Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-07-04
HANS WREATH.

1t was so narrow, this little back
street, in the quaint, old fashioned Ger
man town, that Hans Gottlieb could, if
he had so wished, have shaken hands
out of his window with his opposite
neighbor.
The sun that shone so bravely else
where was seldom visible here, only in
the early morning few golden CLEANS
found their way in, and gave faint en-
couragement to the two or three flowers
that blossomed in pots on the window
sill.
On such occasions Hans would pause
in his work, knowing full well what was
coming - how the easement opposite
would be flung open, and a girls voice,
singing q blithe little French song, would
ring across the silent street to his listen
ing cars; how slim pretty figure would
for moment stand framed in the bios
soming scarlet-runners-a pretty figure,
with dark French eyes, and black hair,
drawn up under white cap, beauti-
full contrast, so Hans thought, to
his comely yellow-haired country
women. AS soon as this vision ap-
peared, Hans would pause in his work
and turn his eye toward it; would wait
till the watering of the flowers and the
singing of the song were alike ended, and
then would approach his window.
Good-morning, his neighbor would
call across, in that pretty foreign German
that was so enchanting in his ears
Good-morning, Monsieur Gottlieb;"
and then with II nod and q smile the trim
little figure would vanish into the dark
shadows, and Hans return to his work.
But though life was too busy with
these two, and bread difficult enough to
win, even when one worked hard for it,
80 that neither could afford to idle away
the minutes in talk, yet Hans as he work
ed. dreaming of the days when stone
carving should not mean daily bread, but
honor and glory to those he loved, was
pleasantly conscious all the time of q
dark head bent over q table drawn close
up to the window opposite-a table
covered with many bright-colored scraps
ofmuslin and paper, which in due course
under those deft small hands, became
summer flowers, at this short distance
seeming to the looker-on the spoils of g
June garden. as.
Thus they worked day after day, these
two, so near together, yet so far apart
abstaining from all conversation which
might have made the days pass more
quickly; but then an hours idleness
might mean going supperless to bed, sc
that even Rose Cordier, dearly as sht
loved the sound of her own voice, re
Trained from making use of it, except fol
nm occasional song. But when the day
was over, when the GOODNESS in the little
close street, and the shadowy gray of thC
strip of sky overhead, gave notice thai
the long summer day was drawing to ar
end, when the small room grew dark
then Rose would rise and open the dool
to interchange greetings and gossip with
the neighbors-with the women sitting
on their doorsteps knitting in the peace
full twilight, their children playing abou
them; with the fathers returning from
their work; with the young men loiter
ing about smoking-for Rose had alway!
/ bright word and look for every man
woman and child she knew.
And they were all fond of her. of thi'
little foreigner who had come amongs
them four years ago, with an old mother
since dead, and who earned her daily
bread honestly among them.
Then as it grew even darker Han
Gottlieb would become aware that tn
day and its work were over, and woult
lay aside his chisel, and also seek wha
little fresh air there was at the door o
his dwelling. He did not laugh o
gossip with his neighbors, as did Bos
Cordier; it was not his way; and thi
fact was quite recognized by the dweller
in William street. Beyond "Goo,
evening, neighbor," " they did not seek t.
disturb him in the enjoyment of hi
evening pipe; only occasionally Ros
would step across and ask him what h
was at work upon, or if he had had
good order, and then poor Hans, flush
ing all over his fair face, would procee
to describe his work.; his prospects
until Rose, with pretty shrug of he
shoulders, would tell him in her foreig
German she could not understand him
he must speak slower, much slower;
was too late now, but tomorrow, yel
tomorrow, he must try and explain
all again, for it was interesting, SO il
teresting. But for now it must be gooC
night, goodnight to every one;" an
the slight, trim figure had disappeared
and the door was closed.
The neighbors, watching Hans rs j
strolled up and down the little sire,
afterward, pipe in mouth, nodded an
smiled to one another. All, whe