Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-25
WHY THE MOON CHANGES
a FOLKLORE STORY TOLD BY YOUTHS OF
MORAVIA.


In the olden 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 pew moon nor any first
or 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 of Rombinus,
and her eyes were as blue as the sea. She
was gentle in her disposition, but it annoy
ed 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 its
way in there.
Mareilis had cousin named Iurisch, who
was a coachman for the Lord of Briolen,
He was fine young fellow and had fallen
head ove- heels in love with Mareilis, who
loved him we'll enough, but she was willful
and had determined that if later she was to
obey all her life she would for a little while
play the queen to her hearts content This
never occurred to her lover, and when she
teased him and plagued him he was as de-
spondent as-well, as all the lovers are IN
the same circumstances.
One evening Iurisch stopped at the cas-
tie on his way home to see his beloved one.
She was sitting in the court under linden
tree. gazing dreamily at the sky. He be-
gan to tell her of his love, but the maiden
laughed carelessly, and pointing to the
! ~
tighten up my window / will be thine. y
When Iurisch 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 as
he rode through the wood of Karalene and
reached cross road moonbeam gided
through the frs and fell at his horses feet.
Then he thought, elf / could only ride
along this moonbeam and have talk with
the man in the moon, | could fix things all
right" As long as LiItauer is on horse
back he gives up no 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 minutes he was
near the man In the moon, who was slowly
toddling along his path. Now, Iurisch,
like all good Littauers, knew that he must
not burst in the door of house il 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 growled, and
noticed neither horse nor rider, for he
found it hard going, the night was so sui.
try While Iurisch was considering what
to do, they came to the Milk Way, where
they met Peter, who was ont for 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 powdered his sweating face
with some star dust.
DWELL, answered Peter, {" for my part,
I'd rather have a little more to do, for the
pearly gates don't open very often nova
days. But see you have a visitor from
below, ard Littauer at that. They are
the best hands at horse trade ever saw,
and Satan himself couldn't cheat them.
They are very fond of mead, and that's a
beverage a man viii lick all his fingers
after drinking. I'm willing you should
try bottle or two. said Peter, laughing
and smacking his lips, and, jogging his
horse, on he went.
A little more, and Iuriseh would have
followed him. Peter had taken in his
horse at a glance, and Iurisch had almost
determined upon trade, but he remem.
bered the old rule, never to run after a
horse you want to buy, and he thought OF
hareilis and her demand. He turned to
the man in the moon, who looked thirstier
than ever, and tapping him on the shoulder
exclaimed:
"Sly, didn't you hear what Peter said
aboLt our mead
"About your mead" answered the man
In the moon.
That's what l said" replied Iurisch.
" As soon as the heather blooms we let the
bees out and then take some of the honey
from the hives. We let the honey hquefy
in the sur, add to it herbs and water from
the Memel river, and then put it in the
cellar, where you can't see it"
1.-The more pity" exclaimed the man il
the moon.
That's go" said Iurisch. IF yor
could only see it there it is, under the
castle Of Ragnit, keg and bottles by the
thousands.
The man in the moon wiped his mouth
" II you like" said his companion, :"
might get you couple of bottles.
THAT would be risky" said the mar
in the moon, with his tongue sticking tc
the roof of his mouth.
"Well," said the Iurisch, its dail
down there, and can't have any light
now. But you can lend me your lantern
Its against the rules, /" said the man IL
the moon, sorrowfully.
"That's too bad" said the Littauer
Then he continued III tell you what tc
do. Come little way further into the
field, so the lantern viii shine into the eel,
lar window. Perhaps that will do"
"That's against the rules too, answered
the man in the moon.
"oh. come along said the young Eel,