Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-30
A Legend OF the Rhine,

Once upon time there lived beside the
Rhine beautiful young lady. She had a
lover who loved her, and whom she loved
in return. But, after he had wooed her
not one year, but three-hc asked her TO
marry him; and she, anxious to show her
power merely answered:
Wait"
:" have waited three years." he said,
" but at your bidding, 1 will wait once
more-just once more"
Then he went away and became = SOL
dier, and praise to his bravery filled the
land; and the lady was piqued by the
thought that he had been able to leave
her for even year, and when he returned
she determined to punish him though all
the while she loved him WELL
He knelt at her feet, and took her hands
in his, and said:
Lady. have come back to claim y ou
for my wife"
"Wait longer; patient waiter is not a
loser"
81 will wait two years longer" he said,
calmly. If do not lose all is we'll"
Then he left her again. She had hoped
that he would plead for her, and that she
would be forced to change her mind; but
now he was gone-gone for two long
years. How she lived through them she
could not tell, but they passed, and again
her lover was before her.
~ have waited patiently" was all he
said.
The lady yearned to cast herself into his
arms, but pride was strong within her.
"Wait longer" she said
No." he answered. This is the last
time. If | wait now, l will wait for
ever"
At this she drew back haughtily.
Then wait forever" she said cold
ly.
He left her without word. And now
her heart sank in her bosom. She wept
bitter tears, and repented in dust and
ashes. When a year had gone by she
could bear her woe no longer, and sent
her little footpage to her old lover. hid
ding him bear this message, Come back
to me-
But the message the little footpage
brought was just this: "Wait."
Again she was left TO her sorrow, and
two years glided by; then once more she
babe her page ride over the mountains to
her lovers castle.
Tell him am waiting" she said.
The page rode away and rode back.
He stood before his lady and doffed his
cap, and repeated the message that had
been given him: 1.-The patient waiter is
not a loser"
:. He is furnishing me- thought the
lady, and for two years longer she re.
mained in her castle. Her heart was
breaking-her health faied-she knew
death was near.
Again she sent her cruel lover Il mes
sage
Tell him." she said, "that l am near
my end, and that if wait longer before
see him | shall wait forever"
The page returned, and stood beside his
lady's chair. His eyes were full of tears
his head was bent upon his breast; he
sighed and hid his face in his plumed
cap.
The lady lifted her wan face.
Speak" she said. The message!'
"Alasm sighed the page; l would il
were a more tender one."
whatever it may be. speak, gaspet
the lady.
1.-The only message that have" replied
the page, is "Wait forever!'
l am well paid in my own coin," salt
the lady. SAT last have received all m,
own answers back"
| In a little while she died, and the,
buried her in the old churchyard, with
stone at her head and stone at be
feet.
When spring came there was grass upol
the grave, and there also was new plan
strange to those who looked upon it;
plant with dark, glossy leaves that crer
slowly but surely along, clutching fast t
every rough surface it met.
There had never been Il plant like tha
on earth before. Now we call it the ivy
but this is " hat those who saw it for th
first time said of it:
:" 1t is the lady whom her lover bade
wait forever. In this form she is Greer
ing toward his cattle slowly but surely
Sc she will creep on until she reaches tn
heart she threw away"
Generations have passed from earth
The castle is q ruin, covered with ivy. an
the peasants will tell you that it has creE
there from the lady's grave, point b
point, over stone and rock, through th
graveyard and over gates and fences
You can trace it if you choose, they say
but you do not try.