Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-10-10
CHRISTIANA.

1.-THE young man is son o: old neigh
bOr ReiDhardt 1t is strange to hear the
name once more. It is many years
since he died-in his early youth"
"Yes, farmer,o said Klaus, taking his
pipe from his mouth. "And the son is
now fine lad of 20-nay, he must be
nearer 3O-scarcely lad. How the
| time flies Bartel $50 he is called) has
now guide in the Tyrol, one of the best,
they say and he is spending few days
only in his native village. Old times
old friends, neighbor Let me bring
the young man to you that he may drink
mug of beer with his fathers friend?"
"Surely, surely!" Farmer Heinrich
answered cordially. For his fathers
sake, surely, even were it not that you
asked it,"
HE is at the inn. 1 will fetch him
presently"
"Fetch him this moment, friend
KLAUS. We celebrate to-day the birth
day of my wife We have never missed
it since she died Christel will cook our
dinner in the woods-the children are
preparing for it now, and you will join
u.s."
"What mother is Christiana to them.
Would that had such uaughter.-
You have her and the little ones and
the dear memory of Gretel, whilst +
wifeless,- ehiIdiess-ah we'll; and now
play the father to my young friend
Bartel." He turned to go. In ten
minutes, farmer, we shall be here
Hungry! Scarcely yet; we shall await
the wood dinner-but thirsty, trust me,
ueighbor, thirsty ~ !.
1 IL sx,l> al I'D
laugh.
1--WE shall queDch our thirst" he said,
as he went into the house.
A noise of little tcices greeted him
"Dear papa, look atlmy pinafore that
Christel has made for mel"
"Good papa, Christel has made my
hair curl to surprise thee. Ali night [
could not sleep for the papers that
stuck"
Hush thou silly one. Do not talk
of the trouble that u pleasure has cost.
Look, best papa! Of thy worn out coat
Christel has made NE this beautiful
ljacket-thou wouldst not know it,"
"My hair will curl, and I cannot help
it," the youngest, Gottlieb, said. And
needed no jack ct or pipafore, formine
are good, but Christel has given me a
sugar cake; and here is q piece have
saved for the all loved papa. 1t is lit
| tie soft, but thou wilt not care? have
held it In my hand 80 long whilst Herr
Klaus talked. but it is so good"
"And where is Christel 2" Heinrich
asked, as he put the crumbled cake in
his mouth, and kissed the sticky lips Of
the donor.
| 'She is packing the basket for the
feast" the children said. 'Dost thou
| r ~ o<,l
Dear Christel! The father wishes to
speak with thee"
The door between the rooms opened,
and Christiana came in, drying her
plump, rough hands on a large towel.
Heinrich looked proudly at the little
| figure in it's short stiff gown, with the
long white apron and the great bunch of
keys.
Little daughter" he said, "neighbor
Klaus will bring friend to our feast to.
day, young Bartel Reiphardt, and be-
| fore we start thou shalt draw us some
beer"
Eyes, dear father" Christel said. II
will so now for it,"
"Wait!" said her father. "They are
at the door. Come in, come in, friends
Friend Bartel, may call you, who was
your fathers friend" He shook the
young man warmly by the hand. "If
you had but spent your life in your ma
tive village, instead of wandering In far
| mountains, you would have already
known my daughter Christiana.-
Christel, this young man is the son of
an old neighbor-thou dost not remem-
ber him."
Bartel glanced at the girl, who was
looking down at the keys shyly.
II meet you to-day, Fraulein," he
said. ut gives me much joy" He
was quite man of the world, this Ty-
rolese guide, who had talked with so
many travellers and seen much of their
foreign ways.
Christel said nothing. She knew of
no reply to such a speech. She could
nave made his shirts or mended bis coat
or bandaged a wounded arm or doctored
a simple ailment with herbs from her
herb closet, but to answer young man
| who said,. ~ meet you; it gives me joy!"
1t was something so unaccustomed
| that it silenced her completely.
But after that brief remark Bartel was
silent also. The beer was brought and
Christel filled the mugs, and they drank
many healths, but not hers. The three
men were not talkative. They found a
deep satisfaction in listening to the
gurgling of the cool beer and in watch
ing the lazy rings of smoke, and Chris
tiana went away to finish the prepara-
ti0ns for the days feast aud to assign the
various duties to the children, who had
been sent to the kitchen. She had no
time to stop after she had brought the
| beer.
All the little voices began again at her
entrance.
''sister, is the stranger to eat our feast
with us ?''
"ChristeI, he Is much more beautiful.
than Herr Klaus. His eyes shine so ~
"And his beard is so thick, not like
the Herr Pastors, all thin and an ugly
color. Tell me, little sister, elidst thou
ever see prettier beard ".
"Ishould like to pull livery gently"
Gottlieb observed in a meditative tone.
"You silly children ~ Christel cried,
laughing. "YOu shall not talk any
more about such things! You shall
make ready for work Thou, Liesel,
shalt carry the coffee. pail, and Hans the
Seggs, if he will be very careful not to
break them, as he did last year"
"What may carry, Christel2" Gott-
tlieb asked. Ludwig has taken the
small basket"
"Thou shalt help me carry the large
one, hearts dearest, }" Christel answered.
"a little four-year- old boy is too small
to carry anything alone"
ZACH !" said little Gottlieb with sigh.
"Were only bigger! Though. indeed,
dear Christel, could carry the coffee
pail even now-if there were no coffee
in it."