Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-05-29
little. CARTS CHRISTMAS ave.

wayside inn, near the banks Of the Rhine,
and not fur from below the city of Basle,
and the borders of Switzerland. 1t vas
Christmas eve, and tempcstuous night.
The wind was raving around the little
inn, and tearing away at windows and
doors, as though made 10 get ct the
brave little light within, and extinguish
it without mercy. 'tft
The "come in" Of the host and hostess
was in answer to loud, hurried rap at
the door, by which there immediately
entered two travellers. One, by his mi ]
itary dress, seemed soldier, and the
other appeared to be his servant. Gencr-
nj Wallenstein was on his way from Carl
sruhe to his home at Baslc. He had been
delayed several hours by an accident to
his post-carriage, and by the storm.
The gruif host was greatly impressed
with the Importance of the officer, and
willingly went out to assist the position
in the care Of the horses. AS for the old
hostess, she bustled about with great nc
tivity to prepare supper for the great man.
"IIo, Carl!' she cried, "thou young
Rhinesprit, thou water-imp, run to the
wood for another bundle OF faggots !!
Away, haste thee, or I'll give thco back to
thy elfn kinsfolk, who are ever howling
for thec!"
at these strange, sharp words, Wild
looking little boy started up from dusky
corner Of the room, where he had been
laying with his head pillowed OH Il great,
tawny Swiss dog, and darted ont of the
door. He was coarscly dressed and bare
footed; yet there was something uncom-
mon about something grand yet
familiar in his look, which struck the
traveller strangely.
"Is that your child?" he asked.
"No, indeed" said the old dame. "Im
poor woman, and have seen trouble in
my time, but blessed be the saints I'm
not the mother Of water-imps."
"Why do you call the boy a water
imp7'
IL call him go, your excellcncy," said
the woman, sinking her shrill voice into
an awe. struck tone, "bccause he came
from the water, and belongs to the water.
Hc foated down the Rhine in the great
flood, four years ago come spring-a
mere baby, that could barely tell his
name, perched OH the roof of little cha
let, in the night, amid thunder, lightning
and rain Now, it is plain that no hui
man child could have lived through that.
My good man spicd him in the morning
early, and took him off i'll his boat. /
took him in for pity, but have always,
been afraid of him, and every food-time
1 think the Rhine is coming for his own
again"
The traveller seemed deeply interested,
and well might he be; for in the very
flood of which the superstitious old dame
spoke, his only child, an infant hoy, had
been lost, with his nurse, whose cottage,
on the river bank below Basic, had been
swept away by night.
"Was the child quite alone Oh the roof
Of the chalct?" he asked i'll an agitatcd
tone.
eyes" said the hostcss-"all but an
old dog, who seemed to belong to him."
'HIhat dog must have dragged him up
on to the roof, and saved him!" cxclaim-
ed the cgcneral. as he yet alivc!"
eyes, just alive. He must be very
old, for he is almost stone blind and deaf.
My good man would have put him out Of
the way long ago but for Carl; and as he
shares his meals, and makes his bed with
him, / suppose it is no loss to keep the
brutc!"
"show me the dog!' said the officer,
with authority.
"Hcre he lies, your exccllency," said
the dame. 1--WE call him Ellen-hund"
lelfdog.)
General Wallenstcin bent over the
dog, touched him gently, and shouted in
his car his old name, "Lcon." The dog
had not forgotten it-hc knew that voice
the touch of that hand. With plain