The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-10-19
THE GIANT OF EPPSTEIN.

Ihe green valleys OF the IaunuS abOun(
in healthful springs, and its woody up
lands are crowned with decayed castles
the recollection of whose chivalrous own
ers has cultivated the perishable monu
ments of their power. Like a chain O
antique coins, these ancient relics EN-
brace the fertile and picturesque coun
try which extend for many league,
along the right bank of the Maine. Pow
erful and illustrious families formerly
resided where the ruins of Falkenstein
Konigstein, Eppstein, Sonnenberg, anc
HOhenstein now rear their proud turrets
and where the Altking and the Feldbere
raise their lofty heads above the neigh
boring hills, some of the mightiest deed.
that immortalize romance were per-
formed.
In the richest part of the country,
called 6" the Nassua Switzerland" EN-.
bosomed amid hills and dales, still lies
the village of Eppstein. The lofty
towers and strong walls of its castle still
point out the spot that was the heredi-
tary seat of rich family, who furnished
many Counts to the empire, and not a
few shepherds to the archbishopric of
uAdy ChOCs lhC OllklhOl buIo uOUlC
ument of feudal splendor is traced to its
having formerly been the abode of a
huge and savage giant, who insolently
relying on his immense strength, would
not suffer anyone to settle in the valley,
especially if the owner were of gentle
blood; for the humble cot of the peas
ant was infinitely less hateful to his eye
than the lordly castle of noble. Had
it depended upon him not single castle
ated habitation would have embellished
the mountains of the Taunus
Now it once happened that the giant
was obliged to leave the neighborhood,
in order to 90 to the assistance of one of
his monstrous brethren in Alsace, who,
it appears, found it no easy matter to de-
fend himself against the harassing at
tacks of the ordinary-sized mortals by
whom he was beleaguered, and who,
though comparatively weak and dimin-
utive, acted on the principle of "punion
fait la force" and kept the monster
penned up in his fortress. The terrific
ranger of the woods and fields had scarce
ly departed, when all the neighborhood,
having assured themselves that he was
far out of reach, became all at once
mighty courageous; so, after summon
ing a meeting beneath the shade of a
gigantic oak, they resolved to avail them
selves of his absence, to divide his prop
erty among themselves. While they
were thus occupied in vainly endeavor-
ing to arrange the disputes and alterca-
tiOns which are sure to arise among those
who have to settle the partition of other
mems property, and while none of the
disputants would yield to the claims of
their equals, young knight made his
in the valley. He appearing
to be quite impartial, and demanding no
share in the spoil, was chosen umpire
by the contending parties, and in spite
Of his extreme youth acquitted himself
30 skillfully of the duties of his office,
that in two days not only all disputes
were settled, but he found himself, some
how or another, in possession of a fruit
full and verdant hill which rose with
gentle slope from the bosom of the low
lands.
Eppo-for that was the strangers
we'll aware of the nature and
duties of his situation. His purse,
which had never been overstocked, was
now nearly empty, but he found means,
by his eloquence and powers of persua-
sion, to supply that deficiency from the
pockets of others; for although all the
peasantry loudly clamored against pay
ing fee or tithe to their rightful lord, the
Archbishop of Mayence, they willingly
gave their mite to him. The good cOun-
try people were soon convinced that they
could do nothing better than assist the
knight in building castle, which would
not only vie with those of the neighbor-
ing barons, but secure them against all
future inroads from the giant or his for
midable family. Eppo represented to
them how ornamental it would be with
itscrenalated battlements towering above
the trees, and what protection IL would
afford the whole country IL the giant
should ever think of returning to his
deserted possessions. But the truth was,
that although the knight affected to at
tach great importance to this latter argu-
ment, yet his grand object was to fill his
own Golfers and to build his castle at the
expense of the ignorant inhabitants; ;
then, after having well feathered his
rocky nest, to leave them to shift for
themselves. Be that as 1t may, the good
country-people set about the work with
such hearty good will that even IL Eppo
had been powerful prince, surrounded
by numerous vassals and skilled artifi-
GERS, the building could hardly have ad-
vanced more rapidly. Indeed, the walls
seemed to rise by magic from the soil,
and 30 eager were the workmen to com.
plete the castle that they forgot their
own wants and poverty, and whenever
a passing traveller inquired into and mar
veled at the cause of this extraordinary
activity, he was informed that the for
tress was constructing for the defense
and freedom of the country.
T. A L. L. -