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

exclaimed, falling on him in body an,
half smothering him with kisses.
"Christel. is it not time to start? Lis
ten the father calls US; and the strange
is already at the door. can see from
the window. Thou dear, good sister
How pretty thou art to day! Thy
cheeks are not always so red."
You see they did not understand tina
the exertion of preparing fora birthday
feast was sufficient reason for Chris
tiana's rosy face.
Bartel looked at her as she walked
sedately along in the midst of the child
ish group.
"How good she Isl" he thought
"How they love her! And it is no
strange"
Beside him Klaus and Heinrich wer.
talking of the crops, of the village gossip
of the delights and perils of travel
Klaus being bachelor, and thus enjoy
ing full liberty. had once made visi
to Munich.
Zone does not think of the size of tht
world" he was saying, "until he is in 8
great CITY,. There the people are 81
many that they crowd ones breath out
Bartel, you must see many people il
your work ?'
"Oh, yes," the young man ssid.- :
"There is much travelling amongst ths
mountains. A guide has little time to
himself"
"You like the work p" Heinrich asked.
ut must be more or less dangerous"
1.-THE danger il the pleasure of it for
me" Reinhart answered, his face light
ing up. "Yet with care the peril is but
small. Once in a while, if one tries 8
precipice path by night, or if one is over.
taken by q storm. All, well! death
comes to all, sooner or later"
"Yes, sooner or later" Heinrich re.
peated gravely. He was thinking OF
his own dead. Bartel's eyes wandered
again to the children and Christel. They
were in the heart of the forest now, and
presently a joyful shout rang out.
"Here is the place! Here we are !!
Ach! how tired are my arms with car
rying the pail SO steadily"
"And mine with the basket, for it is as
heavy as if it were ten times the size.p
''It is not the weight of the eggs" ex-
claimed Hans, with long sigh, as he
deposited his burden on the soft moss at
the foot of tree. at is the terrible
anxiety lest they should get broken"
'Thou hast been a good, careful boy
to-day" said Christel, putting down her
own heavy basket and giving a gentle
pull to the new jacket, which was little
awry. "Now, who will find sticks for
the fire? Ludwig, thou shalt get some
dry moss, and Hans and Liesel shall
fetch the twigs and branches. Hasten,
for it is almost noon, and the father and
our friends will be hungry"
Gottlieb had wandered away to where
Bartel stood, q little apart from Klaus
and Heinrich, and at some distance from
Christiana, who was too much occupied
in unpacksng the baskets to look up
from her work after she had seen that
the child was safe. And STOPPING brings
the blood SO hotly to ones face. Poor
little Christel!
II like yon," Gottlieb said reaching
his hand up into Bartel's "Will you
not come to every birthday feast with
US ?u
II am not always here" Reinhardt
answered seating himself and drawing
the boy toward him "But [ will come
to any feast when I am here. Do you
celebrate all the birthdays with a good
feast?'
mo" said Gottlieb, with serious
air. "Oniy our dead mother's-she is
dead, but yet she is alive. I cannot un-
derstand it, but Christel says it is so, and
che knows. She could explain it to you.
We have no mother here-the dear God
has taken her into the blue skies. But
at night, when the stars shine, out of
them the mother looks down at US and
sees if we are good and we kiss our hands
to cur mOther-star whenever it shines /;
We kiss our hands and say, we greet
fol TO- IL ho
is our little mother now."
''Thou dost love her very much, this
sister Christel ?" Bartel asked.
Look at her. Is she not dear, with so
rosy face and smile 80 sweet? You
have also a rosy face" the child added,
lifting a fat finger tentatively toward
the admired beard. Reinhardt's cheeks
indeed showed bright flush through
the tanned skin. 1 do not know how
it was that Christel suddenly called:
"GOttleib, come here! Tnou must
belp me little" And in q moment
the other children came running with
the moss and twigs, and the men built
great fire, after which Christel pro-
ceeded to cook the dinner. 1t was not
long cooking, and when it was ready
they all sat down on the moss to enjoy
it, Gottleib had returned to his post by
Reinhardt and Liessel had followed
him.
How cool it was; how grateful the
forest air. and fragrant the spicy forest
Odors! There were wild flowers all
about, and aromatic shrubs. But the
children thought black bread and liver
sausage far better than flowers and fra
GRANGE. The little mouths were so full
that the little tongues were perforce
hushed. There were three groups, a
little separated; Klaus and Heinrich
then Christiana with Hans and Lud-
wig; then Bartel with the other two
children. An exclamation burst pre-
sently from the farther group.
"Donnerwetter!" cried Klaus. 81
have burned my tongue with this so
delicious coffee!"
"Dost thou hear Liesel ?" Gottleib
asked. Herr Klaus has said 'Donner-
wetter.' Christel has told me it is
wicked to say Donnerwetter."
He says it because he Is not mar
ried," Leisel explained, with much
gravity. sit is very bad for a man not
to be married. He falls into such hab'
its THE Frau Pastoria has told me-"
"But / am not married, either" Got.
tleib rejoined, after pause. 81 might
then say it, too"
"Thou silly child" exclaimed the
older Leisel. "Thou art but baby
And besides, dost thou believe thai
Christel knows all that we nust not do
also?"
"Ach, yes" said Gottleib contentedly
and then turning to Bartel he added
You do not say it, so will not, even
when l am q man and not married"
Reinhardt could scarcely help laugh
ing at the idea of being made a mode
for youth. There were various express
sions Of stronger import than Klaus
simple hearted outbreak, which oc-
Cured to him as neither unusual nor un
accustomed. They relieve the mind or
occasion Of stumble on rough roaC
or in the case of refractory beasts
Christiana, it seemed, disapproved of the
unobtrusive "Donnerwetter."
"What a good little girl she is," hi