Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-10-11
From the Lexington Ky Press.
A Legend Of the Rhine.


Grow hatred and strife.
From the Lexington (Ky.D Press.I
A Legend Of the Rhine.
Germany, as is well known, is one of
the most picturesque romantic portions
of the globe, and this added to the fact
that it was inhabited by q people re-
markable for their wild imaginations
and superstitious fancies (which, how
ever, seemed never incompatible with
their warlike disposition). is the ell
cient cause of the many weird, wild
legends that have been handed down to
US.
Many years ago there dwelt in a re-
tired beautiful valley, bordering upon
the River Rhine, an old man, q cobbler,
who lived in little cottage all alone, at
least he thought he lived all alone but
on a summer night, when the door Of
his house stood open, dozens of pretty
little white-robed creatures would come
and dance about his room in the pale
moonlight. But he never saw their
fantastic dances, nor heard their songs,
rs they came only when his eyes were
closed in sleep. It is true, he often
heard music in his dreams, but he little
thought it was the midnight song of
the fays.
One summer afternoon, as it was the
cool of the day, the cobbler was sitting,
working at the door of his house. For
a moment he raised his eyes from the
work on which he was busily employed,
to watch the sun, like great red ball,
sinking beneath the far off western
hills. This picturesque scene seemed
81, n hfv,r off I'M for
the tired look on his face gave way to q
peaceful, calm expression, he straight
way began singing softly to himself
But he was soon arrested in his song by
hearing footsteps approaching, and he
looked up to see an ugly-looking man
coming towards him. la
"Hallo !" said the ugly man, as soon
as he came within speaking distance.
"Hallo!n replied the cobbler, not
knowing what else to say.
II want you to make me pair of
Shoes" said the ugly man, who seemed
quite out OF breath from his walk.
every well answered the cobbler,
"I'll make you pair of Shoes"
"And want them tomorrow morn
Ing, too. LOOk-a-here, do you know
who I am ?"
The cobbler replied he had not that
pleasure, and was conscious of no par.
ticular desire of forming his acquaint-
ance.
"Well, I'll tell you who I am" said
the ugly man. Tim the Devil, and if
you don't let me have those shoes by
to morrow morning, you'll think SO,
too"
At this the old man began to tremble
very violently, SO much 30 that his
al, tn Go hood hn 6idnjt
quite like the idea of carrying on 80
close a conversation with the Devil.
So he promised to let bin have the
shoes on the morrow, and was much
relieved to see him take his departure.
He worked for a long time on them that
night, but finally all his thread gave
out, and as he lived seven or eight miles
outside of the village, it was impossible
to procure more.
He was very frightened when he
awOke in the morning, and remembered
that the shoes were not done, and what
was worse, he had no thread to finish
them with, and he very much dreaded
the visit of the ugly man, who said he
was the Devil.
Soon he saw him coming over the
hill, and he became so overpOwered
with fear that he ran and hid himself
under the bed.
"Hello, old codger, have you finished
my shoes?" said the man bursting
into the room, "Oh, you would hide.
would you? But I'll find you, you old
coon you" he said, grabbing q boOtjack{
and hurting it in the direction of the
bed.
The cobbler was more frightened
than ever by this strange behavior, 80
he remained quite motionless in his
hiding place.
The man fumed around little longer
and then seeming to grow tired Of it.
or concluding that the cobbler really
wasn't there, he picked up an awl, and
throwing it with his whole strength
against the wall as parting lick, he
left the house.
When the cobbler saw that this des-
perate individual had gone, he crept
out from his retreat and began to look
around to see what damage had been
committed. But the most startling
piece of devastation was the brick which
had been knocked out of the wall. He i
picked it up and was on the point of
putting it back in its place, when his |
eye fell upon something bright in the
wall in the place whence the brick had |
fallen. At first he thought 1t must be |
q diamond, it was so dazzlingly bright. |
Wondering, he put his hand In and |
drew it out, and then walking to the
door. held it to the light. He had never |
before in all his life seen anything so
very beautiful. 1t was about the size of
an egg, and cleaned brighter than any
diamond ever looked upon. But greater
still was his surprise when he put it up
to his eye and saw the many wonderful
and beautiful things it presented to
him. Now he saw a room crowded
with heaps and heaps of gold; stately
palaces passed before his sight, glim-
mering in gold, silver and precious
stones. But while he gazed, one far
any of its predecessors met his view.
"Oh, how should like to have that
palace for my ownl" exclaimed the
In q second, ere he had time to
not the picture but the palace
Itself stood before him, and he was
transported to different land. He as
,ended the grand flight of steps and en-
tered the place. 1t was some time be- /,
fore he recovered himself, 80 overcome
was he by the splendor and grandeur
which greeted his eye at every turn.
The walls of the rooms and halls were
If pure gold, studded with diamonds, ,
'ubies, emeralds. and pearls. He was
Orced to stop every few moments and ,
)ut his hands to his eyes, until they be- /
anne accustomed to the dazzling splen-
lor. There were drawing rooms, re-
'eption-rooms, dining. rooms, and such {
! host of other rooms for different pur- :
,oses and uses that the cobbler finally !