The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-02-25
YOUNG Folks.
Legends.
THE muNcHBAoKEp MUSICIANS.

two musicians both of whom were hunch- |
backed But great difference existed in
their faces and characters Friedel was well
looking and amiable, fine musician, for
his soul was full of goodness and it found
expression through the tones of his violin,
But Heinz had ugly red hair and more ug-
ly temper, and his playing was so unmusi-
cal that none ever listened to him for pleas
ure. Thus it happened that Fricdel and his
violin were always in demand for all occa-
sions of merry-making and frolic, while
Heinz was left unemployed. Now Friedel
loved Agatha, the daughter of rich wine
merchant, and she, perceiving his soul and
forgetting his delormity, returned his love.
All went well with the lovers themselves,
but knowing the pride and love of money of
the maiden's father, they determined not to
speak to him until they should be compelled
to do 50. At last very rich suitor de-
sired Agatha for his bride, and obtained
her fathers consent Then it was that Frie-
del was obliged to speak, though with sink
ing heart. The wine merchant drove him
away with harsh words. Poor Friedel quite
distracted wandered, he knew not whittier.
1t was late when the chilling dews recalled
him to his senses and he sought the town.
As he approached it strange sounds were in
the air and sights more marvellous met his
gaze. DAVIS and all sorts of night-birds
were screaming, and above the tops of the
houses the broom-riding witches were troop
ing. And all made their way to the fish
market or Parwisch, as it was called in
Aix-la- Chapelle. Friedel also went there,
and great was his amazement at what he
saw. The square was illuminated by little
flames in the air, and crowds of female fig
ures were moving about. Then Fredel re-
membered that this was quarter-day, and
the witches were said to hold picnic on
that day in this very square. As he thought
of this woman, who looked very much
like the mayoress of the town and seemed
to be the leader of the others, advanced to
meet him and led him to table loaded with
all kinds of delicacies and delicious bever-
ages. She invited him to eat, and after he
had refreshed himself, placed in his hand a
violin and asked him to play music for dane
ing. As soon as the violin sounded, they
moved away the tables and seats and pre-
pared to dance. 1t gave Friedel a very nov
ell sensation to perceive that while all ap-
peared to be busily talking and laughing, no
sound reached his ears. Soon the lady-pres-
ident gave the signal to begin; then the vi
olin of Friedel seemed as if bewitched, for in
spite of him it would go quicker and more
quickly, and the dancers faster and more
swiftly till all was as witchlike as could well
be. At length Friedel fell on a seat ex-
hausted, and the lady president thanked him
for his sweet music, and commanded him to
kneel and receive his reward. Then she
whispered words of strange sound above
him, and laid her hand on his poor deform-
ed shoulders, and quickly removed the hump
from them and placed it in a dish which she
instantly closed. As she did this the clocks
sounded the hour of one and in twinkling
all vanished and Friedel was alone. Weary
and confused, he fastened home, and to bed,
where for the remainder of the night strange
dreams came to him. But in the morning
he found the most wonderful part Of all to
be true. He was straight and comely in
money was in the pocket Of his jacket
enough to make him equal to any of the
suitors of Agatha. As soon as possible he
repaired to the house of the wine merchant
and told him his story under the promise of
secresy. Now his reception was quite diff
ferent from the former one, but it was more
the sight of the money that decided the mer-
chant to make Friedel his son-in-law than
the loss of the hump. Then were the lovers
made happy.
Although this adventure of Friedel's was
to be secret, it escaped in some way, and
among Others Heinz heard the story. His
envy and hatred of Friedel, which had been
bitter enough before, were increased, and he
reported wicked stories of Friedel and accus-
ed him of the most immoral intercourse with
the witches. But he secretly determined to
attend their picnic on the next quarter-day
and try his fortune among them. Now as
n6 CdIllt W lu0 uou-uluIhcl Iuc SAINT SCtut
met his gaze as that which Friedel had be-
held, and Heinz advanced boldly, bearing
his own violin, and making signs that he
was willing to play. The dance was formed
but Heinz was so occupied in gazing avari-
cously at the plate on the table that he for
got his music and played even more discor-
dainty than was his custom. Soon the
dance became race, and Heinz believed he
was doing so well as to give the witches
great pleasure, when they all ran up to him
and shook their fists at him. He had also
been so unwise as to call by name some
wives of the town he thought he recognized.
When the lady-president commanded him
to kneel he thought it was time to claim
reward, so he seized large gold drinking
cup. The lady gave him so smart box on
the ear that he gladly dropped the cup; she
then took from tightly covered dish the
very hump she had taken off the shoulders
of Friedel and fastened it on the breast of
Heinz. At that instant the clock struck one
! and he was left alone. Who can describe
the rage and despair of Heinz? He added
also to his misfortune by foolshly telling
the story, and thus became the laughing
stock of the whole city. Only Friedel felt
sorry for him, and he, out of his goodness of
heart, maintained Heinz comfortably all the
rest of his days.
| THE BEEvEs AND THE BUTCHERs.-The
an end of the butchers, whose whole art, they
said, was conceived for their destruction. So
they assembled together, and had already