The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-09-15
MiseelIanRons 8eIettiGus.
PETER BLOCH.
A HARTs LEGEND.

Peter Bloch, the charcoal burner,
was out of sorts. He couldn't work
he couldn't talk-he couldn't even
eat (the last occupation of which he
was very fond) when Katrina, his
betrothed, came with his noon day
meal of strong beer and still
stronger cheese and sauerkraut,
prepared by her own rosy hands.
Peter looked askance at Katrina,
at her round, blooming, honest
face, her short plump figure and bare
feet, and for the first time in his
life thought her-coarse. And for
the first time in his life, also, he
turned up his nose at the beer, and
the sauerkraut, and thought them
coarse. So Katrina, with her din
ner- basket on her arm, went away
sorrowful, leaving Peter sitting idle
on log apart from the other work
men, smoking a large black pipe
and gazing out sullenly upon the
gloomy forest, the smoking char
coal kilns, and the little cottage, with
its cabbage-garden and pig-sty, to
which he was soon to bring home
Katrina. Very poor and despicable
it all now appeared to him. And
yet only yesterday how proud he
had been of that cottage! And how
he had cultivated those cabbages,
and those pigs, until they were as
round and as fat as-as Katrina,
nearly,-which was saying great
deal for them.
The truth was, Peter Bloch was
dying of envy and discomfort. On
iy an hour ago he had seen pass
along the forest the young Count
Won Schaltzchofensburgh, with a
brilliant train of attendants, on his
way to take possession of the castle
of the late Count, his uncle, and to
marry the late Counts daughter, the
present fair and peerless Lady Hill
degarde Adelberga Rosalenden,-
who with an equally imposing train
had ridden forth to meet him, and
with the bailiff and the chatelaine on
either side, had delivered to him the
keys of the castle,
All this had Peter Bloch seen ;
and from that moment envy and
covetousness had poisoned the we'll
springs of his heart. Why should
nature have made his lot in life so
different from that of this young
man? he asked himself. Why should
he be a charcoal-burner, and the
other a nobleman? Why should he
live in a hut, and the Count in a cas-
tie? And the Lady Hildgarde Adel-
berga Rosalinda was so fair-slim
and white, like a lily,-whilst Katri-
ma much more resembled a red cab
bage, thought Peter, with a sneer.
And she had brought him beer and
sauerkraut, whilst up at the castle
there was to be this very day grand
feast, with richest viands and rarest
wines,-the latter stolen from the
Baron Stickinseide, in that knights
absence; and also an OK roasted
whole. A fine fat OK Peter knew it to
it be, since it was only to-day that
had been taken from his poor neigh
lbor, Hans Hapner, who mad depen-
ded upon its sale for winter clothing
for his large family Of little ones.
"Achg" sighed Peter Bloch; 81
would that I were Count Won
Schwaltzschofensburgh. Then
might I be happy
'.Hei he! bd!ha! b0! hO!" Uttered
a voice close behind him; and hot
breath as of a charcoal-kiln passed
lover Peter Bloch's cheek.
| He turned round and saw, leaning
against a neighboring fir-tree, an
Iextremely tall and thin individual
Iclad in tight-ftting suit of black
with remarkable high-crowned hat
on his head, a red cloak over his
shoulders, and oddly-shaped shoes,
half hidden by enormous red rOset
ties. The eyes OF this personag(
were as black as Goals, and twinkled
with merriment, as he laughed witt
a mouth stretched from ear to ear
Peter stared, and the stranger,
having apparently exhausted himsel
with laughter, bowed apologetically
and seated himself on the log by hi'
side.
Excuse me, mein Herr" he said
''but you-he, he?- you were wish
ing to be the noble Count vol
ISchwaltzschofensburgh?"
"What is that to youY said Peter
sullenly.
"Only that it may be in my powe
to help you to your wish" answere,
the stranger, suavely. And he pu
his hand to his mouth, with a sligh
cough, as if to repress an involur
tary delighted "ke her