Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-27
ELIsE'S VANITY.
A GERMAN LEGEND.

the feminine character, has said that il
constitutes its greatest charm that with
out it the sex would lose half its attrac-
ton a1d IN support of this theory there
is the old quaint story Of German
maiden-a story which is so tender and
pretty that it is worth rescuing from the
forgotten legends of the Fatherlsnd:
A maiden lived on the banks Of the
Rhine with her father, the miller. Now
the maiden, whose name was Elise, was
not pretty, and she was cross and fretful,
for she grieved for her own lack of beauty,
and thought that none would ever care for
her on account Of the few graces Nature
had given to her; SO she did not even try
to please, and yet her heart was very large
and very kindly. She spent half her time
in front of her looking glass, lamenting
her plainness and thinking how impossible
it was that Carl would ever learn to love
her, while Gretchen, who was 80 fair and
pretty that she was called "The Daughter
Of Spring." dwelt near her.
Elise was not loved, for she had never
tried to gain love. She always fancied
that it would be in vain to endeavor to
please, in vain to be kind, and thoughtful,
and loving. When Nature had SO sighted
her, who could care for her or think Of
her, or be interested in herr seq 49.'
"Ah!". she sighed, one day, if could
but have Gretchen's beauty should be
the happiest girl in the Fatherland, for then
should not fear any rival; and Carl, SUM-
ny-haired Carl, might love me-" 1*
But Carl never came near her now, and
only thought of her as cross and fretful
Elise, and wished Gretchen had had less
vanity with her pretty face, and a rather
larger heart in her slim body.
One day-it was in the time of the vim
tage-Elise went down to the Rhine to
bring up water, and as she dipped her pals
in the clear ripples, she saw her own face
reflected, and turned away wretched and
disconnected.
She sat down on a rocky stone and
watched the sunlight playing on the castle.
crowned hills, aud listened to the far-of
song Of the workers in the vineyards and
she thought Of Carl, who was there, and
Of Gretchen, who was there also. "Ah
mel" she sighed, "what gift is beauty !"
elise" said voice, and locking up
she saw an old woman-a very old, de-
Elise" she said, II will tell you the Sc
you long for 80 much. Go home, and
ton of your own face in the water; never
once again gaze on your own features, and
you will grow pretty-so pretty that all
will wonder at the change, and Carl-Carl
will learn to love you"
"Oh, will never see my face again as
long as live-never, neyer" said Elise.
g But are you sure, quite surc?"
"Quite sure" replied the dame; but,
remember, if you once see your own face,
your ugliness will return. Now, go home,
and be light Of heart, and every day your
lack of beauty will grow less, and every
day more love will hover around you"
but how shall know that It is true if
may not see my face?" asked Elise.
"Can you not tell by the altered man.
ner Of those around your" asked the
"Oh, yesp said Elise; chow will watch
Elise went home with new and strange
happiness at her heart-a happiness that
changed her nature and influenced every
day of her life, and made her amiable, and
soft, and loving, and kind, and considerate,
and anxious to please and ready to serve
and help others.
Presently people began to remark the
alteration in the miller's daughter, and to
tell her how different she was from for
merly; and the maidens sought her out.
and talked to her about their lovers; and
the youths declared that Elise, the miller's
daughter, was the incest girl that side of
the Rhine, and Carl learned to think how
different she was from Gretchen, and he
learned to love her, and through the Faith
erland there was not 80 happy girl as
Elise. And all this time she never once
saw her own face, but turned away her
head when she dipped her pals in the
stream, and through all the miller's house
there was not to be found d looking glass.
She longed- -ah, how much to see her
self in her new garb of beauty; but she
remembered the old woman's warning,
and conquered her desire.
In the spring time came her wedding
day, and early in the sweet fresh morning
she was married to Carl, and the young
flowers peeped out to see her face as she
passed by, and the tender grass kissed her
feet as she went along, and the birds sang
out greeting, and even the light feathery
clouds seemed to stoOp over her head, as
if with their shadowy hands they blessed
her on her bridal-day. All, happy Elise!
"Thou art SO changed" said Carl 'sThy
face is so different from what it formerly
was. 1t does not seem to me that it is
possible thou art the same Elise. used
to pass without even looking back to gaze
on thee; but to-day, in thy bridal veil,
thou art sweet picture, which memory
will paint on my heart foreverr
Elise felt herself thrilled with happiness,
but never once told the secret of that
change, though she herself did not knew
that the real secret lay in her own changed
nature. &EE
Now, presently, they were all feasting
and Elise, longing to be alone for few
minutes, with her wonderful happiness,
crept down to the side of the Rhine, and
thought over the past.
All, and he said am so altered, too!
Happy Elise, though art indeed altered
And he said how pretty l looked in my
bridal veil. Do /, / wonder! What would
I not give TO see myself"
Elise was forgetting, as she 1onged to
see herself, how strict had been the old
woman's warning She stood on the edge
oe the water with her face turned away,
is,aass her vanity kept saying 70 heF, Look
once for q single moment, Elise, and see
myself on thy bridal day." but she hest
tated, and longed, and wondered ii punish
ment would really follow il she looked.
1T cannot make any difference" she