Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-14
THE LEGEND OF CARL roDsCH.IK


yielded the bow, but has even showed how, in
spite OF its length, it may be drawn without
hurt to living creatures.
IL was just as the most vigilant cock in the
village Was Tapping his wings, preparatory to
waking the uilkmsids and other early risers
that Merlin, the wizard, rose to go. lie had
been entertained like prince. All night he
had drank the rOsiest of wine, and had sung
the roaringest Of catches; and faithfully bum
per after bumper, and catch for catch, had
Carl Todschalk responded. But Merlin must
now go, though Carl assured him that flask
of wine vet remained, the like of which the
hsiser himself could not boast. Some other
time, Merlin said, but not now. One little ia
7or, however, his guest would ask him before
he went If there were any three things in the
world Carl Todschalk desired, Merlin request
ed be would name them immediately Carl
shook his head : here was a chance. But what
should he chose, he, who was the happy man
cf the village with nothing to desire
Come, now, urged the wizard, three
wishes-wealth. power, fame"
Nay, nay" broke in Carl, 'none of these
for me. I'll tell you though he added,
Frightening up, sometimes my old friend BIZ
erhals calls to see meto talk Of days gone BY
to taste my wine, aud to sing some of the rare
songs which he only knows. But no matter
how good the wine is, nor how much l entreat
he will go when the clock strikes ten. Now
If you could only bewitch the chair in the cor
ner. N which be only sits, so that nobody can
rIse from IT without my permission, happy and
grateful will L be. "
1t is granted" said Merlin Two wishes
yet remain Choose quickly and well "
For the las. two summers my pear tree has
been robbed by thieving gipSes- Can you give
20 its branches the power of seizing the thieves
md squeezing them till they roar with PAIN"
II shall be as you desire; and woe to him
~h9 shall venture within the grasp of the
branches And now for the last wish :"
would like tn live fifty mora
Carl
The Wizard nodded, and with a great clap
"t thunder disappeared through the floor to
attend to some little business in China
There are many quaint and entertaining le-
gends current in the village Of Friedensc hlaf
'where the events happened precisely as they
are related here) about the wonderful Tree and
and marvellous Chair, the choicest of which
would fill many of these columns. But, leav-
ing these stories for the amusement of the good
villagers, we, by the power in us vested, take
a grand leap OF FIFTY years, and accompanied
the present history in its majestic course
The fifty years rolled around, and found our
Carl as hale and hearty an old man as you
would encounter in day 5 journey. The last
day Of the last year had come 1t was winter
Never was seen before such a comfortable
room, such roaring fire, such a Jug of punch
singing mellow glees on the hob, or such fine
old gentleman, enjoying all these good things
"a were within the walls Of Carl Todschak's 8
house on that bitter December day As Carl
lifted the Jug from the fire, and poured some
OF the rich, bubbling liquid into glass, a
knock at the door caused him to pause for an
instant.
Dear Inc, he said, pouring the punch from
one glass to another to cool it, ''who on earth
pays me visit on such day as this ~
A tall form, envelOped in long black man.
tie, stood in the doorway. In his right hand
he held a keen, giitteriDg sword In his left
was an hour-glass, in the top Of which Carl
noticed but few sands remained.
My name, said the gloomy stranger, " is
Iou-yOu-come-very suddenly" stam-
Inered Carl.
Many men have told me that; doubtless
many will repeat it." his visitor answered,
seating himself in chair
- Yes" said Carl, into whose mind pecu-
liar thought had suddenly flashed. Il will be
ready in a moment he added, and then be-
gan heaping wood on the FIRE.
Why do you do that ?" asked the stranger
- 1t is already too hot"
- 1t will be hotter presently, promise you, -
replied Carl, pitching on log after log, till the
FIRE snapped and snarled and roared as though
IT were pack of hungry wolves pursuing some
wretched traveller.
The fire is scorching me Let me up
Ha what is this !''
DEATH tras Prisoner in tie Enchanted Chair
I'm serve you for this, cried Death, after
a fruitless attempt to release himself
Will you" quOth Carl. Wen Sec
from the cellar, and let Wilhelm help you
Quick -
Stop, stop roared the prisoner in the
chair, would you roast me like goose? ?"
Not if you talk in reasonable way. But
II You threaten any more, L will make the fire
YOU grant it, You shall instantly be set at lib
erty.'
=. Yes, yes; but draw the chair back little
Oh how hot "
Carl approached and drew the chair back a
few inches. This, very cautiously lest Death
might catch him and throw him into the fire.
CT do him other bodily harm
You must know, said Carl, that though /
have lived u long while. still wish to spend
lew more years In this cottage Now il
wouldn't make any sort of difference to you
were you to let me of for-well, say ten
years.
Il do declare, cried his listener, in a great
rage, that this is the most audacious demand
ever heard Of; and before I will submit''-
Pest said he in the chair, II suppose 1
must accede Ten years you may have, and
then-and then-we shall see.n
Well, Carl set him free not without some in
ward trembling. But people in olden times
kept their promises much better than people
do now, and Carl was unharmed. One exhi-
bition of temper Death did make. No sooner
was nc Tree tnan, taxing his sword, he hack ed
the chair to pieces and threw them on the fire
This done, he departed, and left Carl once
MORE alone.
when he comes again. thought Carl to
himself as he slipped his punch, II shall have
my affairs in order, and will follow him con-
tentedly.'
The ten years granted to Carl under the
foregoing circumstances do not seem to have
been very eyentful ones; for the legend passes
them over In q single paragraph. TO the effect
lhat during this period Carl grew very fat.
On a certain autumn day Carl was sitting in
his garden taking his ease. The tree was in
full bearing; and such pc as large, ripe;golden.
hued-there were dozens and dozens Of them,
not one cf which need be ashamed to stand be-
fore king Carl looked at them, and his heart
was glad within him. They were his-to give
away, to sell, to eat, to keep if he chose; then
his eyes wandered from the tree over the gar
den to his snug cottage-yes, all his own He
fell into reverie-a reyerie pleasantly broken
at intervals by the hum of bees, the sighing of
the wind in the tree tops and the sweet child
song which Nina, Aennchen Tochterlem sang
81 her wheel