Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-01-03

CARL's CHRISTMAS EVE.

''Cout III ououtCu IoSCtneT VIC uOSt
and hostess of little German wayside
inn, near the banks of the Rhine, and not
far below the city of Basle and the bor-
ders of Switzerland.
1t was Christmas eve, and tempestu-
Gus night. The wind was raving round
the little inn, and tearing away at win
dows and doors as though mad to get at
the brave little light within, and extin-
guish it without mercy, The snow was
falling fast driving and drifting, obstruc-
ting the highway, binding the eye of man
beast
The "come in" of the host and hostess
was in answer to loud, hurried rap at
the door, by which there Immediately en-
tered two travellers. One, by his militia
ry dress, seemed soldier, aud the other
appeared to be his servant. This was the
case. General Walfcnsten was on his
way from Carlsruhe to his home at Basle.
He had been delayed several hours by an
accident to his post carriage and by the
storm, and now found himself obliged to
stop for the night at this lonesome and
comfortless inn.
When the officer threw aside his plumed
hat and military cloak of rich fur, and
strodc up to the fire with his epaulettes
flashing in the light, and his sword knock
lug against his heels, cling, ,cling-the gruff
host was greatly impressed with his i'm
portancc, and willingly went out to assist
ltI 10 fha nf hn Ao
for the old hostess she bundled about with
wonderful activity, to prepare supper for
the great man.
"Ho, Carl p she cried, "thou young
Rhine-spirit, thou water-imp, run to the
wood for another bundle of faggots Away,
haste thee, or III give thee back to thy
el6n kings folk, who are ever bowling for
thee |"
At these strange, sharp words a Wild
looking little boy started up from aaasshy
corner Of the room, where he had been ly-
ing with his head pillowed on great
tawny Swiss dog, and darted out of the
door, He was coarsely dressed and bare
footed yet there was something uncom-
mon about him-something grand, yet
familiar in his look, which struck the
traveller strangely.
"ls that your child p he asked.
"No, indeed" said the old dame-"I'm
a poor woman, and have seen trouble in
my time, but, blessed be the saints I'm
not the mother of water-imps."
why do you call the boy water
imp ?"
Il call him SO, your excellency," said
the woman sinking her voice into awe
struck tone--"because he came from the
water, and belongs to the water. He
foated down the Rhine in a great flood
four years come Spring. mere baby that
5 could hardly tell his name, perched on
the roof of little chalet, in the night,
r amid thunder, lightning and rain Now, it
is plain that no human child could have
lived through that. My good man spied
him in the morning early. and took him
off in his boat. l took him in in pity
but | have always been afraid of him,
and every hood-time think the Rhine is
8 coming for his own again"
The traveller seemed deeply interested,
and we'll be might be, for in the very food
of which the supertitous old dame spoke,
his only child, an infant boy, had been
, lost, with his nurse, whose cottage on the
river-baDk below Balse had been swept
, away by night.
"Was the child quite alone on the roof
Of the chalet q be asked in and agitatcd
!; tone. ....
YES" said the aged hostess, "all but
one old dog that seemed to belong to
him."
THAT dog must have dragged him up
on to the roof and saved him exclaimed
the general-"is he alive?"
"Yes, just alive, he 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 for Carl and as he
shares his meals and makes his bed with
him, | suppose it is no loss to keep the
brute"
"Show me the dogl" said the officer,
with authority.
Here he lies, your exccllency," said
the dame "We call him ELfn-hund'
(elf dog)
General Wallenstcin bent over the dog,
touched MIN gently, and shouted in his
ear his old name Of Leon" The dog
had not forgotten it-he knew that voice,
the touch of that hand. With plaintive,
, joyful cry, he sprung up to the breast Of
, his old master, nestled about nimbly for
his hands, and licked them unreproved
and then sunk down as though faint with
jog. to his masters feet. The brave SOL
dier was overcome with emotion---tears
fell fast from his eyes--"Faithful crea-
ture." he exclaimed. "you have saved my
child. and given him back to me :" and
kneeling down. he laid his hand on the
head of the poor old dog. and blessed the
faithful animal. 1sE F f1metst