Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-09-11
MISTRESS BARBARA.
BY Karl NEuMANN-srRELA.

tnc Angles oI TIC nousc, pu' :" Wv
within all was quiet.
j In this room ut tho head OF the grea
table, which filled almost the whole space
between The fireplace aud the door, sat thu
Master-mner, Christopher Uttmann ant
his wife Barbara, with their stalwart sons
and fair daughters. Below them, on c'hel
side, sat Uttn,ann's workmcn and maids
stout miners viii, their wives and daughters
and also farmers and other town folk. Tol
whoever in Annaberg, on Saturday night
had a mind to go up to Master Uttmanu'
was sure of a hearty welcome. At such
times the bowl passed qnickly from hanl tc
hand, quaint. stories of horned Siegfried
and the fair Magelone were told, and jovial
glccs and moving ballads sung; while the
spinning-whecls buzzcd mer.'y, and the
lads jestcd and Girted with the mailens.
Often it was late in the night before the
meetings broke up and the light-heartod
guests went home. But on this evening
the 18th of May, 1861, it stood in the calen-
der-it was so quiet about the oa!.cn table
that one could plainly hear without the
mcnotonous music of the rain. Master
Christopher, with arms crossed over his
chest, sat lost in thought. A tear tremblcl
on the good wife Barbaras cye-lash. The
mcp hung their heads, the wouien's hands
lay in their laps, no wheel hunmed, no one
thought Of telling story or singing song.
OF n sudden, Master Christopher reused
himself "Children, We are letting our
spirits droop, That will never do. I am
heartily ashamed to have to own that too
have caught myself giving way to gloomy
thoughts" tfE l.
Master, how can one be gay, with mis-
cry ut the door?'' said the gray-haircd
miner Ohleutrud. But you do not speak
as you feel at heart. You only seek to di-
vert our thoughts go. r-.. r
Good father" rejoincl the Master, edo
you despair because one learned man from
Dresden has failed to find what we wish
With Gods grace, the second for whom |
have sent our Klaus, will find next week a
new vein of silver, or cobalt. Ammo Marie,
sing ballad for US, that one about mighty
faith. aHi .-,-t 90
Anna Marie, Ohlcntrud's daughter, who
on account Of her pleasant voice, was the
chief songstrcss Of the little circle; yielded
this time, but unwilingy to the Masters
wish. How could she sing gayly, with want
and sorrow drawing nigh to the hearthstonc?
But the good Master wished it /; so she be-
gan to sing -
"I'herc once did live goodly youth
20 Who held his true love dear;
Full seven years his love lorsooth
Was proof 'gainst doubt and fear I'D.
"This youth
"Well, why do you stop before you have
well begun? What, weeping, too?'
But her father spoke up for her. 1T vi ]
not do, Master The maiden is in no tune
for song to night. How could she be? The
mines will yield no more. and with short
harvest and plague among the cattle, VIC
have but drcary prospect before us.
The gloomy looks of all showed what a
sad echo his words had found in their
breasts. Mistress Barbara covered her face
with both hands, and Master Christopher
reioincd, but with trembling voice: ''Let
us only hope that the other learned man
froul Dresden will lind new mines '
But the rest doubtfully shook their
heads.
In truth, it was sad time, and no wonder
that the brave Annabcrgcrs lost courage
day by day. What was to become Of them,
il the mines were really worked out? There
was nothing left but to starve, for up among
the mountains there, they had no other cm-
ployment. ....t.a-.
And next week came Klaus from Dres-
den with the second learned doctor. He
went first into one shaft, and then into an
other, and hammered at the rock, measured
to the right and to the left, then up and
down, and talked great deal Of Latin, but
nothing did he find. So he gave it up,
shook his white head and went away with
roll of silver guldcn, out of the moncy-bags
of Master Christopher.
Then the poor people gave up all hope.
Their hammers and drills rustcd, the sheds
and workshops stood empty, and over and
above all, period of grim, dreary storms
set in. At last even Master Christopher
lost heart, and the cheerful looks vanished,
which he had worn all along for the sake Of
his poor people
1t happened one day about this time, that
a poor woman with three hungry children
knocked at the door Of Master Uttmann'
house. She was stranger. had come from
long distance, and begged in charitya bit
of bread, and rest and shelter for short
time.
Mistress Barbara received the poor thing
with cheering words US was her wont, brought
her into the house, and refreshed her as
best she might with food and drink. Then
she established tho helpless wanderers in q
comfortable chamber, and rcjoiccd most
heartily at the rest which they found there
for their weary limbs.
She had not asked the stranger whence