Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-19

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want. This was tho case General Wa Gu
stein was on his way irom CarITuhe to bis
home at Basic. He had been delayed seye-
raj hours by an accident to his pos,.carriage
and by the storm, and now found himself
obliged TO stop for the pight al this onesome
and comiortcss little inn.
Whom the officer threw aside his pumed
hat and military cloak Of rich lur and rode
up to the fire with bis epa1.ei,es d4shiue il
TIC lgot, aud bis sword knocking asaiu, ais
heels, cling, ceug,-the gfuH tost was greatly
impressed with his importance and willingly
went out 10 assist the position in toe care Of
the horses, AS Tor the Old hostess, sdo bun
died about wish a wonderful activity, to pre-.
pare supper for tao great man.
'Ho, Carl > she cried, thou young Rhine,
spirit, thou water-imp, run 10 the wood Tor
another bundle Of faggo's Away has.e
thee, or III give thee back to thy eia kings
folk, who arc ever bowling for thee
At these strange sharp words, q giId-ook.
iu5 ittle boy started up from dusky corner
the room, whoro he had been yDg with
BIZ head pIowod on great tawny Swiss dog,
and darted out Of the door. He was coarsely
dressed and barcooted Jet there was some.
thing uncommon about uthm-something grand,
yet familiar IN his look, which struck the
traveller strangely.
Is that your chid? he asked.
No indeed, said the old dame I'm
poor woman, and have seen trouble in my
line, but blessed be the saints I'm not the
mother Of wator.imps
Wuy do you Call the boy o watcr.imp +,
| call him 10, your exceiency, said the
woman sinking her voice into a0 awe.struck
tone because he came from tho water, aud
belongs to tho water lie Aoatod down the
Rhiae in great food, four years ago come
spriog-a mere baby that could hardly tel
hi name, perchcd 90 the roof Of little cha
let, in the night amid thunder, lightning and
rain Now, il is plain that no human child
could have lived through that. Ny good man
sped him in tne morning early, and took
him off IN his boat. | look him in in pity
but | have always been afraid Of him, aad
every H)od.timo | think the Rhine is coming
tor bis own again.
The traveller seemed deeply Interested, and
well he might be, for in the very food OF
which the suporstitious old dame spoke his
ony chil au infant boy, had been lost with
his nurse, whose cottage on the riger.bank
below Bal.o had been swept away by light
Was the child quite alone on the roof Of
be chalet be asked 10 an agltated tone.
Yes, said the hostess, all but an old
dog tnat seemed to belong to him.
That dog must have dragged him up on
to the roof and saved bin exclaimed the
general is he yet alive
Yes, just alive. lie must be very old, for
he is almost stone blind and deaf. My good
man would have put him out of the way long
ago but tor Car aud as ho shares his meals
and makes his bed with him, suppose it is
no loss to keep the brute.
Show me the dog said the officer, with
authority.
Here he les your excollency, said the
dame, We call him Eitn.hund, (elf-dog)
General Wallenstein bent over the dog,
touched him gently, aud shouted in his car
his old name of Leon The dog had not
forgotten it-he knew that voice. the touch
OF that hand With plaintiff, joyful cry,
he sprang up to the breast Of his old master
nestled about nimbly tor his hands and licked
them unroprovedi and then sunk down as
though faint with JOY, to his masters feet,
The brave soldier was overcome with emotion
tears fell fast from his eyes Faithful
creature, he exclaimed, you have saved my
child, and given him back to me and knoel-
Ing down, he laid his hand on The head Of the
poor old dog, aud blessed him.
just at this moment the door opened, and
little Carl appeared, toiling up the steps, With
his arms iulI Of iaggots--his cheerful face
smiling brave defiance to winter winds, aud
night and snow.
Come hither, Carl, said the soldier The
boy flung down his iaggots, and drew near,
DOsi thOu know VINO am
Ah, no-tho good Christmas king, per-
haps, said the little lad, looking iull Of limo.
cent wondorment.
Alas, poor child, how sbouldst thou re.
member NE exclaimed General Walen-
stein, sadly-then cIasping him 10 his arms,
be said but remember thee-thou art
my boy--my dear, long-lost boy!' Look in
my face, embrace me; am thy father
No, surely said the child, that oanuot
be, for Ihey toll me the Rhine is my father
The soldier smiled through his tears aud
soon was able to convince his little son that
he had better father than the old river, no
had carried him away from his ,ender parents.
He told HIN OF q loving mother, who yet sor.
rowed for him, ami OF blue-eyed sister, who
would rej lico when be came CIr listened,
and wondered, and laughed, and, when he
comprohonded it all slid down from his ia,
theirs arms, and ran to embrace old Leon.
The next morning carly General Waou-
stein, after having generously rowGrded the
inn keeper aud bis wife for giving home
though poor one, to his little son, departed
for Basic lu his arms he carried Csrl, care.
iul.y wrapped in his warm far cloak aud ii
sometimes the little bare feet oil tho ohl.d
were thrust cut from their covering, il az
only to bury themselves III the shaggy coat
Of old Leon, who lay suugIy curled IN the
bottom OF the carriage.
will not attempt 10 tell you Of tho deep
Joy Of CAris mother. and the wild delight OF
his little sistor--i1r think they were quite
beyond any ones telling; bat altogether, ii
was to the Walenstens a Chrismas-time to
thank God ior-and they did thank Him.
Latte Pilgrim.
President Lincoln in the Hospitals,
| n. ,ka Ma,la,. kaT.., h., doa,k ~. 80,