Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-12
MOttester ailg spp.
The Bitter Wedding.


After few hours of rain, the two nedes
trians reached the valley, where swollen and
rapid torrent, which had swept away every
vestige of the little bridge that led to the vii
Iage, with the exception of a single small
plank, rushed across their path; the herdsman
needed not the narrow footing, and was step
ping boldly across when his companion began
to roar out Justify about the danger of the
path: For my life and soul | will not ven
ture move to from this spot Neither cat nor
rat can pass over there. would be a dead
man if ventured on that cursed plank Let
them fiddle yonder who can swim. l wish
was In feather bed, with my fiddle for pill
low!"
"Don't make such noise about it" cried
Berthold. eff we have got this far, we will
surely get ona little tarther-if have brought
the fiddler this length to the bitter dance, l
will also bring him to the wedding house,
though am fool. l am nevertheless good
natured one"
With these words the herdsman took off
the fiddle and wallet from his back, and sup
piled their place with the dwarf, whom he car
ried over as easily as a bundle of straw He
then returned for the fiddle, wallet and crutch,
which lay as heavy as so many stones upon
his shoulders.
swell, the best Of it now is" said he, ''that
we shall soon reach the vilage-but either
my head is turned, or that wallet is filled with
flesh and blood, and Master Americas body
is stuffed with chatf"
''Nonsense" replied the fiddler with a
broad grin. ''You have behaved well, child;
it would be great pity if the bride yonder
should not get you; you have the genuine
patience of the lamb IN you, yet l perceive
you have also strength enough, with your
heart in the right place, and as much wisdom
as there is any need of in the country. Come
let us paint your cheeks, and put on the old
cap you will find in my wallet, and the green
waistcoat, and get that belt about you; to-day
you will be the tiddler's boy, and not a living
creature know you"
The fiddler opened his wallet and threw out
its contents to Berthold, whose face he paint
ed with cranberries, and beard and eyebrows
with bit Of coal, and then they walked gaily
on towards the village.
Evening was just coming on, and the sun
broke out all at once from under the clouds
the birds began to sing cheertully-the
flowers opened their leaves as if to listen,
and Berthold felt his clothes sooner dried
than if he had been sitting close to large
fire.
In a few minutes our wanderers mingled
with the merry wedding-guests noise and
merriment was echoing all around, and no one
looked sad but Segelind, who kept her tear
full eyes fixed upon the ground The old tid-
der was welcomed with shouts of applause;
for the rain had prevented the arrival of the
band of fiddlers and pipers who had been in
vited on the occasion, and everybody thought
it piece of marvellous good luck for the we'd
ding, that Master Almerich should have got
through.
''Now, Children" exclaimed the old boy,
''fetch us something to drink, and some cheese
and bread, and do not forget that youth who
has dragged myself as well as my fiddle here
to-day
The guests FASTENED to execute the fddler's
commands, and even Gertrude and Bernhard
hustled about to serve him. Poor Berthold's
heart was bleeding, but he kept eating and
drinking that he might not be obliged to speak.
Meanwhile the old fiddler put dry strings on
his instrument, and began to tune it so stoutly
that it thrilled through marrow and bone, and
quickly drew the attention of all upon the mu-
sician.
''Bless me- whispered Bernhard to Ger
trude, ''upon my faith it is the very dwarf
who gave me the .bewitched wine and cheese !!
Be gentle to him, wife, and say not a single
word.'
All at once the fiddler struck up so brisk
ly that the very house shook with blow upon
blow,-he commenced such a furious strain
that the whole company leaped up from their
benches and began dancing as if they were
mad. ''Heigh, height" shouted the people !;
There is fiddle!" and every one capered and
whirled through the wedding chamber as if
they danced for a wager. The young people
led out the dance, and the old ones hobbled
as fast after them as they could; and nobody
stood idle but Siegelind-who wished herself
ten thousand miles away from the merriment
and Berthold, who gazed steadtastly and
sorrowfully upon his beloved.
In the midst of his fiddling, Master Alme-
rich beckoned to the beautiful bride to step
near to him: ''There stands a little bottle
yonder where your bridegroom has been seat
ed, and some old cheese with it, dare say
1t will not be the worst i'll the house, would
tast a little Of it,-this playing makes me a
little nice in the palate.'
The good-natured bride brought the bottle
and cheese, and placed them upon chair be-.
side him, knowing no reasonable objection to
the old mans taking as much as he could eat.
The dwarf qnickly laid his fiddle aside,
raised the bewitched bottle in his right hand,
and the cheese in his left and exclaimed with
a loud voice; ''Well, my good people, well,
here's the health of that beautiful bride there
and her sweetheart; may she live long and
joyfullyw
''Long and joyfully!" resounded through
the room, while fifty bonnets and hats were
tossed up into the air.
But horror struck and deadly pale did Hill
debrand and Bernhard and Gertrude become
when they saw the wOnderous wine and en-
chanted cheese in Americas uplifted fist.
"Dares he-can he-wil he ?" darted through
their hearts. But wo, and alas in one turn
of his hand, the glutton with his large OK
mouth had swallowed the bewitched draught
and marvellous cheese without leaving a NOR
sci
A roar of passion from the red-haired Hill
debrand, and a gush Of tears from Gertrude
now terrified the people; while old Bernhard
stood like one petriied. But cheerful smile
lighted up the countenance of Siegelind and
Berthold rose boldly from his bench and stood
ready to use his fists upon IIildebrand if he
should dare to touch the fiddler.
''You rogue you beggar" at last exclaimed
Hildebrand. "Who told you to give that ole
fool Of fiddler that gift of heaven? You may
now toss your house and your bride, too, tC
the moon; l no longer care a straw for you OIL
all that belongs to you'll"
With words OF venom and eXecration, Hill
debrand rushed out of the room while tho
outraged Bernhard and his crowd Of guests