Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-06
A Story, Of ,wmtsrbsrss' The Giant Of
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ts+..;.... 81. Reissenstein. "a yf bsf4ref
Upon a certain mountain in Wurtemberg,
there stands y castle called Reissenstein,
which belongs now to the "Helfensteiners.Y
It lies upon steep cliffs, far up among clouds
and storms. Just opposite 10 this castle and
upon another mountain on which the Hei-
menstein castle stands, Is gYotto, and there,
ages ago, lived a giant. He had great deal
Of money, and might have lived contented
and giantesses. II occurred TO him one day
that he would build himself fa castle, such as
the knights had, and the cliffs opposite seemed
TO him just the place for it. But he himself
was bad workman; he dug out with his
nails rocks as high as houses, and placed
them one upon another; hut they always fell
down again, and never became a castle. So
he seated himself on rock, md called down
into valley below for workmen; carpenters,
masons, stone-cutters, lock-smiths, must all
come and help him, and he would pay them
well. ...,.-,..r ~. ...-...t r'.. ...
His cry was heard through all the land of
Swabia, from Kocher to Lake Constance, and
from tle Neclsar to the Donau, ndfrom every
direction, majter-w0rkmen and journeymen
came TO build u castle for the giant II was
droll to see how he sat in the sunshine before
his grotto, and watched the work going on
upon the cliffs. The masters and journeymen
we're very industrious, and followed the di-
rections which he called to them over the
valley. They had all kinds of jests and
sport with one another about the giant who
knew nothing about building. At last the
castle was done, and the giant went in and
looked out of the highest window down into
the valley upon the workmen who had col
lected there But on looking up he became
very angry, for the men had sworn that every
| thing was done, and there, on the very win
dow by which he stood, one nail was wanted.
| The builders apologized, saying that no one
| would trust himself to SIT out Of the window
| in the air to drive it in. The giant would
mot listen to them, but insisted that they
should not have one centofpay until the nail
was driven in. i-,,tt ....'l am I'M
So they all entered the castle, but when
they came to the upper window, and looked
out into the air and down into the valley
which lay so far below, and nothing but rocks
| about them, they shook their heads and
| walked away. The master offered ten-fold
| reward to whoever would venture, yet none
| could be found. Now, there was among
them brave. locksmiths sr who loved the
daughter of his master, and she loved him
too, but the father was hard man, and
would not give her to him as his wife, because
ne was poor. THIS lad took courage, and
thought he might earn his treasure or die
for life was sad to him without her. He
stepped up to his lmaster her father, and
| said: 60 tT| 'H.r..-rt i.a .EN }ii
! "Will you give your daughter if drive in
the nail I" 9 'lIt.. :. 41.I JraL
The father said 4yes,n thinking that the
boy would surely fali upon the rocks and XIII
himself and in this way he would be forever
| The courageous youth took the nail and
hammer uttered short prayer, and started
for the Window The workplen graised a cry
1 Of joy, which awoke the giant who asked