New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-06
THE GREAT UNKNOWN.
A JEST FROM THE GERMAN.
ny rurYATR EREDrRICK HARTMANN.

The town seemed deserted, and its unusual aspect
evidently surprised q pedestrian. who ascenaed
the steep slope of tho main street, and gazed
curiously about him, without percelvlng single
face at the windows Everything was SHUT up.
No children played on the thresholds no sore
fowls were picking up proyender in the road anu
a superannuated dog 6linked and sunbered in the
In seeming perploxity te traveller shook his head.
Then-not with the hesitating step OF stranger III
the land but with firm ana c9nndent stLlues sn
walked straight to the principal inn, whose doors
stood iuyitingly open upon the market-place; Llke
one familiar with the locality, he turned to his lett
beneath the entrance archway, aud assembled the
stairs leading directly to the cofee-room. Inc
coffee-room was empty. waiter, who sat reading
in the bar, welcomed the .new-ccmer WITH sRSht
nod but did not otherwise disturb his studies;
God bless you, old boyw cheerfully exclaimed
the traveller casting from his shoulders hand some
knapsack; "iust see If yon can manage 70 ieave ave
yonr chair am no travelling tailor or tinker, but
the long lost Alexis, returned from his WanderlngS'
and we'll disposed to make himself comfortable III
With an exclamation of joyful surprise the old
servant sprang from his seat and grasped the mana
aTbanks nv honest old friend" replied the young
man to his affectonate greeting and now tell me
at once what the deuce has come over Mitfelsteln
Has the plague been here, or the Turksi are the
worthy Nifesteiners all gathered to their fathers,
or are they initiating the southerns' ana Snoring
the siestap A.. A. .oo.
haryest-feast was being celebrated at a short ds-
lance from the town, and that the entire p9puIa-
ton of Melsten hal locked tntncr WIN ome OK
and of his MASTER and tile young MISTRESS ne added
the former of whom was detained by business, ana
the latter was dressing herself but VINO DOM WOulu
follow she stream before half an hour was over.
True p cried Alexis, striking his forehead WIN
his finger: have almost forgotten my natife VII
laQe with its vintage and harvest Joys; ana much
fear it returns the i'll compliment III KIM. can
mass nv time however, till my worthy uncle and
fair cousiI are visible Brfg me something 10 eau
aWhat cellar and kitchen contain is. at your
honors service" replied the waiter We had 10
strangers at table to-day but cold meat y There
and Il it so please you, some kailSoup shall be IN
Stantly warmed" go -, !,
Kail-soup" said Alexis with smile nome of
That thank You, Cold meat--bene. But don't for-
- Assuredly not. Whatever your honor pleases.
asss Of sack Or IIg OF si sack cried Alexis
laughing heartily. Anything you like. Only DO
quick about it." 1T.
examined the apartment which struck him as
strangely altered since his bOyish days. The old
familiar furniture had disappeared ana was re-
placed by Oaken tables, stools, and setees OF rude
and Outlandish construction. The shining Side
board had made way for an antiquated wOrm-eateh
piece Of fIrntnTs WIZ TG9S had dereone
an odd change The walls were papered with
views of bleak mountain scenery dismal lakes ana
tnrreted castles. enlivened here and there with
gronns of Scottish peasantry. The curtains of
maIly-cOOred plaid, were not very elegant ana con-
trasted strangely with the long, narrow FT e zen
claimed the puzzled Alexis Just as he asked him
self the question, the waiter entered the room,
bearing meat and wine upon silver salyer. ms
ne placed before him with an lnhmty or cerelno-
NOUS gestures and gTimaces. ,u;.,. .,,;,
noor rc1reshmenf" he said. "Thc beef is as tender
as il il came from the kings table God bless him
the sack OF rather the caret is OF the best vintage
THE kail-soup would hardly have been ,fortheom-
ing: for although the cook is kept at home by
cold. she Is reading, and cannot leave her book;
And nOw IL it will pleasure your iordsmp, Will
play you tune upon the bagplpeS"
In mute and Open-mouthed astonsnment, Alexis
stared at tie speaker. But the old name earnest
cOnntenance, and a movement he made TO ltetch the
discOrlant instrument, restored to hun his powers
"a q Far heavens sakep ho cried, "Tobiasl stop,
come hither. aud tell me If you have lost your
sensesl Lordship! claret! cook who can't leave
her bookl A bagpipe! Tobias! what has come to
All, Mr.. Alexisc said the old fellow, suddenly
exchanging his quaint and ceremonious bearing FOR
Plaintiye simplicity Of manner TO say the truth
pray don't call me Tobias before the master. Caleb
has been my name now for "a matter 81 three years.
Master and the customers would have 1t So"
- Yes, nv dear Mr.. Alexis. and the inn were
rebaptized on the same day. am sorry for both OF
us, but l am only the servant and "ha' everybody
Alexis pushed open the windox and thrust out
his head. " True, by all that's ridiculous he ex,
claimed turning to the rebaptized waiter tie old
Star hangs there no longer What Is your house
called now :"
been its name, and everything IN IT has been SO
fransmOgrifed the place Is full Of strangers parte-
ularly OF English, who throng us IN the Summer,
times I'm like to go crazy. They stare at old Caleb
as if he himself were the Bear laugh " ms race,
aid sPS %d By laugh
and the inn, and at me and Susan, Whose name is
now Jenny, and never think Of putting hand in
rocket to make amends. But what can do, Dir.
Glexisi Master is wilful, and Pm sixty. If he DIS
charged me- who would give old TObiaS-Caleb'
would old fellow" replied Alexis heartily;
would Tobias You've saved me thrashlng for
MANY prank, and were always kinder to inc than
my own uncle VINO SOM aS STS have cTus
half is yours. But so on, do not yet under
stand
Tobias cast timid glance at the door, and then
continued. but in a lower tone than before
z Three wears AGO." lie said, "the mistress died,
and soon afterward things began 10 60 badly. Your
uncle neglected the and d az o as II we aaa
we Thought ourselves well of. 1t was all along OF
books. Every week there came great parcel from
the next town, and master read them through ana
through. aud then the young lady. and then master
often again. He neither ate, nor drank nor sIept;
he read That may have made nm Ieard de Sd hen
things were at the worst, stranger came 10 the
inn. and wrote himself down In the book as an
The first night they sat up talking till morning all
next day. and the day after that, they were porting
over books. Then the folly began; everything must
They saw the Engshman gave your uncle money
for the first expenses. II everything had gone ac-
found us all In masquerade The clothes were made
Tor us Just like yonder figures on the paper. But
we only woro them one day, The blackguards in
h.re Tobias again lowered his voice-a Justice
Stapel sent word to master that he might make as
fool & 81 h ps e Re h Ssss sssd st aa I:
eiotIinq. SO we got back to our hose and jackets.
The Englishman, when he returned the following
fnrinV. and whole lot Of people with him. made
treat 4uss and .scOlded land cursed, and said that
we upon the Continent were set OF miserable
slaves, and that 1t was 2 name natural right to
10, INV part ielave or mo slate, was very glad
Justice stapei bad more power here than the mad