Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-23
THE EVENING STAR.
THE THREE ROSES

"Come, Prank, yonr walk among the Roses
ssgins forthwith. We Will be on in ten min
uss
The note, Englished, ran thus
dear Sir:-fray come AZ once. Marie has
cut on the top Of her thumb. Receive. dear
hon. ar SrANvFIR"
We were quickly ready, and in the carriage.
well, said the doctor, lyon certainly take
things calmly enough. expected 70 nnh you
In fever OF excitement and impatience."
"Mel Why sol What has this rather dirty
little note to do with met And who upon earth
BE- r.. SiamferP"
"Is there no instinct in human affection"
asked the doctor, with assumed gravity, "that
might W hisper to you that this note Is nom no
less person than Rose Schiller She married
Karl Stamfer, a German Swiss, about eight
years since, and IL, / assure you, q model house
wife-a perfect meat mother as the German.
say. She has i've children, Is grown very fat,
and-My dear Frank, you look quite pale
dwell, 1 don't know exactIy.,I replisd.
"AlI these changes have come about urob-
served by you- 4 had in my mind a little
bright haired fairy in short frocks and trou-
seis, whose hounces were, day after day, dis
trouted among the brambIes in our ha1nfs of
play. And now-well, we'll"
We drove through the old scenes-past our
CHALET, past the gate, and the path where Rose
Sebiile, who had become Stamfer, sobbed out
Der adieu, with the rest-past the old plane.
tree avenue, and the little pier on which had
spectres Of feb, the like of which have ne yer
met with elsewhere. Then on past Chiffon,
always at our side the deep blue lake; and be.
yond, the royal Alps Of Savoy. crowned with
cloud and snow, and smiling or frowning as
the sunshine or the shadows fell.
There is Rose Stamfer's mansion said
my companion, pointing 10 pretty CHALET on
We left the high road, and turned into the
approach, under the cool shade Of an avenue
oflires. II really seemed q delicious spot.
There was large court or farm-yard at the
side Of the house, across which people were
hastily passing and repassing. Evidently
something Of an exciting nature was going
forward. We rang large bell, which gave
forth what seemed an unnecessarily yociser.
Gus peal, and was responded to by several
dogs, that burst forth barking furiousiy Then
appeared a female form, with bare and red
dish arms, wide good -natured face fringed
all round with little light curis, and a waist
OF considerable size, girt with a discolored
apron, which the wearer sought to undo, but
failing, triced up round her portly form
81 am so glad TO see You, doctor, !" she called
out, in voice, which, though sweet, was GER
taihly loud "Marie has cut on the top Of her
thumb, and am sure you can sew il on nicely
again! How unfidy am!'' (This in a series
of melodious shouts.) 81 am not fit to see any.
body! We have just killed apig, and we are
going to cut him up! Madame G-'s young
ladies are come to help US with the sausages, 4
beg Your pardon sir" ITO me) spray walk in.
saw my friend suppressing his Laughter a.
We went away-stumbllng over chars, bench
20. &c, that had been brought into the pas
sages from the kitchen, to be out of the way of
the porcine solemnIties, TO which in middle.
class Swiss establishment everything suc
Sumoe at least once year.
Presently the suffering Marie, accompanied
the room She had endured much pain. and
after the manner Of the poorer Swiss, wnen
attacked by malady in an part of their frames
bad tied handkerchief over her head,
The thumb was quickly restored to its pris.
tine shape; and then the doctor, turning grave
ly TO stout lady with the rosy arms, quickly
observed:
MADAME Stamffer, here is a gentleman who
desires 70 KISS your hand! Surely you remem-
Der Frank CT
There was little scream, or rather shout-a
merry laugn, and both my hands were in the
grasp Of Rese Sebille. Soundly shaken they
were, and il was with labor and din Guilty by
flashes, 1t seemed, that began to recognize in
this huge hearty woman my fairy Rose. Then,
too, that horrible pig Toured over the scene
and, even while the little volume of your youth
began TO open before us, the duties owing TO
the yet undismembered brutefell like a shad-
Maid Marie. who has discarded her handler.
cnlef and her tears together, now reappeared.
and, making two imaginary gashes across her
notified arm, whispered anxiously in her mis-.
Taking this as a signal to depart, we rose:
but our hostess had no idea of parting with so
old an ally.
lyon must stay with Us, dear Mr.. Frank
dear Frank-and indeed you can be of the
greatest service TO us. for NJ. Stamffer is gone
hands are scarce"
1 look at Mares decapitated thumb, and
thought my own might become scarcer But
Rose would take no denial.
p"Let the doctor 60 his rounds, and ,oin us at
dinner AT six. You can drive home by moon
light
way, and was conducted TO the scene Of re-
cent slaughter.
Dear Rose, She called me Frank, as she .d
done twenty years ago. and her pleasure at the
M gyUa and. al
in the highest spirits. The children had gone
on visit 10 neighbor. TO be out of the way in
pig week, and she had nothing to vert her at
tenfion from the pig and me.
In large kitchen, seated about table wer
about dozen girls, while several ladies Of ri.
per years covered about, brandishing large
haunted, like an anquiet spirit, the scene of
her former exploits.
Rose. as she entered, armed herself hastily
as II the pig were still alive and standing dee.
pera;ely At bay Then she introduced me a an
old and valued friend, TO most of the assem-
bled company, including the pastors daugh-
The schoolgirls were merely neophytes. and
had come 70 be Initiated by the elder priestes.
ses into the mysteries OF this horrible sacrifice
I bowed to the lsdies and to circumstances;
but there, stark and charity, reclined upon the
table the miserabie pig, and seemed 10 concen.
trate an my faculties, BY ahorrible fascination,
was conscious of a voice Remaining com.
placenfly that all had been ssmagnifi q uement
arrange" and that now they would begin, in
reply to which everybody said s.tres-bien,"
and so did /. i remember that, STOPPING for
my hat to prepare for flight, small finely
tempered Ratchet slid into my hand
Seeing that was suspected, took q stern
resolution, and bracing my nerves MP TO the
occasion, determined 70 be priest butcher any.
thing but the object Of ridicule ofthe impatient
assembly.
Let me beginr' said, striding forward.
and, waving my Ratchet in the air. with a wild
war-hoop shut my eyes and struck a savage
blow. A shrill scream arose, had missed the
brute's body, and only cut of an ear
Rose applauded my zeal, but. with some mis-
trust Of my skill, undertook to direct my fur.
ther operation The Ratchet and the post of
honor had (she said been unanimously as
signed TO me, and must do my best
decline TO state, minutely, to what that
amounted. i believe that, had the pig been
alive, and sensible Of the playful havoc 1 was
making with his carcase, could scarcely have
suffered more. cut and slashed, and hacked
and hewed, conscious Only Of the one desire TO
reduce the brute TO the smallest possible di.
mansions. At length, whether excited by the
concentrations received, or in obedience, to
some strange law Of our nature which have
never yet had time TO investigate, it certainly
came 70 pass that began to exper fence a Ger
tam sense of satisfaction In the work Time,
dinner, everything was forgotten, excepting