Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-01
rHE LEGEND OF PETER KLAUS
The origin OF ITVIng'S HIP Van
MinkIe.

In the village of Sittendorf, at
the foot OF a mountain, lived Peter
Klaus, a goatherd, who was in the
habit of pasturing his flock upon
the KitEhausen hills. Toward
evening he generally let them
browse upon a green plot not far
of, surrounded with an old ruined
wall, from which he could take 4
muster of his whole lock,
For some days past he had oh
served that one Of his prettiest
goats, soon after It's arrival at this
spot, usually disappeared, nor
Joined the fold again till late in
the evening. lie watched her
again aud again, and ut last found
that she slipped through a gap in
the old wall, whittier he followed
her. 1t led into u passage which
widened Us he went into a cavern,
and here he saw the goat employ
ed in picking up the oats that fell
through some crevices in the place
above. He looked up, shook his
ears ut this odd shower of corn,
but discovered nothing. Where
in the earth could it come from
At length he heard over his head
the neighIng and stamping OF
horses he listened and concluded
that the oats must have fallen
through the manger when they
were fell. The poor goatherd
was sadly puzzled what to think Of
these horses IN this uninhabited
part OF the mountain, but so it was
for the groom made his appear.
ance, without saying a word,
beckoned him to follow him. Pc,
ter obeyed, and followed him up
some steps, which brought him 10
an open court yard, surrounded BY
old walls. At the side OF
this was u still more spa.
cious cavern, surrounded by rocky
heights, which only admitted 1
kind of twilight through the over
hanging trees and shrubs. HI
went on, and came to 4 smooth
shaven green, where he saw twelve
ancient knights, none Of whom
spoke q word, engaged at playing
nine pins. His guide now beck
oned to Peter, in silence, TO picl
up the nine pins, and went hi
way. Trembling in every joint
Peter did not venture 10 dlsOOey
and at times he cast a stolen glanc
at the players, whose long beard
! and slashed dOublets were not q
!, all in the present fashion. BY de
grees his looks grew boldcr; h
took particular notice oil every
thing around him among othe
D things observing q tankard nea
= him, filled with wine, whose odo
| was excellent, he took = goo
t draught. II seemed to inspire hil
with life, and whenever he bega
s to feel tired OF running he apple
!, with fresh ardOr to the tankart
which always renewed his strength
/ But finally, it quite overpOwere
him, and he fell asleep.
When he next opened his eye
. he found himself on the grass pho
again in the old spot where he WI
:, in the habit Of feeding his goat
. He rubbed his eyes, he locke
= around, but could see neither dc
/. nor flock. He was surprised
the long rank grass that gre
about him, and the trees az
,. bushes which he had never seC
II before. lie shock his head Of
q walked a little further, lookir
70 for the old sheep path and the b
t, Ocks and roads where he us'
daily to drive his flock; but
could find no traces Of them lei
Yet he saw the village just befO
him; it was the same Sittendol
J and scratching his head, he haste
. ed at . quick pace down the b
to inquire after his dock. .