The mountain Democrat., 1863-02-28
German Legends and Traditions.

word 0lsdglY aarOid OF superstition ~
one form or other. Germany is general
" considered to be the land Of legends
and traditions, yet the part in which
have lately resided, is, think, the least
political corner of Europe. In Silesia,
which was formerly Polish province,
} scarcely is veStige Of ancient grandeur
/ to be found, and nothing can be more
matter of fact, unrelieved by the least
fancy or imagination than both the habits
and tastes Of its inhabitants yet even
there, amidst those unpoetic plains, ro-
nance, fiction, call it what you will, has
found some channel and from time to
time threads its wsyt;. 49, - >,s,..-
monplace tittle-tattle Of this most pro-
sale era. r,
Whilst staying at the small garrison
town of u. | was invited to a
coffee party" an entertainment gener-
ally given to ladies alone, the unfair sex
being vigorously excluded. The Frau
Landrathin Won g. bad assembled
round her hospitable board numerous
party Of ladies from the neighborhood,
and extensive were the prepaF atoms
made for their delectation. The younger
members OF the circle might probably
have considered that all invasion of some
of the uniformed youths Of whom the
town was then full, would not altogether
have marred the enjoyment Of the end
less refreshments set before them but
the rule Of exclusion was stringent as the
| laws Of tine Medes and PcrSans, 50 they
were fain to make the best of existing
circumstances, and vile away the time
by discussing the merits of absent friends
male and female. 4 little scandal, 0r
"katschen," as it is called in German, is
a necessary Ingredient, in all small as
scmbIies, and. if report speaks truly, is
an amusement not exclusively confined to
the weaker sex.
On this occasion the conversation be-
came all the more lively foE bssng inter
Spor>ed with repeated stips at that dclec-
table composition called Bowie" This
is beverage of which Rhine wine, pine
apple sugar, and champagne form the
principal ingredients; when mixed with
due skill and science. the favor is am
brosial, and it is particularly favored by
the ladies as being more delicate and re-
fined than the ordinary vinOnS beverage.
Who knows how many characters
xould have been torn to pieces, or
matches made or even unmade, on that
afternoon, had not our good hostess
chaneed to express her admiration Of a
pearl necklace, Of great value, worn by
nnc of her guests.
1t is more curious than beautiful,
'rioihci the wearer "you know it is
the famous Mailman necklace"
What, the necklace" exclaimed all
the ladies', in chorus. "Oh, pray, let us
see il
inquired into the cause ofall this Gu
rie,~ity, and as few besides myself pro,
fy>,p'i l-uoranrc of the Well known story,
the countess was kind enough to relate It
for our benefit.
TmK PEAEi. NFCKLACE.
You must know. them said she,
that one Of oar ancestors, a Count Nal
zahan. inhabited at very remote period
the Castle Of Mililisch, in Silcsia. He
vas married to very beautiful young
lady, and in due course Of time became
the happy father Of son and heir, whose
birth was greeted with the most joyous
= festivities in Castle and Hall.
Shortly after the child's birth, as the
Young mother had fallen into deep
>lUmbcr, she had a strange dream or Wis
ION, which made so deep an Impression
on her mind, that she could not refrain
from relating it the oext day. She
dreamt that a little dwarf had appeared
at the bottom Of heI couch, and begged
and prayed her in the most piteous tones
to have her baby's cradle removed from
the spot on which it stood, as the rocken
ing, he said. disturbed his wife, who was
very i'll, and could not sleep for the noise.
The poor countess only got laughed at
for her foolish dream. The next night,
however, her troublesome guest reappear-
ed, this time urging the request with still
greater earneStnesS; she therefore deter
mined no longer to withstand his en-
treaties, and the next day had'the baby
aud his cradle removed to the other end
of the. room. The ensuing night, the lit
tie man again visited her in her dreams,
but this time in high spirits, thanking
! her profuseiy for her kind acquiescence
in his wishes, and assuring her that his
wife was already fast recovering in con-
sequence.
The countess was well pleased when
the vision disappeared, and left her for
some time in peace. Relief. however, was
not of long duration, and few weeks
later the poor lady's dreams were again
disturbed by the same apparition. This
! time the little dwarf had no intention of
again disloding the poor baby or his cra-
die, but he made strong objections to the
nurses habit of throwing away the water
from the Child'S bath through the ordinary
channel.
4" He declared that every particle of it
pattered down, drop by drop, on his un-
fortunate wifc's head, and that if the coun-
tess would not deign to order her servants
to throw away the child's bath on some
other spot, his beloved wife must perish.
The good countess got rather impatient at
these constant appeals to her good nature,
and determined not to be so foolish as to
attach any importance to mere dream
but the little man was not to be so easily
put off-he appeared to her every eve
ming, and waS so importuRate that, tor the
sake of peace and quietncSs, she was fain
to order the child's bath to be emptied in
another corner the castle. No sooner
had this taken place, than once more the
little man presented himself to her in her
Dreams thanEing her most gratefully for
her kindness.
"'My wife is now quite restored said
he, all danger is past. This blessing |
owe to you, most gracious lady, ,and wish
to offer you small token of my graft
tude. Deign to accept this necklace
ought never to go out of your family, and
if kept it will always foretell the death ol
the Countess Malzhan, by one of its pearls