Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-03-13
THE KING OF THE GNOMES.
A GERMAN LEGEND.

fessor, eve have long evening before
us, and to help pass away the time, Twill
relate little legend of the King of the
Gnomes, which, think, has never been
published"
These spirits are commonly supposed
to dwell in the interior of the Reisenge-
birge, or Giant mountain; that they are
possessed of fabulous riches, and often
roam the earth i'll divers shapes and dis
gTlises. The one in question is better
known by the sobriquet of Rhubazahl,
or "Turnip-counter," derived from a
legend that has spread over almost every
civilized country.
In the little hamlet of Hirschberg
lived a poor student called Gottfried
Goetal. He was very poor, but proud and
naughty, and kept himself closely within
his small, scantily-furnished chamber at
the inn. How hemanaged to live-since
he performed no manual labor-none
could tell; AMI his cold, reserved manner
effectually repelled the curious.
"Bah stuff nonsense A greater
lie was never uttered" he exclaimed,
pettishly, throwing the book he had
been reading into one corner of the room;
then, filling his pipe, he muttered, be-
tween his teeth: "Musan is a humbug,
and the Rhubazahl another. Such be
ing exists only in the book Volksmahr-
chin, Matched by the brain of an idiot.
But then-how [ would like to clap eyes
upon those great piles Of gold and silver
would behold the magic spot where
precious jewels are used like cobble-
stones to pave their roads. Perhaps l
would continue living the dogs life that
has been mine for the past year could l
but get within arms length of old
Rhubazahl's boards. If there be such a
spirit dare him to appear to me. At
least, he should see that there is one
mortal who is free from the awe and
terror that even the mention of his name
appears to produce in these ignorant
clowns. But pshaw what folly p
And the student settled into more
comfortable attitude before the glowing
fire, while the thin, blue smoke from his
meerschaum curled in fantastic wreaths
above his head.
Suddenly he heard a sonorous ahem I!
close beside his elbow, and quickly turn
ing his head, a peculiar thrill of awe
crept over him as his gaze fell upon a
strange-looking object seated upon the
edge of the table. 1t was the figure of a
man, but the student trembled as he re-
called the description given of Rhu-
bazahl, for this intruder was an exact
prototype of the king of the gnomes.
The round, full face was blackened and
grimed with coal dust, while a long
beard of fiery red hue hung nearly to
his waist. But the eyes, 50 wild, so
fierce, filled with strange, lurid glare,
emitting tiny sparks like molten iron,
overshadowed all else.
"Who-what are you2" faltered the
student.
"Ho no no Don't you know
me? I'm the lord OF the mountains, or,
as fools sometimes call me, Rhubazahl r'
laughed the coalman.
Then there is such spirit! Well,
what do you want here2" demanded
Gottfried, reassured by the good-natured
tone of his strange visitor.
"That is precisely the question ]
wished to ask you. You dared me to
visit you, and now am ready to heal
your reasons. Do not fear," he added,
as the student hesitated; "but speak
boldly. l detest q coward"
"Well, then, if [ must, I must; and il
you are displeased, so be it. But first
let me tell you my reasons. came Of
an honorable family, who were supposed
to be very wealthy, but when my father
died man came forward and showed
papers proving that he had loaned money
on the estates, receiving mortgages GOV
ering the whole, and that there was not
single heller left us. SO we were turn
ed out, and while my mother and sister
went to live with distant relative, who
is but little better off than ourselves,
could not bear to be dependent, ant
came here. Tonight / was reading
'Musan's Volksmahrchin, and doubling
the existence of such being as he de
scribed Rhubazahl, 1 gave utterance tc
the words you must have overheard"
90 And you have not told me what i
is you wish with me-" persisted tn,
gnome.
6" I will tell" replied the student
with increasing boldness. "Traditiol
says that you have in your mountain
home vast stores of gold and silve
which have lain idle for ages. Now, tn
sum that would enable me to buy bacl
our estate would not be missed in tn
least by you if these stories are true
What wish, then, is that you will tax
me to your home-that you will allo,
me to at least look upon these riches
and perhaps we can make some bal
gain"
"Well, we'll I must confess that yo
are the boldest-not to say the most i'm
pudent- being have ever had the plea
sure Of beholding. Pray, why should
do this for you after the by no mean