Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-24
-.a.lcaster fntelligenrer.
FRIDAY EVENING. DEC. "a. 1880.
Little Carl's Christmas Eve.

and hostess Of little German wayside
inn near the banks of the Rhine, and not
far below the city of Basle, and the
borders of Switzerland. 1t was Christ
mas Eve, and tempestuous night. The
wind was raving round the little inn, and
g. tearing away at the windows and doors, as
though mad to get at the brave little light
within, and extinsuish it without mercy.
The snow was falling fast, driftin. and
driving, obstrncting the highway, binding
the eyes Of man and beast.
The 'cOmc inn Of the host and hostess
was In answer to a loud, hurried rap at the
door. by which there Immediately entered
two travellers. One, by his military dress
seemed a solaier, and the other appeared
to be his servant. General Wallenstein
was on his way from Carlsruhe, to his
home in Basle. He had been delayed
fevcraI hours by an accident to his post
carriage and by the storm, and now found
himself obliged to stop ior the night at
this lonely and cOmfOrtless little inn.
When the officer threw aside his plumed
hat and military cloak of rich fur, and
strobe up to the fire, with his epaulettes
flashing in the light and his sword knock
ing against his heels cling, cIang, the
gruff host was greatly impressed with his
Importance, and willingly went out to as
sist the position in the care Of the
horses. As for the old hostess she hustled
about witt, wonderful activity to prepare
supper for the great man.
"IIo Carl - she cried, "thou young
Rhinc-sprite, thou water-imp, run to the
wood for another bundle Of fagOts Away,
haste thee. or I'll give thee back to thy
eliin kinsfolk, who are ever bowling for
thec"'
At these strange, sharp words, wild
looking boy started up from dusky cor
ner of the room, where nc had been lying
with his head pillowed on great tawny
Swiss dog, and dartcd out Of the door.
lie was coarscly dressed and barefOcted,
yet there was something uncommon about
him-somcthinS grand yet familiar in
his look, which struck the traveller
strangely.
SIS that your child:' hc asked.
"No, indeed" said tine old dame !;
81 am poor woman. and have seen
trouble in my time; but blessed be the
imps."
"Why do you call the boy a water
imp?' -,
az call him so, your cxcellency,' said
said the woman, sinking her shrill voice
into an awe-struck tone, because he
came from the water, and belongs to the
water. He foated down the Rhine in the
great flood, four years ago come spring,
a mere baby, that could barely tell his
name, perched on the roof of little chalet
i'm the night. amid thunder, lightning and
rain Now it is plain that no human child
could have lived through that. My good
man spied him in the morning and took
him of IN his boat. took him in pity
but lave always been afraid of him, and
overy flood time think the Rhine is com.
ing for his own again"
The traveller seemed deeply interested
and well hc might be for in the very flood
of which the supcrstitiOus old dame spoke
his only child, an infant boy, had been lost,
with nurse, whose cottage on the river
bank below Baslc had been swept away
by night.
Z" Was the child alone on the roof of
the chalet - he asked, in an agitated
eyes" said the hostess. " all but All
old do., who seemed to belong to him.
''That dog must have dragged him on
to the roof, and saved him - exclaimed
the general g is ac yet alive ~
Yes, just alive. lie must he very old
for he is almost stone blind and deaf. My
good man would have pu. him out of the
way long ago, bat for Carl and rs he
shares his meals. and makes his bed with
him, suppose it is no loss to keep the
brute"
"Show me the dog: - sud the officer,
with authority.
{" Here he les. your cxcellcncy," said
the dame. "Wc call him Elftn-hunf'
ielCdOg.)
Gen. Wallcnstcin bent over tho dog,
touched him gently, and shouted in his
ear his old name Of ''Le"n.' The dog had
not forgotten it :; lie knew that voice, the
touch of that hand. With i plaintive.
joyful cry, hc sprang up to the breast of
his old master, nestled about blindly for
then sank down, as though faint with
JOY, at lis masters feet. The brave
soldier was overcome with emo
tiOn tears fell fast from his eyes.
"Faithful creature" he exclaimed, you
have saved my child, and given him back
to me- And knecIinS down, he laid his
hand on the head of the poor old dog and
blessed him.
Just at this moment the door opened,
and little Carl appeared, tOiling up the
steps with his arms full Of fagots, his
cheerful face smiling brave defiance to
winter winds, and night, and snow.
''COme hither. Carl said the soldier.
The boy flung down his fayOts, and drew
near.
"Dost thou know who am?
"Ah, nO-the good Christmas King,
perhaps" said tllc little lad, looking full
of innocent wOnderment.
"Alas, poor child, how shOuldst thou
remember me!' exclaimed General Wal
lcnstein, sadly. Then cl:,sping him to his
arms he said ''But | remember thee:
thou art my boy, my dear, long lost boy
Look in my face embrace me | am thy
father!''
"No, surely" said the child, sorcly be-
wildered. THAT cannot be, for they tell
mo the Rhine is my f:atiIcr'
The soldier smiled through his trals and
Soon was able to convince his little son that
he had better father than the old river
that had carried him away from his tender
parents. He told him of 4 loving mother
who yet sOrrowed for him. and Of blue
eyed sister who would rejoice when lie
came. Carl listened, and wondered and
laughed, and when he compreheEdcd it
all, slid from his fathers arm, and ran to
embaacc old Leon.
The next morning early, General Wal
lenstcin, after having generously rewarded
the innkeepcr and his wife for having
given a home, though a poor one, to his
little son, departed for Baslc. In his arms
lie carried Carl, carefully wrapped in his
warm fur cloak, and if fsOmetimcs the little
bare feet of the child were thrust out from
their covering, it was only to bury them
selves in the shaggy coat of old Leon. who
lay snugly curlcd mp in the bottom of the
corvicUr