Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-12-01
A Child's Wishes-A Knights Story
FROM TIE GERMAN OF n. nrlxlcK.

FROM TIE GERMAN OF r. nElxIcK
A certain old kni.ht had little daughter
called Gertrude; and when his brother died,
leaving an only son he took the boy into his
castle aud treated him. also as his own child.
The boys maine was Walter The two chill
dren lived together like brother and sister;
they only played where they could play to.
gether, and were of one heat and of ono soul
But one day, when Gertrude had gone out
alone to pick flowers beyond the castle gate,
some glpsies came along the hiyhroad, who
stole the child aud took her away. No one
knew what had become Of her. The poor old
father died Of grief, and Walter wcpt long
days and nights for his Gertrude
at last there came warm spring day,
when the trees began to bud, aud Walter went
out into the woods. There, in IL beautiful
green spot, brook ! .b!ed under the trees,
where he had often sat with Gertrude floating
sat down there now. cut himsclf II hazel stick
for a hobby horse, and as he did so he said to
himself
All! if were but grown up knipht
as tall and stately as those who used to come
to my uuclc's c,stle, | would rdo out into
the wide world and look for Gertrude !"
Meanwhile he heard something screamino
near him, and when he looked up he saw ra
ven, which was stuck so fast between two
branches of ii tree that it could not move,
whilst snake WAS gliding towards it to dcvour
it Walter hastily seized his stick, beat the
snake to death, aud set the raven free.
" y thousand thanks. my dear child" said
the raven, who had flown up into a tree, from
which he spoke "A thousands thanks; and
now, since you have saved my life, wish for
whatever you like, and it shall be granted i'm
mcdIately. year hence we will speak of
this again"
When Walter heard this he saw at once
that the raven was an enchanted bird, and ex
claimed with Joy.
l should like to be noble knight, with
helmet and shield, charger and sword !"
All happened just as he wished. nan in
stant he WIS "A tnIl, stately knight, his shield
stood near him, and his hobby horse became
proud charger, which, to show that i. was
no ghost, vt rca! horse of flesh and blood
began then and there to drink out of the
stream.
At first, Walter could not think what had
happened to him, but stood as If he were in
dream. Soon, however, new life seemed to
wake within him; he swung himself on to his
horse with all energy of youth. and rode far
out into the land to look for little Gertrude
Like other knights, he met with many ad-
ventures on his way. There was always some
thing to contend with, either wild beasts or else
knights who, like himself, roved about the
country delighting to find any one with whom
they could do battle On every OCCASION
however, Walter came off conqucror, for he
was far more valiant than any of his oppo.
nents
At last one day he came within sight of a
mountain. on which stood high castle, be.
longing to q certain queen. AS he reached
80 summit he saw FROM afar little maiden,
who sat playing with her doll before the cas-.
tie gate, and when he drew nearer he found
it was his little Gertrude Then he put spurs
to his horse and shouted ioyfully
"Good day, dear Gertrude" But the
child knew him not. AS he drew nearer he
called again.
"It is [, indeed it is cousin Walter" but
the child belivcd him not. And when he
sprang from his horse to kiss her, and his ar.
NOR. sword and spurs ratified and clashed as
ho did so. the child was afraid that this strange
man would hurt her, and she ran away back
into the castle.
Poor Walter was very much troubled. IIe
went in, however, and presented himself To
the queen, who received him very graciously