Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-10-31
A Night on the Borders of the
Black Forrest

tor, setting down his lanthern, and
shutting the door behind us,
The players laid down their greasy
cards to stare at us. The second
brother, trihe more civil than the
first, asked if he wished Tor anything
before going to bed.
Bprgheim unslung his wallet, flung
him ,elf YEARLY into Il corner Of the
settle, and said" Heavens and earth!
yes. We are almost starving. We
have been on the road all day, and
have had no regular dinner, Is this
a farmhouse or IN inn?"
! "Both.
"Waa have you i'll the house,"
"Ham-eggs - voorst - cheese
wine-bccr--coliee.
"Then bring us the best you have,
and plenty Of it, and as fast as you
can. Wen begin ON the yoorst and a
bottle Of your best wine, while the
ham and eggs are frying-and we'll
have the coffee to finish.
The man nodded; went to door
at the other end OF the room-repeat-
ed the order to some one out Of sight ;
and came back again, his hands in his
pockets. The irsl broher,meanwhilc,
was lounging against the table, look
ing on ut the players.
"Its a long time he said.
Ay-but its just ended replied
one of the men, putting down his card
with an air of triumph.
His adversary pondered, threw
dowd his hand, and, with round oath
owned himself beaten.
Then they divided the remaining
contents Of the stone jug, drained their
mugs, and rose to 90. The loser pull
ed out handful of small coin, and
paid the reckoning for both,
We've sat late.' said he with a
glance at the clock. Good night,
Karl-good night, Friedrich"
The first brother, whom | judged to
be Karl, nodded suIkiIy, The second
muttered a grutf sort Of good night.
The countrymen lit their pipes, took
another long stare at Byrghiem and
myself, touched their hats, and went
away.
The first brother, Karl, who was
evidently the master, went out with
them, shutting the house door with a
tremendous bang. The younger,
Friedrich, cleared the board, opened
a cupboard under the dresser, brought
out loaf OF black bread, a lump of
voorst, and part of n goat 's-milk cheese
and then went to fetch the wine
Meanwhile we each drew 4 chair up
to the table, and fell to vigorously.
When Friedrich returned with the
wine, pleasant smell of broiling ham
came in with him through the door
"You are hungry" he said, looking
down at Us from under his black
brows.
Gay, and thirsty" replied Gustave,
reaching out his hand for the bottle.
as your wine good?'
The man shrugged his shoulders
"Drink, and Judge for yourself" he
answered. "It's the best we have"
"Then drink with MS" said my
companion, good humoredly, filling a
glass and pushing it towards him a
cross the liable.
The landlord took up the bottle. and
held it between his eyes and the lamp,
"Bad as it is he said, ''you've drunk
half of it.,
"Not only one glass thanks be
to Bacchns! There stands the other.
Let us have a schoppen Of your best
bcer-ond | hope it will be better than
your best vine"
But lie shook his head with an I'M
gracious Nein, nein," and again left
the room. The rext moment we
heard his heavy foot-frll going to and
fro overhead.
"He is preparing oar beds" | said.
care there no women, WONDER a
bout the place."
We'll, yes--this looks like one"
laughed Bergheim, at the door leading
to the kitcnen again opened, and a
big stold looking peasant girl came
in with a smoking dish of ham and
eggs, whi;h she set down before us on
the table. Stop! stop!" he exc'aim-
ed, as she turned away. Don't be
in such hurry, my girl. What is
your name?"
She stopped, with bewildered look
but said nothing. Bergheim repeated
the question.
"My-my name?" she stammered.
"Annchen."
"Good. Then Annchen (filling a
bumper and draining it at a draught,)
81 drink to thy health. Wilt thou
drink to mine? ?" And he pointed to
the glass poured out for the landlords
brother
But she only looked at him in the
same scared, stupid way, and kept edg-
ing away towards the door
"Let her 60" | said. %.She is evi
IDENTIFY half an idiot"
"She's no IDIOT to refuse that wine,"
replied Borgheim, as the door closed
after her. "lt's the most abominable
mixture l ever put inside my lips.
Have you tasted it 2"
/ had not tasted it as yet, and now
| would not; so, the elder brother
coming back just at that moment, we
called tor beer.
"Dont you like the wine ?" he said,