Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-06-26
For me Huntington Independent.
GRETCHEN
Translated from the German OF Auscraft.l
BY PAULINE.

1t was grand festival day at the VII
lage of Datenheim, on the banks OF
the beautiful Rhine. The sun fell in
showers of golden beauty, and the
blue waters of the ripping river
danced and sung under the mellow
light of its bright rays. 1t was a
double anniversary, one in which all
classes joined and were happy May
feast and the birthday of the Princess
Ursula. The villagers had merrily
danced around the May-pole, and the
musicians we're resting beneath the
trees. The little Children had strewn
flowers in the path of the good prin-
cess and she had rewarded them with,
kind words and gentle smiles. The
day was almost done, and the merry
little villagers were beginning 20 imi-
tate the prim roses and droop their
heads as they jOurneyed ho meward.
The Princess Ursula was in sore
distress, for an amulet Of diamonds
aud pearls had somehow bean loos-
euei from her chain and lost some
where 90 the green. 1t had been Civ
en- her by her betrothed, and the loss
Of it BODIED much i'll TO her she
feared for amuietS were considered
tokens Of good or i'll. The following
day she had her messengers to 90 to
the house Of every citizen Of Doteu-
Leim and all those who had taken
part in the May festivities, and APP
Prise them of her loss and her offer Of
a reward OF FIVE thousand thalers for
lts recovery.
In the suburbs of the village there
dwelt the family Of the old miller,
Hans Elprecht, his wife, their little
Una and an orphan niece. Now
Una WAS very plain, while the young
madcheD, Gretchen, had pretty blue
eyes and soft golden hair that would
cluster round her head in numberless
tiny rings, despite the frequent clip
pings given them by the hands of her
il!-tem pered aunt, who was violently
jealous of its beauty, for Uuas hair
was dull aud coarse, and could
nGi be made to hang iu pretty waves.
Una was attired IN the daiutiest ap-
parei, rad pretty red shoes and
cherry coloreG cloak and hood, while
poor Gretchen was compelled to wear
Una's cast-oif clothing and shoes that
were much too large for her. Una
lad a cunning little bed in which she
slept and beautiful china mug 10
which she had her porridgo, while
Gretchen had only an eartheu cup
aud brown bread, which she ate in
silence, while she enEied her cousin
Una the snowy rolls, of which she
never gave her q share.
The miller and his family were at
breakfast the morning after the May
feast when the courier from the castle
entered aud gave them the descrip-
ton of the lost charm and the prom
ise of reward if found Una and
Gretchen had been to the green, and
Una was just giving her mother an
account Of the many pretty things
she had seen there and how well they
said her dress became her, but Gretch.
en- had nothing to say, her dress had
been Of coarse brown stuff that was
warm aud untidy, and her heart was
full as she remembered with gopnded
pride all the unkind things that
had been said of her. 10 which Una
joined, but there was one sweet NOR
sal in her cup, and this was the mem
ory Of soft smile the Princess Ur-
su!a had given her, as she laid
her jeweled hand on her gold
en- b ,ad, and said she would like
to have hair like hers and such lovely
eyes, ike dewy violets. Gretchen was
sure the Princess must have thought
her very foolish to let the tears come
into her eyes, but how could she help
| it when they were the only kind
words that had been said to her since
her mother died and she had lived
with her aunt. who was cruel to heI
and never called her meme kiads, as
she did Una.
Gretchen could have wept for pity
to hear Of the Princess loss, and
thought how happy she would be tc
find and return the amulet to The
sweet-voiced woman, who had spoker
softly to her aud twined her curl.
around her white fingers.
Days and weeks passed away anc
nothing was heard of the lost charm