The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-03-15
ELrsnsvASrrr.
AorKnAsLprSp

The vanity OF The fair sex, II ls said, is
Of the same sge as the sex ilseli, a
clever writer, 10 defending this lrsit oi
the feminine character, has said that
I II constitutes tie greatest charm; that
Z without il the sex would lose half its Al.
traction; and Ia support Of this theory
there is the old quaint story Of the Ger.
man mAiden--a histoCy which is so ten.
der aud pretty that il is worth reseuing
from the forgotten legends Of The Father
lsnd.
A maiden lived on the banks Of Rhine
with her father, the miller. Now the
I maiden, whose name was Elsie, was not
pretty, and she was cross aud fretful, ior
she grieyed for her own lack OF beauty
and thought that none would ever care
I for her on account Of the few srsees ma.
iure had given to her; 90 she did not
even Try TO please, aud yet her heart was
very large aud very kindly. She spent
haf her time in front OF her looking
glass, lamsntiug her painness. aud think
ing how impossible It was that Carl
would ever learn to love her, while Gret-
chen, who was SO fair and pretty that she
was called, The Daughter OF Spring,
dwelt near her, Elsie was not loved, for
she had never tried to gain love. She
always fancied that II would be in vain
to endeavor TO please, 10 vain to be kind
and thoughtful and loving. When ma
tire had SO sighted her, who could care
for her, or think Of her, OF be interested
in her!
Ahl she sighed one day, II could but
have Gretchen's beauty, should be the
happiest girl in the Faihsrlsnd, for then
| should not fear any rival; aud Carl,
sunny haired Carl, might love mo.
But Carl never came near her now, and
only thought of her as cross and fretiul
Elsie, and wished Gretchen bad less van
ity with her pretty face, aud rather lar
ger heart In her slim body.
One day--it was in the time OF the
vintage Elsie went down to the Rhine
to bring in water, AND, as she dipped her
pals in the clear ripplcs, she saw her
own face reflected, and turned away
wretched and discontented. She sat
down on a rocky stone and watched the
sunlight playing on The castle-crowned
hills, and listened to the far of song OF
the workers in the vineyards, and she
thought of Carl, who was there, and OF
Gretchen, who was there also.
All me she sighed, what a gi.t is beau
ty!
Elsie, said voice, and, looking up,
she saw an old woman--a very old, de-
formed woman-standng near to her;
Elise, she said, will tell you the secret
OF beauty, aud you shall obtain all that
you long for so much. Go home, and
never look into glass, never see the re-
Election of your own face in the water,
never once again gaze upon your own
features, and you will grow pretty-so
pretty that you will wonder at the
change; aud Carl-Carl will learn to love
you.
o, will never see my face again as
long as / liye-never, neverl said Else,
But are you sure--quite sure2
Quite sure, replied the dame; but re-
member, if you once see yonr face your
ugliness will return. Now go home and
be light of heart, and every day your
lack Of beauty will grow less, and every
day more love will hover round you.
But how shall know that II is true, if
may not see my face asked Elise
Can You not tel by the altered manner
of those around you said the dame.
o, yes, said Elise. How will watch
them
Elise went home with new aud
strange happiness al her heart--s hsppi.
ness that changed her nature and influ.
enced every day of her life, aud made
her amiable, aud soft, and loving, and
kind, and considerale, and anxious to
please, and always ready to serve and
help others.
Presently people began TO remark The
alteration in tho milter's daughter, aud
to tell her how different she was from
formerly; aud tue maihsns sought her
out aud talked 10 her about their lovers;
aud the youlhs declared that Elise, the
miIIer's daughter, was the nicest girl
that side Of The Rhine; and Carl learned
to think how different she was from
Gretchen, and he learned TO love her,
aud all through the fatherlsnd there
was not so happy girl as Ellie. And
all this time sue never once saw her own
face, but turned away her head when
she dipped her pals in the stream, and
through all the milIer's house there was
not to be found lookinglass. She long
ed (ah! how much! to see herself 10 her
nsw gsrb Of beauty; but she remembered
the old womsn's warning, and conquer
ed her desire.
/ In the spring time came her wedding
day, and early ID the fresh, sweet morn
ing she was married TO Carl; aud the
i young flowers peeped out TO see her face
as she prssed by, and the tender grass
kissed her feet as she passed along, and
the birds sang out greeting, aud even
the light, feathery clouds seemed 10
sloop over her head, "a II with their
shadowy hands hey blessed her on her
bridal day. All happy Eiise
Thou art so changed sAid Carl. Thy
face is 30 different iibm what II formerly
was IL does not seem TO me that il il
possible that thou art the same Elise. !