Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-11
Muttester 4a1lp Spp
The Bitter Wedding.

leaped bnskly up, and was again in good
. spirits, and stumped away before the herds
man as freshly as if nothing had allied him.
All TINS, however, seemed very odd to Ber-
thold, and when he again felt the annoyance
OF the wallet, he drew sigh so deep that it
echoed back from the neighboring rocks.
"Lack-a-day!" cried Almerich again, ''the
lad has lost his bride and his peace of heart;
L have been so concerned about him that l
could not eat a Bit"
'Ihat fellow could devour the StOckhorn!
thought Berthold, with some indignation.
'"The club foot is not in his right senses, be-
level"
cit was really too bad" began he, resum-
ing his story ''The dwarf in the barn return
ed a proflsion of thanks to old Bernhard, and
said, 81 am a foreign miner, and have lost
the road with my good wife so l have moth
ing to reward you for your services, save
little bit of cheese and a few draughts of wine
take that and remember the poor fellow
who gave you what he could, and will pray
that heaven may reward you father"
''Old Bernhard accepted the little bottle
and piece of cheese, only to get rid of the
importantly of the dwarf, who would take no
refusal,
Towards noon he was proceeding to his vii
lage; the road was long, and, feeling fatigued,
he lay down in the shade of a tree, took out
the gift of the dwarf, and began to eat and to
drink. Meanwhile, who should my evil star
bring in his way but young Hildebrand, the
most miserly fellow in the village. "God
bless you, father Bernhard" ''Thank you,
my SON." Thus the conversation proceeded.
The niggard sees the old man comfortably
enjoying his repast; so he sets himself
down beside him and takes share. There
they eat and drink for about an hour-but the
wine never gets less, and the cheese is never
done, and both behold the miracle till their
hair stands on end.
CAN was now over master fiddler, and poor
Berthold was undone!"
"Hildebrand chose words which went down
with Bernhard as smoothly as honey, and the
long and the short of the matter was, my
dear sweet Siegelind was promised to the
rich miser, with the marvellous cheese for her
dowry. The old man was now quite beside
himself-the young man talked fnely-they
were to Guido the whole village and keep their
secret to themselves; l was called a misera-
BILE wretch, and the spirit of mischief just
brought me into their way in time to hear the
whole sad story.
''Ah, good heavens! /" exclaim ed Almerich
again, 81 am undone with cold, it is turning
chill rainy day, and my bones are so naked
Hew, hew, how the storm blows into my very
soul. This day will be the death of me-
thought SO before. Take your way my son, l
give you my fiddle as present-leave me the
wallet here, l will stretch myself out to die
upon it,"
''The mischiefis in it." grumbled Berthold.
eff matters are to go or this way, we shall be
a year and a day hence still travelling this
cursed road! Hark ye, old boy, you are an
odd fellow! What tempted you to think of
wandering through our rough country, with
out meat or drink or even coat, but with
fiddle as large as a ton, and an empty wallet
as heavy as seven three-stone cheeses IT'S
perfect tempting of Providence. Why the
deuce do you drag after you that ass's burden
of old rubbish, without so much as the CON
venience of cloak in your bundle? ?"
at is all very true" sighed Almerich, 81
am not yet accustomed to be the lame, feeble
man you now see me. Thirty years ago l
could skip like leveret over hills and dales
but now, farewell to friend Almerich, shall
never leave this place. However, it is all
one-perish here or die there, dying bed is
ever hard one, even though it should be of
down and silk"
CHOW really" replied Berthold, ''you are
too whimsical, fiddler. The cold blast never
hurts tough fellow who is accustomed to
run about the mountains-there, slip into my
coat, and walk smartly on, for a shower is ap-
preaching, and that rascally wallet is weigh
ing me down to the ground"
patience, child, patience!" said Almerich
"This coat is quite warm from your shoulders
i feel very comfortable in it-slowly, gent
ly your story of the marvellous cheese and
wine has quite restored me to warmth-how
did the matter go on?"
'You rogue and rascal" thought Berthold
to himself, and thus continued his lamentable
tale.
GLOW did it go on Gertrude sang to the
same tune as her husband; Siegelind grew
sad and lost her bloom and strength; the old
boy urged the matter, and Hildebrand too
Bernhard was anxious to get the rich and
proud son-ln-law, and was in great fear lest
the enchanted wine should soon dry up-the
young fellow had money in his eve, and
wished to turn the bewitched cheese to usury
thus the wedding was determined on, and
was left in sadness upon my mountain.
tried to forget it; | thought Siegelnd could
not have borne me in her heart otherwise
she would not, even to escape death and mar
tyrdom, have married the red-haired Hide
brand. Last night, however, / could find
neither rest nor sleep upon my straw.
must go and see her, with my own eyes take
that miser for her husband. Near the village
willwrap up my head and dye my hands and
cheeks with berries, so that nobody will know
me,-nor in the hustle of the wedding, when
SNSAy uliiIlS 10 turning lOpSy JurVy, Will q llV-
ing soul care for poor Berthold When all
is over | shall, so it please Heaven, become
wise again; or if NOT, my poor brain will be
turned altogether, and that will be BLESSING.
too" o.
''My good child" said the dwarf, 'vou will
get over all this. perceive very well that it
is a hard journey and bitter wedding, too,
for you; but it is your good luck, my child,
that you have me for a companion-I will fd-
die till your heart leaps again-your sorrow
grieves me as much as if it were my own"
Whilst talking thus, few drops of rain
fell which proved the prelude to a heavy
shower; and although the travellers had al
ready gone a considerable way, they were still
far from the end of their journey, and, gush
after gush, the rain poured upon their heads
till the water ran down from their hats as from
spout.
Berthold trudged silently on, signing fire.
quently and heavily under his burden-he
could have sworn that it increased pounds
weight every step, nevertheless it was impos-
sbe for his good nature to think of giving it
back to the poor cripple In such a tempest.
The rain soon began to trickle through his
waistcoat and run in a cold stream down his
back; he wished himself, the dwarf, and the
wedding, all far enough but stalked sullenly
on through the mud as if he had been wadng
through the highest Alpine grass
The fiddler limped close behind him, croalS-
ing occasionally through his raven throat an
old spring song which told of sunshine, and
singing birds, and pleasure and love. Al
"A