Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-31
Little. Carts Christmas Eve.

Little CarIS CnrlStuaS Eve,
Come In !" the host and hostesss hout-
ed together from within a little German
wayside inn near the banks Of the Rhine,
and not far below the city of Basle, and
the borders of Switzerland. 1t was Christ
mas eve, and tempestuous night. The
wind was raving around the little inn, and
tearing away at windows and doors, s.as
though mad to get at the brave little light
within and extinguish it without mercy.
The "come in" of the host and hostess
was an answer to loud, hurried rap at
the door, by which there Immediately en-
tered two travellers. One by his military
dress, seemed q, soldier. and the other APP
peared to be his servant. General Wal
lenstein was ON his way from Carlsruhe
to his home at Basle.1 He had been de-
layed several hours by an. accident TO his
post carriage, and by the storm.
| The grutf host was greatly impressed
with the Importance of the officer, and
willingly went out to assist the postilliorfn
the care of the horses. As for the old
hostess she hustled about with great ac-
tivity to prepare supper for the great
man. Hla ssss
"Ho, Carlr' she cried, ''thcu young
Rhine-sprite, thou water.imp, run to the
wood for another bundle of faggsts!
Away, haste, thee, or I'll give thee back to
thy elfin kinsfolk, who are ever howling
for thee - ~ st.44 sseT
At these strange, sharp words, wild
looking little boy started up from a dusky
corner of the room, where he had been
lying with his head pillowed on great
tawny Swiss dog, and darted out Of the
door. He was coarse1y dressed and hare
footed, yet there was something uncofn-
mon about him-something grand. yet
familiar in his look, which struck the
traveller strangely.
'Is that your child?" he asked. So.
mo indeed said the old dame. 'Tm
a poor woman, and have seen trouble in
my time, but blessed be the saints I'm
| not the mother OF water imps." sae@
"Why do you call the boy water-impen
"Ilcall him so, your excellency," said the
woman, sinking her shriil voice into an
awe-struck tone, ''because he came from
| the water, and belongs to the water He
| floated down the Rhine in the great food
four years ago come spring-a mere badly,
| that could barely tell his name, perched
on the roof of a little chalet, in the night
amid thunder, lightning, and rain! Now,
| it is plain that no human child could have
lived throught that. My good man spied
him in the morning early, and took him
off in his boat. I took him in for pity,
but have always been afraid Of him, and
every flood time think the Rhine is COM
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 boy, had
been lost with his nurse. whose cottage
on the river bank below Basle, had been
swept away by night.
"Was the child quite alone on the roof
of the chalet?" he asked in an agitated
| tone.
"Yes, said the hostess-"al but one old
! dog. who seemed to belong to him..
1.-The dog must have dragged him up
on to the roof, and saved him exclaimed
the General. "Is he yet alive!' 5
"Yes, just alive. He mnst be very old,
for he is almost stone blind and deaf. Ny
good man would have put him out of the
way long ago. but for Carl; and as he
shares his meals, aud makes his bed with
him, suppose it is no loss to keep the
| brute.' .,
"Show me the dogr' said the officer.
with authority. ts
Here he lies, your excellency," said
the dame. 1--WE call him Elfen-hund."
(Elf dog).
General WaAensteln bent over the dog,
touched him gently, and shouted in his
ear his old name, ''Leon." The dog had
not forgotten it-he knew that voice, the
touch of that hand. With plaintive.
joyful cry he sprang up to the breast of
his old master--nestled about blindly tor
his hands, and licked them unreproved;
then sank down. as though faint with Joy,
| to his masters feet. The brave soldier
was overcome with emotion; tears fell
| fast from his eyes. Faithful creature!"
he exclaimed, "you have saved my child,
and given him back to me!'
just at this moment the door opened,
and little Carl appeared, toiling up the
steps. with his arms full of faggots, his
cheerful face smiling brave defiance to
winter winds, and night and snow. 81 II
Come hither. Carl" said the soldier.
The boy flung down his faggots, and drew
near. .-eft
"Dost thou know who | am ?"
J "Ah, no. the::goad Christmas-king per-
haps," said the little lad. looking full Of
innocent wonderment.
"Alas, poor child; how shouldst thou
remember me ?" exclaimed General Wall
lenstein sadly; then clasping him in his
arms, he said ''but remember thee thou
art my boy-my dear, long lost boy
Look in my face, embrace me; am thy
father.
"No surely" said the child. that can
not be, for they tell me the Rhine is my
| father -
The soldier smiled through his tears,
and soon was able to convince his little
son that he had better father than the
old river, who had carried him away from
his tender parents. He told him of low
ing mother, who yet sorrowed for him,
and of a little blue eyed sister who would
rejoice when he came Carl listened, and
wondered, and laughed, and, when ne
comprehended it all, slid down from ms
father arms, and ran to embrace oiu
Leon.
The next morning early, General wal,
lestein after having generously rewarded
the inn keeper and his wife ior nsyins
1. .rN,r n