The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-10-21
ThG Hardest Tho Of All.

The sun was just beginning to sink
over the beautiful hills of Southern
Bavaria. A big red bearded man, with
arms b,re to the elbow. stood at the door |
of little mountain inn upon one Of the |
higher slopes, watching, with his broad
brown hand arched over his eyes, group
of five men who had just issued from the
mass of dark green pines that covered
the crest of the opposite ridge.
"one, two, three, four, five," counted
the landlord. They're all there but
Hermann; but they've found no game
/ can see. Where can Hermann be, l
wonder2 He won't come back empty
handed I'll be bound"
"Hermann's late" said one of the fors
esters, "but I warrant he'll he ready for
his supper when he does come"
"And we'll he tias, if he has found
any game, for I can tell you, lads, that
to carry quarter of venison from the
Rosenberg to my door, on toasting
lay like this, would be a JOB for Stfong
Schslk himself"
"And who may Strong Schalk be7"
asked sunburned peddler who Was sit
ting beside the window.
"Who2" echoed the landlord, staring
"Shy, brother, you must be stranger
in these parts to ask that. But if you
want to know about him, all you've got
to do is to go down to Kreuzwig town
yonder aud ask any man, woman, or
cbild you may meet about .'StrongSc
and they'll tell you something thatll asa
tonish yon,"
"Aud if that's not eno'igh," struck in
one of the hinters, with grin, 'let
him go into Schalk's shop and challenge
him to wrestle, and he'll be astohished
still rnore-eh, Father Baum2"
ugh! don't talk of i'll grunted the
landlord, making a wry face; you make
my fingers ache with the very recollec-
tion."
"Why, he must be perfect giahtF'
cried the pedler, who had been listening
open -taouthed.
mo, that's the strangest part of it.
Hes no bigger than another man father
smaller in fact-and tailor into the bar
gain; and yet he eau do feats worthy OF
Hans Stronghand in the story"
"of whom are you speakingf" asked a
deep voice from the door,
'Of Strong Schalk, the tailor ol
Kreuzwig, friend Hermann, answered
the landlord, shaking hands with the
new conner, powerful young fellewi
with an air which showed that he Lad
no small idea of his own importance.
The mischief take Strong Schalkt
cried Hermann, an9rily. I'm sick oi
his very name and with the full powell
of his mighty voice he rolled out the
song:
"There We're a host OF tailors,
Brave fellows one and all;
Then drans they, all the ninety,
Ay. nine times nine snd-uinety,
Out Of a thimble small.
"And when this draught had quenchet
their thirst, ...
Then weigh themselves would theyj
Yet could not all the ninety,
Ay, nine times nine and ninety,
A single goat uP~eigh.
= "Then homeward trudged they all-but 10
Tie door was locked withint
Then hopped they, all the ninety,
Ay, nine times nine and ninety,
Right through the key holsJ in"
The boisterous chorus had hardly dice
away, when a quiet but unhiistakabl!
firm voice was heard to sayi
stop therel enough of thisl'
All turned with start, and saw tina
the silent stranger near the door hat
risen from his seat.
"Gentlehen, he continued, amid tn
universal hush of amazement, ''f MUS
tell you that l am tailor, and that
object to heat any man speak i'll OF M.
trade"
do you, feallyf" cried Hermann wit
a laugh. "Well, then, must tell yo
that you will either keep civil tongu
in your head, or I'll have to show yo
the difference between an honest foreste
and fellow who lives on cloth elippin
and ends Of thread"
"BetteT live on them than on stole