Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-22
THE AQUEDUCT OF sEGOvIA.
LFrom the German of ROsalie Koch

1855 feet long, entirely built of black granite,
the blocks of which are firmly bound together,
as if for eternity, although without mortar and
cement.
The spring which supplies this aqueduct with
water takes its source in the mountains of Fu-
snfria, situated rather more than three hours
drive from the town. From this distance, con-
siderable though is be, the pillars and arches
begin, rising higher and higher until, towering
far above the gable-ends of the houses and the
bills of SegOVia, they at length offer their re-
freshiDg gift to the inhabitants Of the town, on
the great square of ST. Sebastian. In the last
Of these enormous arches there is one single
stone wanting, and the legend relates that the
hand Of man cannot succeed In filling up this
gap. The whole construction Of this splendid
equeduot marks 50 stupendOus q conception,
thst in former times it was looked upon as the
two thousand years the ravages Of time, and
from generation to generation the following le-
gend Of Its origin has been handed down:
There lived once at SegOvia pious old cler-
gyman, who had adopted and brought up in his
house the daughter of an unfortunate sister Of
his, who had been long dead Martha had to
attend to the household affairs. the kitchen and
the washing, and to do everything herself with
out the assistance Of 8 maid servant; for the old
prizes, shared his slender income so literally
with the poor, that he was obliged to be as eco
nOmicsl rs possible in his own home.
In those times there was not single spring in
SegOyia, and the inhabitants were forced to take
n two hours walk, in order to fetch water into
town. This was great task to Martha for,
notwithstanding the fatigues Of day spent in
active employment she had every evening to
wend her weary way to the mountains of Fuen-
fra, with one pitcher upon her head and another
under her arm, to bring water for the following
days use Nevertheless, she liked to have her
room always clean, and to have the neckhand-
Ear on1 81 l.
tfully washed
One evening, after warm and fatiguing day,
Martha was particularly impatient and detected
st this task ''Ah 10 said she, thoughtiessly.
= would give my very soul if had not to run
so far every day to fill those pitchers afresh
with water"
''Done Agreed ~ suddenly exclaimed a
fnely-toned voice behind her. She started,
and, on looking round, she beheld an elegantly
dressed gentleman, smiling as he contemplated
her. The last rays Of the evening sun beamed
through the small window in the kitchen, and
POOR Martha faneied that the velvet mantle of
the stranger shOne blOod-red.
She was at first terrified at the unexpected
appearance of gentleman, not being able to
understand how he could have come there but
as her visitor had nothing terrible about him.
and wore hat and sword like a cavalier of
rank, she took courage and said. smiling - Yes
80 be II, If these pitchers are filed with spring
water, without my having to move them from
this spot. 1 am much too tired today"
:. lis well, my child ~ replied the stranger.
:. You shall hear from me again. And with
these words he bent over the large stone pitch
ers which stood on the ground, then disap-
peared as he had come.
When Martha was alone she became uneasy
and she reflected seriously upon the words
which she had uttered in Jest. 1T was very
wrong OF me, said she, ashamed Of herself;
lone ought not to jest on such subjects Who
could the stranger gentleman have been? /
wonder II be has called to see my uncle -
enc was about to axe up her pitcher and set
on along the Wcll-known road, but she started
on percelYing that the jugs were already filled
to the brlm with pure, clear water.
. Lord Of Heaven cried she, in great anx-
lety, Z" If that man really were the Prince of
Hell, and L have promised him my soul merely
because was too lazy to do my duty, What have
1 done, thoughtless being that am ~ And she
hid her face In her hands and wept bitterly
Ia the anguish of her heart she related the
matter to her uncle. He was shocked in the
extreme. At length, however, he said:
Take courage; your thoughtlessness shall
not draw you into the power Of the wicked
one! Pray to God for help, and forgiveness of
the sin which you have committed, unfortunate
girl Then with loud voice summon into
Jour presence the Prince of Darkness L shall
remain near you, and support you,' u.
With fear and trembling Martha did as the
old man commanded her, and Immediately the
stranger appeared in the middle of the room
but this time he was not dressed in silks and
velvets, nor had he q sword by his side he
looked rather like bricklayer, and held a
spade in his hand.
. What do you want with me 30 he asked,
impatiently /" l have fulfilled your wish, and
need not serve you further"
The pastor at this moment stepped forward
from the shadow Of the door, and said, in a So
lemn tone:
q have word to speak to you, for the soul
OF this child, which you seek to win, is confided
10 me- W no has given you power over her ~
Herself answered the stranger, severely
She is still young, and has no will of her
own yet," declared the pastor.
Not at all, y was the sneering reply I" the
girl has had teaching and religious instruction
enough, and knows right well the meaning Of
what You term sIH."
The good old man shuddered. and made the
sisn Of the cross, but the fend continued un-
moved
= Come what may, she now belong. TO me-
she viii either keep her word, and then shall
take her soul for the service which have rem
dered her In saving her unpleasant trouble; or
she Viii break her word, in which case sine will
as assuredly fall into my power. for she will
nave told falsehoOd, and will therefore be con-
dsmned You, who are priest, must certainly
know that lying is great SIM
The pastor became very uneasy at these
words, for he could not help thinking that the
devil was right. Still he would not let him
have the soul Of the unhappy girl she should
not be lost to her rightful Lord and Master !;
and in his grief he began to pray aloud
This seemed little to please Satan, for after
rejecting a short while, he said:
. You must admit that my right to YOUR niece
Is well founded, and that can insist upon the
contract without further conditions; but TO show
myself aniiable toward you, and that you NAV
see that ain not so bad as people say am, /
will render you another service still and bring
the water from the mountain Of Fuenfria even
20 your door"
And how long shall the water flow p" de-
msnded the man Of God, listening eagerly.
As long "a one stone of SegOyia stands upon
the other But it Is great and difficult under
taking, and | require time to accomplish it
Shall the soul Of the young damsel belong 10 me
alter have achieved this vast work ~
Martha was frightened to death when she
heard these words She knew, that the MONS old