Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-10-05
Miseelianu.
From Appleton's journal.
The Deans Watch.

sic From Appleton's Journal.
The Deans Watch.
The day before the Christmas of 1890
my friend Wilfrid, his double bass slim
over his shoulder, and l with violin unde
my arm, were on our way from the BIac
Forest to Heidelberg. An extraordinar
Quantity of snow had fallen that season
AS far as our eyes could see over the grea
desert plain before us, not trace Of tn
route, either of road or path, was to be dis
covered. The north wind whistled IT
snrIll aria about our ears with a monotou
ous persistence, and Wilfrid, with walle
fiattened against his thin back. his lone
heron-legs stretched to the utmost, and The
visor OF a little fat cap pulled down over
MS nose, strobe along before me, humminp
gay air from " 0ndine." Every now
and then he turned his head with n Grim
smile, and cried:
"Comrade, play me the waltz from
Robin-I wish to dance ~
A peal of laughter always followed, and
then the brave fellow would push on again
with fresh courage. I -tAiLAI on laaLi-H1 -.
hIs 1sotstePs with the snow up to my knees
and my spirits sinking lower and lower
every moment.
The heights about Heidelberg had be-
gun to appear on the distant horizon, and
we were hoping to reach the town before
nIghttall, when we heard the gallon of
horse behind US. 1t was about five O. o'clock.
and great fakes of snow were whirling
about in the gray light. Soon the rider
was wethin twenty steps. He slackened
his pace, examining us out of the corner of
his eye. We also examined him.
Imagine big man with red beard and
hair, wrapped In brown cloak, over which
was loosely thrown pelisse of fox-skins
on his head superb cocked-hat his hands
buried In fur gloves reaching to the elbows.
On the Group of his stout stallion was
strapped weli-flled valise. Evidently
he was some hurley sheriff, or burpomaster. |
"Ho, my lads :" he cried, drawing one
of his hands from the muf which hung
across his saddle-bow, and clapping his |
chargers neck, f" we are going to Heidel-
berg. l see, to try little music"
Wilfrid eyed the traveller askance.
"ls that any affair of yours, sir ?" he
answered grufly,
"Eh yes; L should have a piece of
advice to give you"
"Wen, you can keep it till it's asked
for" retorted Wilfrid, quickening his
pace.
cast a second glance at our new
companion. He looked exactly like a
great cat, with ears standing out from his
head, his eyelids half closed, and a LONG
brIstlIng mustache; altogether, he had a I
sort of purring, paternal air. n
"My FRIEND" he began again, this time :
me; I" the best thing you can \
do is to return whence you came" d
"Why, sir ?" y
"The famous Maestro .Prinerti, from b
Noyare, has announced grand Christmas
concert at Heidelberg Everybody is O
gong to it; you will not get a single b
<reutzer."
This was too much for Wilfid.- sa
y ng Tor your maestro, ana all the T
Prinentis in the world ~ he cried, snap OF
,ing his fingers. This lad here, with his OIL
ong curls and blue eyes, and not hair 70
yet on his chin, is worth an army of your m
Italian charlatans. Though he never play bI
ID outside of the Black Forest, he can dr.
landle bow with the first musician in m
Europe, and will draw melody from his m
Tlolln such as was never heard before in
~
"Here, here ~ cried the stranger. tn
"lt is just as L tell you," said Wilfrid, te
lowing on his fingers, which were red err
18th the cold. To-
linen ne set out to run, and followed hi
i'm as best l might, thinking he wished
make game of the traveller, who kept ha
p with US, however, at little trot.
In this way we went on in silence for wa
ore tnan half league. Suddenly the flit
ranger cried out, in harsh voice on
Whatever your talents may be, 20 wh
Ick to the Black Forest We have vaga- clio
'nds enough in Heidelberg already with op
It you. 1t is good advice [ give you gle
you had best profit by it. 9u
Wilfrid was about to make an angry an,
tort, but the rider had started off at gal wa
p, and had already reached the grand ay- sou
ue of the elector. At the same moment. the
great flock of crows rose from the plain, see
d seemed to follow him, filling the air not
tn their loud cries. :
About seven o'clock in the evening we sho
lched Heidelberg. There, in fact, we set
md posted on all the walls Prinenti's nor
ming placards. 'Grand Concert, Solo, tax
}. ETC. We wandered about the ale VIII
Uses, In which we met several musicians the
m the Black Forest, all old comrades was
ours, who Immediately engaged us to bel
y In their band. There were old Bre- and
r, the violincellist, his two sons, Lud- kni
and Carl, capital second violins, Helm han
/ Kebel, the clarionet-player and big '
rthe on the harp. Wilfrid with his base But
!, and myself as first violin, made up shaC
troupe. fire
= nnGreed that we should all 90 to- eurr
---.%. r~-.-s, ana uivIde after The
sEa44 Wilfrid had already engaged cow
o. TOR himself and me. 1t was on the Sud
h sSfy of the little tavern Pied-de tber
uton,' in the middle of the Holdergasse, NOR
was only garret, though, luckily, it an a
a sheet iron stove, in which we lighted still
re to dry ourselves. ing
While we were sitting quietly over the husk
roasting chestnuts and discussing movi
of wine, who should come tripping up vatc
stairs and knock at the door but little seem
ette, the maid of the inn, in scarlet wbet
icoat and black velvet bodice, with some
ks like roses, and lips as red as cher upon
Next moment she had thrown her his
into my arms with a cry of joy. locke
ie were old friends, the pretty An a mo
2 and L, Tor we were both from the of tn
; village. and to say the truth, my him.
t had long been captive to her bright l
and coquettish airs. alrea
saw you 60 up just now,' she said, the s
ring stool to my side. and here l sistib
come for minutes talk with you heard
ith that she began such a. string of the G.
harrf fh1o o,,I +ko4 |