The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-24
Why the Moon Ever Changes
A Folk -Lsre Story Told by the Simple Youths and
Maidens of Moravia.


Tie sun went down the man in the moon light
81 his lantern and logged along the sky until
the sun arose and relieved him. lie did this
the wear through, and there was never any
new moon nor any first and last quarter, but
always the same kind Of moon In those
DAYS there lived in the castle of Ragnit, as the
Germans call it, young girl named Mareills
Her face was like roses and lilies, her form
like the frs on the famous mountain OF Rom
hinus and her eyes were as blue as the sea-
SHE was gentle in erdisposlton but 1t annoy.
cd her to think that nearly all the year round
she was obliged to go to bed by the light of a
candle. The tiny window of her chamber was
deep in the thick wall of the castle and not
moonbeam ever found It's way in there.
Mareilis had cousin named lurisch who
was a coachman for the Lord Of BriOlen. He
was a fine young fellow and had fallen head
over heels In love with Marellis, who liked him
well enough, but she was wilful and had de-
termined that if later she was to obey all her
life she would for little while play the queen
to her hearts content. This never occurred to
her lover, and when she leased and plagued
him he was Respondent as-well, as all other
lovers are in the same circumstances.
One evening Iurisch stopped at the castle
on his way home to see his beloved one. She
was sitting in the court under linden tree
gazing dreamily at the sky, lie began to tell
her of his love, but the maiden laughed care
lessly and pointing to the moon SAID:
"Cousin, if thou caEst tighten up my win
dow will be thine"
When Iursch heard that he spurred his
horse, for he knew that window well; and
knowing that the moon never shone IN there
the cruel Jest made him sad But rs he rode
through the wood of Karalene and reached a
cross road moonbeam glided through the frs
l.. 4, 40, 'l,Ap I,.t han frht
"If could only ride along this moonbeam and
have a talk with the man in the moon, could
fix things all right" (As long as Littauer
Is on horseback he never gives up hope. AT
the same moment the horse rose in the air the
Young fellow saw the wood and the castle far
Beneath him, and IN few moments he was
near the man in the moon, who was slowly
todding along his path Now, Iurisch, like
all good Iltauers knew that he must not burst
in the door Of a house if he had horse or
anything else to sell, but that one must talk
about the weather and the family and the crops,
and so gradually work around to business.
He accordingly approached the man IN the
moon in this manner, but the latter only
growlcd. and noticed neither horse nor rider,
for he found it hard going, the night WAS so
sultry. While Iursch was considering what
to do they came to the Milky Way, where they
met Peter who was out for Il ride.
Hello said the man in the moon, you are
well fixed, Master Peter; but we have to walk
night after night, cold or warm and he pow
dered his sweating face with some star dust
We'll" answered Peter, "lor my part I'd
rather have little more to do, for the pearly
gates don't open often nowadays. But ] see
you have a visitor from below, and Littauer
at that They are the best hands at a horse
trade that | ever knew, and Satan himself
couldn't cheat them. They are very fond of
mead, and that IS a beverage man will lick
all his fingers after drinking, Pm willing
you should try bottle or two" said Peter,
laughing and smacking his lips, and jogging
his morse, on he went
A little more and Iurlsch would have follow
ed him. Peter had taken in his horse at a
glance, and Iurisch had almost determined
upon Il trade, but he remembered the old rule,
never to run after horse you want to buy, and
he thought of Mareis and her demand. He
turned 10 the man in the moon, who looked
thirstier than ever, and tapping him on the
shoulder exclaimed:
Say, did you hear what Peter said about
our mead"
About your mead answered the man in
the moon
That's what said" replied Iurisch. "As
soon as the heather blooms we let the bees gu,
and then take some of the honey from the
hives. We let the honey liqueiy in the sun,
add to It herbs and water from the Mcneil nv
er, and then put 1t in the cellar where you
can't see it,"
"The more pity" exclaimed the man in the
moon.
That's So" said lurisch. "If you could
only see it; there il is under the castle Of Rag.
nit keg and bottles by the thousands"
The man in the moon wiped his mouth
off you like" sad his companion, II might
get YOU couple of bottles"
That would be risky" said the man IN the
moon, with his tongue sticking TO the roof OF
his mouth.
Well" SAID Iurisch, tits dark down there
and can't have any light now. But you can
lend me your lantern"
ITS against the rules" said the man in the
moon, sorrowfuly.
That's too had" said the Littauer Then
he continued: "I'll tell you what to do. Come
little ways further into the field, so the Ian
tern VIII shine INTO the cellar window. Per
haps that will do"
That's against the rules too" answered the
man in the moon.
"Oh, come along" said the young fellow
What difference will hundred yards, one
way or the other, make?''
But If you only knew" replied the man
in the moon, show those astronomers in Koe
nigsburg watch me- There's row OF them
watching me every night"
oh, welLp laughed lurisch selling the cor.
ner of apassing cloud, wrap yourself up in
this and nobody will see you. Now, will you
come or nOt."
"Ali right" replied the man IN the moon
but"
There's no bit about it," said IurIsh
Don't you remember Peter expressly said you
could have some of the mead. Now put your
hand on my stirrup and we'll get along much
better"
Away lie rode dragging the man in the moon
with him. They stopped over the castle OF
Ragnit, and the man In the moon, lifting the
cloud, every window was ablaze with light.
"Tll be back in five minutes" said 1urish, and
putting Spurs 10 his horse he was off