The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-02-19
THE CRYSTAL SEEKER.
A FAIRY TALE.

FROM THE GERMAN OF JULIUS sTURM
Deep within the mountains on the
banks of a beautiful blue lake, there
stood for many years little house OF
mean appearance. 1t contained only
two small windows, and the dry,
thatch. h.covered roof was covered with
heavy stones. From here the eye rest
ed upon mighty mountain ranges, that
raised their gIittering SUBMITS, decked
with everlasting snow, far into the blue
ether; the glance soon fell, however,
upon the transparent crystal lake, where
the dazzling white mountain tops ap
peared to plunge into the bottomless
depth below. Numberless sweet and
fragrant flowers, which, although they
were 80 small, made show of splendid
color, blossOmed in the meadows that
bordered The lake. Here elittered, amid
the verdant green, the blue star OF the
gentian; there the elegant Alpine prim.
rose reared its rosy head, while close by
white anemone, like newly-fallen
snowflake, appeared to rest upon it's
stately stalk; while around about the
mountain, like purple border, stood
the blooming bushes of the Alpine
rose. Far and near there reigned
profound silence, only broken
now and then by the dismal cry
Of the greedy hawk, or by the shrill
whistle OF the mountain rat, standing on
guard.
In the little lonely and poverty-strick
on house lived q man and his wife and
troop OF poorly-clothed but blooming
and sprightly children. The man looked
very odd when he 5tepped out of his
little house in the morning. He was
large and strongly built, had long,
gray beard, and wore round hat, orna-
mented with large eagle feather, and
over his shoulder hung Ghamois skin;
on his feet he wore thick, nailed shoes,
at his side hung brown leather pocket
and very large hammer, and in his
right hand he carried long stick with
sharp iron point at the end. With a
slow step he wandered up hill deep
among the mountains. The man was a
crystal-seeker. When he came back to
the house in the evening, his pocket was
often filed with mountain crystals which
be sought for in deep caverns, and quite
often with danger to his life. These
stones his wife then offered for eale, and
from the money received for them the
numerous family were miserably enough
supported. One day when the man had
long sought in ain, and had continued
mounting higher and higher, a assure in
the rocks arrested his attention. He
peered into the darkness Of the cave, but
soon drew back afraid, for from out the
deep hollow light came to meet him.
Before be had recovered his senses, q
little miner stood before him, carrying
in his hand miners lamp, The little
fellow was dressed exactly like the
crystal. l.seeker, had allowed his gray
beard to grow just as long, and his face
presented the same weather. beaten ap,
pearance, and from under bushy eye.
brows his small, deepset eyes peered
cunninely forth. The crystal seeker did
not know what TO make of it, and looked
at the little man with great, wondering
eyes. But the little man called out in
shrill, arttul voice: "What is there to
stare at go, you great lubber2 You
gaze at mo as 10 COW does at new gate y
'Do not be quite so rough, sir dwarf,
replied the tall map. ~ hardly think
you will try TO spoil my trade" eli II
laughed the little one; show would it be
IL should prove master and you the
dabblerp Let's see what you have
found" Gas many % you have, cure
ly," was the answer that came fre fully
enough. "oh, you great fellow,
laughed the little man; "see here ~
And The little man opened his leather
pouch, which was filled TO the top with
the most daaslingly beautiful stones thai
tbe cryslslseaker bad ever seer, TheT