River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-22
WHY THE MOON EVER CHANGES.
4 FOLKLORE story Told by the Simple
IOnthS and Maidens Of MOraYia.

In the O'den times, evening after even
ing, as the sun went down the man in
the moon lighted his lantern and logged
along the sky until the sun arose
and relieved him. He did this the year
through, and there was never any new
moon, or any first and last quarter, but
always the same kind of a moon.
In those days there lived in the castle
OF Ragnit, as the Germans call it, a
young girl named Mareilis. Her face
was like roses and lilies, her form like
the frs on the famous mountain oil
ROmbinus, and her eyes were as blue as
the sea. Sac was gentle in her DISPOSE
ton but it annoyed her to think that
nearly all the year round she was
obliged to 90 to bed by the light of a can
die. The tiny window of her chamber
was deep in the thick wall of the castle,
and not mooubeam ever found its way
in there.
Marellis had a cousin named Iurisch
who was a coachman for the Lord o.
Briolen. He was fine young fellow
and had fallen head over heels in love
with Mareilis, who liked him well
enough, but she was willful and had de-
termined that if later she was to obey
al her life, she would for little while
play the queen to her hearts content
This never occurred TO her lover, aud
when she leased him and plagued him
he was as respondent as-well as al
other lovers are under the same circum
stances.
One evening Iurisch stopped at the
castle on his way home to see his below
ed one. She was sitting in the court
under linden tree, gazing dreamily a.
the sky. He began to tell her of his
love, but the maiden laughed carelessly
and pointing TO the moon, said: "Cous
IN, if thou canst tighten up my window
| will be thine" When Iurisch heard
that he spurred his horse, for he knew
that window well; and knowing that the
moon never shone in there, the crue
Jest made him sad. But as he rode
through the wood OF Karalene anC
reached the cross-road a moonbean
glided through the frs and fell at hiE
horses feet. Then he thought: "If
could only ride along this moonbeam
and have talk with the man in the
moon, | could fix things all right" las
long as a LittGuer is on horseback be
never gives up hope) At the same
moment the horse rose III the air, the
gOung fellow saw the wood and the
castle far beneath him, and in few
minutes he was near the man in the
moon, who was slowly toddlng along
his path. Now Iurisch, like all gooC
Liuauers, knew that ne must not burs
in the door of a house if he had q
horse or anything to sell, but that one
must talk about the weather and the
family and the crops, and so gradually
work around to business. He accord
ingly approached the man in tine moor
. in this manner, but the latter only
growled, and noticed neither horse no.
rider, for he found il hard going, the
night was so sultry. While Iuriscf
was considering what to DO they cam,
to the Milky Way, where they me
Peter, who was out tor ride.
Hello" said the man in the moon
you are well fixed, Master Peter; bu
we have to walk night after night, colo
or warm" and he powdered his sweat
ing face with some star dust.
''Wen," answered Peter, "for my
part Id rather have little more to do
for the pearly gates don't open very
often nowadays. But | see you have {
visitor from below, and n Littauer a
that. They are the hest hands at ,
horse-trade that / ever knew, and Satai
himself couldn't cheat them. They
are very fond of mead, and that's f.,
beverage a man will lick all his finger
after drinking. I'm willing you shoult
try a bottle or NO" said Peter, laugh
ing and smacking his lips, and joggin!
hIs horse, on he went.
A little more and Iurisch would havt
followed him. Peter had taken in hi
horse at a glance, and Iurisch had al
most determined upon trade, but b,
remembered the old rule-never to run
after horee you want to buy-ant
he thought of Marelis and her demand
He turned 10 the man in the moon, VIII,
.ooked thirstier than ever. and tappin
him on the shoulder, exclaimed:
Say. did you hear what Peter sal
about our meadyf
about your meai?' answered tn
man in the moon.
That's what | said" replied luriscE
AS soon as the heather blooms, we le
the bees out, and then take some of tn
honey from the hives. We let IN
honey hquify in the sun, add to it herb
and water from the Memel river, an
then put it in the cellar where you can
see it."
The more pity" exclaimed the maj
in the moon.
That's SO" said Iurisch. ''If yo
could only see it; there 1t is under tn
castle of Ragnit, kegs and bottles by tn
thousands"
The man in the moon wiped hi
mouth.
III you like" said his companion, g
might get you couple of bottles"
THAT would be risky" said the ma
in the moon, with his tongue stickin
10 the roof of his mouth.
"WelI" said Iurisch, cts dark dow
there. and | can't have any light nov
But you can lend me your lantern.