The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-11-26


"Welcome to seat in NV wagon
stranger" said an elderly man who
perceived my need. Welcome, and an
honor to me-"
win these words he reached me his
broad and calloused hand, smiling at
the pleasure 1t afforded him to take n
stranger to the festival. jumped into
the proffeIed seat and soon we were
winding our way through the passes
and glens of this magnificent wilder
ness. Visitors before us, visitors be-
hind us, we formed long file and a
joyful party we were. Now and then
song would be started in one convex.
ance, and the chorus taken up by the
whole line. Then there was a distant
conversation, such as only mountaineers
can hold, accustomed to hail one anoth.
er miles distance, from mountain
side to mountain side.
And the subject OF the conversation I?
Ihe Herr Land Amman, his riches, his
Kindness, his Trudchen-how sweet,
now careful of the aged and poor
Trudchen l heari the name but once.
For all the while it was: The Frau
Land Amn'dnid. But one said, "Oh,
how he loves his Trudchen! how he
would do anything for her!,
cannot express the feeling which
tingled through my whole being, when
L heard that name-Trudchen the
sweet, patient sufferer, whom had seen
stretched on her last couch, an image Of
sweet reposing love, sleeping in the
arms of eternal rest.
"Trudchen ?" 1 was going to ask
my kind conductor, when an exclama-
tion OF general, joyful surprise withheld
me.
"Ach wie schon!" (Ah, how beauti.
fulD
And beautiful it was. The narrow
mountain pass opened at once upon a
soft, sloping plain, covered with sweet
smelling turf, through which nicely
gravelled pathways curved in all di-
rections enclosing the most lovely group
OF evergreens, roses, lilies anemones
and an endless variety of blooming
flowers.
Far in the distance, slightly elevated,
there came in view large and spacious
dwelling-it might be called a villa.
Its light colored walls were adorned
with climbing plants, its windows with
tasteful balconies surrounded with flow.
ers-while behind the villa loomed a
high mountain peak, sheltering it from
the northern winds. In front of the
dwelling, on large, neatly trim med
grass-plot, some fifty little boys and
girls were playing, laughing, running,
jumping, and evidently in highest glee
The view was so really magnificent
so sudden, so like fairy land, that
could not help gazing around and be-
fore l knew it the wagon stopped, my
conductor alighted offered me his strong
hand to get out, and having performed
the same service for those with us ,dro We
OIL, leaving me surrounded by people
coming and coming, talking, admiring,
exclaiming, and evidently too much
engaged with things around them to al
low me to ask them any questions con-
corning that which had pre-occupied
me since | heard the name OF Trudchen.
l followed the stream of guests which
soon arrived at the villa-for such ii
seemed-and dispersed in its spacious
hall and rooms, with that freedom and
gayety, that decorum and respect OF
persons and things, which characterize
these people.
In the corner OF the large hall, which
we would call the reception room, |
saw comfortable seat, inviting enough
for one who felt physically and moral
ly fatigued to rest awhile. l did SO, and
was soon looking around upon the in
creasing crowd ofjoyful Switzers, when
gentleman came to me, whom soon
recognized AS the good old doctor, whose
acquaintance made under such sorrow
ful circumstances.
"Ach, sind sic da?" he cried with
hearty joy. ""Sind sic tcurkhchdaf"
(Are you truly here? Is it possible p
That is herriich kherriich !"
And he pressed me, Switzer fashion,
in his arms.
"When recovered from the confusion
which these hearty and impetuous de-
monstrations always occasion, to me at
least, said
"And Karl-how Is he ?"
"Karl ?" said he; "Karl .'-and as If
his memory had received sudden Jerk.
"Ah, the Herr Land Amman, you
mean! All, he is very well very well
indeed. Soon he will be here"
"Tell me-" said l, with an emotion
which tried in vain to conceal, 4" "tell
me who is his wife," ~~-7.
His wife! Well, friend, thou ought
to know, to be sure. Well, Trudchen,
sweet Trudcher."
"Frudchen ~ l exclaimed. "What
Trudchen ?"
"Well, friend, thou art beside thyself |!
Thou knowcst Trudchen, think. But,
upon my word, perhaps thou knowest
nothing Of all that happened. True
enough-thou art stanger, though thou
speakest our mountain talk almost M
well as one born here. Thou must live
far away not to have heard of itw
my good friend" said 1, with II
slight tone of impatience, ~ know
nothing. | know nothing. live hun
dreds Of miles away from here. Tell me,
tell me-"
"And so l SHALL" said the doctor,
pressing my hand and drawing chair
near mine. "You left us when Trud-
chen MAS deada laid out to be buried,
is it not so? Well, we loved her so
much we went so often to look at her.
l came the day before the one appoint
ed for her funeral to see her once more.
sat down beside ner, felt her hands;
her cheeks, which had yet u blush Ola
them IL WAS all cOld-but not so cold