Frostburg mining journal., 1882-10-14
Selett. Stprp.
4 Romance of History.
1t was nutting time.

1t was nutting time.
a blooming band of peasant chill
dren had gathered from far and neal
to have a merry day amid the nu
trees and hedges.
I say children-but girls of ffteer
and lads of eighteen and twenty were
scattered through the chattsrinl
group.
The nut harvest was joyful time
to them.
The young are always attractive
in a certain way. The undimmec
brightness of the eye-the satiny
smoothness of the complexion--tht
happy smiles lowering around the
rosy lips-each has beauty to itself
but add to the youthful face the
charm Of perfectly chiseled features
and of lustrous brown eyes, looking
out upon the world with an innocent
wonder at the changing scenes o.
loveliness so constantly unfolding
Themselves before them-frame it in
a mass Of shining, wavy gold of ma
turss own crimping-and polse il
upon form so 1.-THE and slender in
its exquisite grace that Praxiteles
might have chosen it for his model
and you can form an idea CT Riks
Bremer-the acknowledged beauty
of the whole surrounding country.
And there was a romantic story
about her going the rounds.
1t was said that no less a parsonage
than Prince Eric, the son of the great
and good Gustavu1, had been standing
one morning by one of the palace
windows to witness rustic procession,
which had been gotten up in honor Of
some important victory, recently won
by his famous father az he stood
gazing listlossly out, his eyes brighten.
ed suddenly, and he turned to an at
tendant and whispered a few words
which caused him to turn away.
When he returned he was not alone
-Rika was with him.
Prince Eric's beauty-loving eyes
had been attracted by her, as she had
stood amid group Of other maidens
looking at the gayly-dressed columns
Of her countrymen filing by.
She, too. was in holiday attire and
the black velvet jacket, fitting closely
to her slender figure, and adorned
with silver-gilt buttons, brought out
50 vividly the ex quisite fairness Of
her skin, with its rose-leaf tints of
red upon lips and cheeks, that she
looked like being OF different
sphere as she stood amid her mates.
Confused and blushing, she now
awaited the princes pleasure. She
dared not raise her eyes to his face.
Had ahe done SO, she would have
been overpow wered by the earnest
ness Of the gaze with which he regard.
ed her.
From the moment his eyes rested
upon Rika's face, the world held but
one peerless woman to him.
1t mattered not that his younger
brother, Duke John, was even then
in another kingdom, wooing for him
royal bride, upon whose brow rest
ed diadem, whose splendor far ex'
ceeded the one which he was to in.
herit upon the death of his father.
No. In that moment Elizabeth of
England was forgotten. The peasant
maid who stood before him had be
come the queen of his fancy.
"Thy name, little. .one2" he ask ed.
Rika raised her eyes to the hand
some, earnest face, but dropped them
timidly as she met his glance.
II am Frederika-the forester 8
daughter-your majesty"
NAY, not yet crave l for that title,
maiden. Young blood must have it's
vent, and l am glad to know that tn e
cares Of government are not soon
likely to rest upon my shoulders,
broad though they be-"
With a smile he glanced at his stall
wart frame, which was acknowledged
to be one of the finest specimens of
physical comeliness in the country
az was his face called the handsomest
Of any princes in Europe.
Rika cour;esied respectfully, but
did not reply.
If the gacious prince chose thus t.
address as al equal one of the hum
blest Of his father subjects, she knew
v ell her position, and was to the full
as proud Of her unsullied innocence
and integrity as the hsughtiest maid