The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-10-07
THE YOUNG FOLKS.
'Thc Drummer.
tcoNrINUED.l

fCoNT1NUEDl
The old Woman laughed iiendishly
again, and exclaimed, "Do you think |
you have her? not yet, not yeti" And
so saying, she would have seized the
maiden; hut the Drummer, catching
her with both Ills hands, threw her iii
to the middle o. the burning pile, and |
the flames closed in around her, as If
rejoicing in the destruction of such a
Witch.
When this was dppo the Maiden
looked at tho Drummer, and, seeing
that he was a handsome youth, and
that he had ventured his life to save
hers, she held out her arms to him, and
said, You have dared q great deal for
me, and must do something for you;
promise me TO be true and faithful, and
you shall be my husband. For wealth
We shall not want; we have enough
here in the treasure which the old
Witch has gathered together"
Thereupon she led him into the house
and showed him chests upon chests,
which were filled with treasures. They
left the gold and silver, and took nothing
but diamonds and pearls; and then, as
they no longer wished to remain on the
glass mountain, the Drummer proposed
that they should descend on the wish
ing-saddle. "The old saddle does not
please me-" said the Maiden, "and 1
need only turn the ring on my finger
\ o u ,pn eho1I hn of lnp,h
"Well, then, wish ourselves at the
city gate" replied the Drummer; and
in the twinkling of an eye they were
there. ~ will go and take the news to
my parents first" said the Drummer;
"wait here for me, for 1 shall soon be
back"
"Ah! pray you, then, take care not
to kiss your parents, when you arrive,
on the right cheek, else will you forget
everything, and 1 shall be left here all
alone in this field.n "How can 1 for
get you ?" said he, and promised her
faithfully to return in very short
time. When he entered his fathers
house nobody knew him, he was so al
tered, for the three days which he had
imagined he had spent on the glass
mountain were three long years. He
soon recalled himself to their remem-
brance, and his parents hung round his
neck, so that, moved by affection, he
entirely forgot the Maiden's injunctions
and kissed them on both cheeks. Every
thought concerning the Princess atonce
faded from his mind, and emptying his
pockets, he laid handfuls of precious
stones on the table. The parents could
not tell what to do with so much wealth
till at length they built a noble castle,
surrounded by gardens, woods and
meadows, and fit for prince to inhabit
When it was done the mother of the
Drummer said to him, "I have looked
out for wife for you, and you shall be
married in three days. time"
Now, the Drummer was quite content
with all that his parents propOsed; but
the poor Princess was very disconsolate.
For long time after he first left her
she waited for him in the fields; but
when evening fell she believed that he
had kissed his parents on the right
check, and forgotten all about her. Her
heart was full of grief, and she wished
herself in some solitary forest that she
might not return to her fathers court
Every evening she went to the city ant
passed by the Drummer's house, but al
though he passed her many times he
never recognised her. At last she heard
one day the people talking of the we'd
ding of the Drummer, and she thereup
on resolved to make trial if she could
, regain his love. AS soon as the frs
fcstival-day was appointed, she turnef
4. her wishing ring, saying, ga dress a:
. . shining as the sum-" Immediately the
dress lay before her, and seemed as i
woven out of the purest sunbeams! Ther
as soon as the guests had assembled ,sh,
slipped into tho hall, and everybody
admired her beautiful dress; but mos
T, Of all the bride elect, who had a passion
for fine dresses, and went up to her An,
: asked if she wonld sell il. "Not 70
: money!" she replied; "but for the priv
ilege of sleeping for one night next t
the chamber of the bridegroom"
The bride elect could not resist he
e wish for the dress, and so she consented
70 but first of all she mixed in the sleepin
Z draug hit of the bridegroom astrong pc
y ton, which prevented him from beip
> awakened. By-and-by, when all wa
II quiet, the Princess crept to the chambe
e door, and, opening it slightly, calle
l. gently
;, drummer, Drummer, O list to me,
d Forget not what / did for thee;
n Think of the mountain of glass so hig
Think of the Witch and her cruelty;
Think of my plighted troth with the
he Drummer, Drummer, o list to me !"
as She cried all in vain, the Drumm,
u. did not awake, and when day dawne
ID the Princess was forced to leave. Th
N second evening she turned her wishin,
Oh ring and said, "a dress as silvery a
10 the moon" AS soon as she had spoke
l. it lay before her; and when she al
l. peared in it at the ball, the bride ele
s. wished to have it as well as the othe
Gu and the Princess gave it to her for tn
sr privilege of passing another night mex
rs the chamber of the bridegroom. An
everything passed as on the first nigh
The servants in the house, howeve
r had overheard the plant of the strang
n- Maiden, and they .old the bridegroom
"a about it. They told him, also, that
S, was not possible for him to hear any
le thing about what was said because
ID the potion, which was put into HI
w. sleeping draught
i" The third evening the Princess turne
10 her ring and wished for dress as gil
Tx tering as the stars AS soon as she al
re peared in the ballroom thus arrayed
the bride elect was enchanted with i
beauty; and declared rapturously, "
must and will have it," The Made
re gave it up, like the former for night
,e sleep next the bridegroom's chanbe
This time he did not drink his wine ,
y usual, but poured IL out behind the be-