The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-03

lng lTOul. NCllt w oil ulN oio hiVho
three days ago. A compassionate shrus
of the shoulders was the answer to my
lamentations and entreaties for help"
"Then what more can you do, father?
cried the young girl, eagerly. If every
thing is taken away Matthias and | have
strong arms and will work, that our tatheI
and mother may want for nothing. Dom
be cast down, father; remember the sons
you taught us and said we ought to know
because it sustained people in trouble
Don't you recollect it?n And the young
girl sang.
What was that? A voice clear as
seraph's, whose tones stole into the hear
and fingered there with an unearthly
magic! The young hunter had nevel
heard more beautiful, touching singing
than this girls. Hastily forming hi
resolution he stepped from behind the
cliff The old man and his daughter were
not a little embarrassed when they sud
denly perceived the stranger. The girl
especially, could scarcely find a reply tC
his question about the way to the village
Her father spared her the trouble and in
vited the young man to accompany them
as they were going there.
~ Who are you ~ he asked curiously.
81? ! am huntsman in the employ
of nobleman; was ordered 90 to a Ger
tain post, lost my way among the noun.
tains on my return home, and wandered
| here"
| Father Zeiner shook his head incredu.
lously and Marie cast a suspicious glance
at the hunter. But their distrust was
soon conquered by the young mans frank
words, and the old peasant became quite
confidential on his way to the village. He
said he had worked honestly all his life
only one-the youngest and a daughter
remained of four children, and now in his
misfortune hewas deserted by his friends.
"What will my poor wife, my children,
do when 1 close my eyes ~ he added.
"Don't despair!' cried the hunte-
''let me remind you of the song your
daughter sang?n
Odd you hear it?n asked Marie in
| turn.
Certainly, and l am greatly indebted
| to YOU, for it made a deep impression on
my mind
The young girl blushed, but did moi
answer while the huntsman smllingiy
! continued
1T is always darkest just before dawn.
Perhaps it is fortunate that you met me.
| may be able to say good word for you
fair words are of no use there; they wan,
nothing but money" replied the old man.
THE King needs it, they say. I'd like to
| know WHY he wants so much money"
The hunter laughed. "Why, for the
army and the housekeeping expenses,
suppose"
We are at peace, and the King ncedn'i
use so much money for housekeeping il
| he had wife to look after things; but
he's determined not to marry. In the
picture we have at home he seems to be a
fine looking fellow; he can't find it hard
to get a good wife"
perhaps the right one has not Gomez
replied the hunter, laughing; and the
heart ought not to be forced"
THE gentleman is right there!" said
the old man, and the girl nodded assent
They had descended the path and now
reached the entrance to the village. The
| old man urged the hunter to enter his lit
tie house and take lunch of bread and
milk. They went into a pleasan: sitting
room, in a low rooted cottage, and were
cordially welcomed by the mother and
/ son. The shyrcss the old woman and lad
felt toward the stranger soon wore away
and, while the young girl hastily set milk
latter said that his master was wealthy ano
distinguished, and would doubtless, at his
request, make the old man a loan. The
old couple rejoiced that Heaven had sen
them so unexpected a deliverer in the
hour of their need, and Marie did not hes
itate, at the hunters request to take hel
guitar from the wall and repeat the SONG
she sung on the mountain plateau. Long
after the sweet notes died away he sat il
silence, as if lost in dream-his soul re
sponded to the tones of the artless child o
nature.
"Father Zeiner, would you not like tt
have your daughters voice cultivated II
the city? She could then provide mucl
better for your cid age" the hunter Gag
erly exclaimed after pause, as II tht
thought had reused him from a reverie.
"Ycs, but such things don't come by
wishing"
"Let the gentleman to whom this nott
is addressed see to that" said the hunter
"Go to Munich tomorrow morning ant
ask for Baron Won P; give him this note
and YOU will then be treated more civilly
at the tax-ottce" While saying thes'
words the hunter had torn leaf from hi
note book, written a few words, ant
handed it to the peasant. Then, leaving hi
purse on the table, he walked hastily away
amid the blessings of the family. Scarce
ly had he disappeared when the fathe
hastily seized his sPectacles, and read
"Zeiner and his daughter are recon-
mended to Baron Won P.'s care b.
Louis"
The peasant shook his head incredu
lously. "I almost believe the man tool
us for fools. If l should take the Barol
the note he would have me kicked out o
the house." said Zeiner; and as the othe
members of the family shared his opinion
they determined not to go to Munich
Marie suddenly discovered the purse ol
the table and Matthias ran after the hunte
to return it but the latter had disappeare'
and, after long discussion, Zeiner re
solved to go to Munich, find the Baron
give him the purse his huntsman had lef'
and-as he was on the spot-hand hir
the note, with the remark that the youn
man probably wanted to play joke upo
him.
The next morning Baron Won T. lei
the Kings cabinet with the information
that new singer and her father woul
present themselves to him in the cours
of the day. But when, two days after
Zeiner and his daughte: Marie appeare
at the Baron's house and gave him tn
note the latter was pctritied with astonisll
ment; he could not believe that peasan
girl was the new prtma donna, and instant
ly went to the King.
"Your Majesty" said the Baron, in
embarrassed tone, "a peasant and his daugh
h,,rht mo a nurse and these lines.