Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-31
rHE QUEEN OF THE HAMLET.

PATHETIC STORY TOLD BIZ TRAvELER.
ga hill of hillooks, fowery and kept green,
Round crosses raised for hope,
with many tinted sunsets where the slope
Faces the lingering western sheen"
"There you have an exact picture of
little village cemetery in the Baden
PslAtinste where I heard one of the
most romantic stories I have ever met
In the forty years OF my life."
The speaker was gentleman residing
IN West Spruce street, Philadelphia,
who had been on lengthensd tour in
Europe, and was laden with anecdotes
md stories Of people and adventures.
itting In his cozy smoking-roon, he
continued:
SIN the Palatinate it is customary
hing With tourists to take long walks,
ometimes for days togethsr. There is
p much to be seen, so many ruined
sudal strongholds and bewitching
alleys and romantic waterfalls, which
an only be approached on foot. I am
ond of walking, and with knapsack
ontaining q few necessities strapped
N my back, and good stout oaken
tick in my hand, I have tramped many
German mile-one Of theirs equaling
hxee of ours-through some Of the
most beautiful scenery in the world.
Iou do not trouble yourself much about
tOte!s. II you cannot find roadside
nn, You are safe to come across a
srmhouse or hunters lodge, and
Iospitable welcome is matter Of
curse. One evening arrived at the
[uaint little village of Rohrback, q
Lamlet eighteen miles from Heidelberg,
lestling at the foot of gentle de-
aivity which slopes down to the banks
# the Neckar river. On the summit of
he hill we're the remains of o baronial
trOnghold, which carefully investi-
sBted from tower to dungeon.
"Then I wandered down the foot
,aths TO the village and entered the
ustic church, and soon found myself
neditating over the brass.scutcheoned
ombs of the robber lords who were
NEE, perhaps, the terror of the dis
kict. What quantity of high. we'll
sorn mightiness, to translate the old
herman and Latin inscriptions, was
severed by those broken monuments,
which at once disfgured and adorned
he narrow ohancel of the long church,
md what strange scenes were evoked by
me contemplation Of the tattered ban
lers and rust-esten casques suspended
rom the rafters above the tombe,
fingered awhile with my thoughts, and
hen tempted by the perfume-laden
oreezes which foated through the open
ioor, I wandered into the churchyard
where the village elders sleep their last
IIeep of all amid their dead kindred.
The graves we're all alike; grassy
mounds and wooden crosses inscribed
With the simple words, Pray for the
souI of Johann or LiEchen.' One
grave, however. attracted my curious
attention. It stood but q little apart
irom the rest and was deftly fenced
around with dwarf shrubs. In the
center of the inclosure, above the green
mound, was O small white marble cross.
Twining It's branches around was a
begutiful white rose tree. covered with
flowers. On the cross was inscribed
sR@slein,' and beneath the name the
verse:
Come unto me all who labor with sorrow ant
care overburdened,
And rest will give you and pardon, for sake
Of my Son interceding.
"While musing as to who Littl,
Rose might have been. heard foot
step behind me, and there was the ven
erabIe priest of the hamlet. who, see
ing I was stranger, cordially invited
me to enter an adjacent cottage-hil
parsonage and partake Of his evenin,
meal. The fresh milk and fruit ant
the home. made bread were done fulles
Justice to by me, and We sat smoking
together, Tor the good priest gladly &C
oepted cigar from me- until tinkIinI
bell summoned him TO evening service
Previously he had insisted On my pass
ing the night under bis roof, 30. ha,
ing rid myself Of my knapsack an
washed OF the dust Of NJ journey,
followed the pastor e church an