-
We did full justice to the roasted hare
and roe's liver, and did not slight the slim
inecked urns filed BY the Rhenish naisds.
towards the close of the repast, the Forester
insisted on opening a stout old bottle, in or
der, as he said, to see what was inside of il
An oily, dark-goldep fluid slid into his glass
/ from its open mouth. ss-4lleostferROc6ia
elRP he exclaimed, on tasting it; sthat is
something. That IS the bottle have had
IN ny cellar nine years, and kept for a great
eecasionr-aHd there never was better
time to open it," We followed bus exam
pie; it was genuine COnstantia, full Of AZ
rican sun and fire, and from twenty to thir-
ty years old. "44lleyetter.s7'. he again cried,
/ Il had forgotten which was the true bottle,
and to think that it should turn. mp to-dayl
The Herr Inspector k gave it to mo
for my birthday; but I thought to myself
Thou dost otrneed any such good wine
for thy birthday it fer something bet
ter? and as long as live l shall be glad
thai did so.'n ,-.-.5 ~
By this time the band had made its ap-
Pearance under the mighty linden in front
of the parsons house, and waltzing couples
began to wheel around under the boughs,
notwithstanding the snow and thersw wind.
Presently deputation, consisting Of the
KirHlse leader, his adiutant, and two stout
maidens, came into the room and gave us 8
Ieeremonious invitation to Join the Dance
The leaderwas a rosy blaek-eyed fellow Of
twenty-five, and his partner tall maiden
of great strength, who stood firm upon her
feet. sDirectly," said the Forester, in au-
swer, shut we must first have our pipes
If every enc of you,' he added, turning to
me, "were lying dead in isroom, I should
sit down and howl like dog. but in fifteen
minutes I should get up and light my pipe.r
As our pipes burned slowly, the deputa-
ton came a second time and carried US Of
to- the linden tree. The strong maiden,
Elizabetha by name, was transferred to me,
and we were sooH whirling around inside
the ring of adniring spectators, Eliza
betha was light on her feet but very firm;
she needed no support; she moved. like
revolving pillar, around which I reyolYed in
turn striving to keep pace and moderate
her speed, but / might as well have attempt
ed to regulate the earth's motion on its axis
The Forester, meanwhile, had brought out
the parsons daughter, and his gray mus
tachl occasionally whizzed pastme. Iwonld
have transferred the strong Elizabetha to
him, but it was too late; round and round
wewent, and the boaghs of the linden seem
ed to grow broader and to stretch over vast
spaces Finally there were lindens on every
side, and we were obliged to circle all Of
them; but at last voice rOared in our ears,
'IYou are out of time p and the strong maid
en-. stopped. The dances under the linden
terminated soon aftervard, and the peasants
went off to prepare for the night. .s,s.
We first visited the Heiligistein, across
the Valley-onee a monastery, now q tavern;
but as the maidens of RhuIa, with theirpic-
turesque dress and fair eomplexions, did not
arrive according to expectation, We returned
to Thai, where the Kirnse boys had already
collected in the daneing-hall. It was 8 low
room, opposite tho village tavern, with the
orchestra on platform at one end. Ihe
floor was crowded with peasants, leaving on
" ring-shaped space vacant for the dane
srs. On our appearance there, about Q
o'clock, I was Immediately aecosted by the
Kirmse leader, who conducted me to the
strong Elizabetha. Itwasimpossibleto de-
cline, for she was hisehosen sweetheart and
1ne Of the first maidens, in point of her
worldly prospects, in the valley. IresOlved.
however, to let her dance for both Of US, and
,on6ne my exertions merely to holding On.
Ny companion was furnished with rathers
pretty partner, named Barbara Hornshoe,
md the manner in which her feet pattered
lpon the floor did justice to her name.
The Kirmse-leader seemed to consider Us
he guests of the village. We were consult
d with regard to the dances, and exempted
rom al obedience TO his rule. When be
ouched the other dancers with his wooden
,aton, as a. sign for them to cease, he passed
IS over greatly to the delightof our power
Ill partner, whom nothing could tire. One
f the dances was called a PoloRdise, and
onsisted in the whole company following
he leader, who was Sehmidts son. He dane
d US down stairs into the street, across the
rock and mn aoain. winding mn with A ran