Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-09-07
Miscellany
PETER BLOCH.
A HARTZ LYaHND.

BARTZ LYsEHD.
PETER BLOCH, the charcoal burner, was
ont Of sorts. He couldn't work-bt
couldn't talk-he couldn't even cat Che
last an 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 eauerkraut, pre-
pared by her own rosy ha1ds
Peter looked askapce al Katrina-at hel
round, blooming, honest face, her shor,
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 tho beer, and the
cheese, and the sauerkraut and thought
them coarse. so Katrina, with her dinner
basket on her arm, went away sorrowful,
leaving Peter sitting idly on log apart,
from the other workmen, smoking short
black pipe and gazing out sullenly upon
the gloomy forest, the smoking charcoal
kilns, and the little cottage, with Its cab
bage garden and pig-sty, 10 which he was
soon To bring home Katrina. Very poor
and dispicabe it now all appeared TO him.
And yet only yesterday how proud he had
been OF that cottage! And how ne had
cultivated those cabbag ., and fed those
pigs, until they were IA round and fat as
Katrina, nearly-which was saying great
deal for them.
The truth was, Peter Bloch was dying
Of envy and discomfort. Only an hour
ago he had seen pass along the forest road
the young Count Won Schwaltzschoiiens-
burgh with 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
- nd peerless Lady Hildegarde Adelberga
E~ sllinden--who with an equally impos-
;rc train had ridden forth To meet him,
nrf !, nth the bailf and the chatelaine on
eith,r aide, had delivered TO him the keys
Of the G. stle.
All ,f1,, had Peter Bloch seen and from
that vcrr ;. 1oment envy and covetousness
had noIson, ID the well springs of his
heart Wby should nature have made
his lot in lih, 80 different from that
of this Young many he asked him.
se,f WIN should he be charcoal burner,
and the other nob,eman7 Why should
he live in hat, and the Count In castle
And the Lady Hildegarde Adclberga Rosa
linden was 80 fair-slim and white, Ike
lily--whilst Katrina much more resem'
blod red cabbage, thought Peter, with
sheer. 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 Stickin-
seide, in that knights absence; and also an
OK roasted whole A fine fat OK Peter
knew It TO be, since 1t was only to day that
IL had been taken from his poor neighbor.
Hans Hapner, who had depended upon its
sale for winter clothing for his large family
Of little ones.
Achr sighed Peter Bloch; 81 would
that I were the Count Won SchWaltL
fYepsburgh. Then might be happy"
"Mhe! la hal no no Z" Uttered n voice
close beside him. And a hot breath, as
of a charcoal kiln, passed over Peter
Bloch's cheek. j.
He turned round and saw, leaning against
a neighboring fr-tree, an extremely tall
and thin individual. clad in tight fitting
suit of black, with remarkably high
crowned hat on his head, red cloak over
his shoulders, and oddly-shaped shoes, half
hidden by enormous red rosettes. The
ewes Of this parsonage were black rs Goals,
and twinkled with merriment, as he
laughed with mouth stretched from ear
to ear.
Peter stared, and the stranger, having
apparently exhausted himself with laugh
ter, bowed alphabetically, and seated him
self on the log by his side.
EXCUSE me, nseia Herr" he said; but
yOu-hs he!-you were wishing to be
the noble Count Won Standardization
What is that to your" said Peter, sui
"Only that 1t may be in my power to
help you to your WISH" answered the
strau Ger, suavely. And he put his hand
to his mouth, with q slight cough, as II
TO reprcss an involuntary delighted "he
10 y"
Peter looked incredulous.
"You do not believe me!' said the
strange man, his little eyes twinkling ma
liciously.
"Nein," said Peter, doggedly.
"Try me = said the man in black. VI See
here! write your name at the bottom OF
this parchment, and If you do not immc.
diately become what you wish, then shall
you throw me into your charcoal furnace
and burn me to cinder"
"You agree to that" quoth Peter.
"As I am an honorable soul who fears
the fire." was the reply. He, no! ha, h0!
10! no! no"
80 great was his merriment that it wss
some moments ere he could recover him
self sufficiently to unroll the parchment
and present to Peter sharp pointed iron
pen.
.There is no inkw said Peter.
The man in black seized the pen,
and without a word plunged the shsrn
point, with sudden quick motion, into
Peter Bloch's shin, left exposed
by the rolled up leathem breeches.
"Oh, ohr' screeched the charcoal.
burner, hopping around on one foot and
rubbing the wounded limb, which burnt
q If scared by hot iron.
ut is nothing," responded the man In