Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-11
FREUgaSqEIN'S PLANE-TRgR,

N ' 10 - u NJ TI. II
served with the Royal Engineers at Waterloo, an
under the Prlssian General Zethen at Fleurus Ii
1925 ne took charge Of an association for working
the gold and silver mines of Rio de Ia Plata rid
Of six Thousand miles supplied the materials for hi
Rough Notes Of a Journey Across the Pampas
QS26.D He was next appointed Assistant Commits
sloner of Poor-law for Kent, and then Governor 0
Upper Canada, where he depressed internal rebel
lion, and repealed an invasion of "sympathizers
from the United States. For this important rvic
and among other honors conferred upon him. h,
was created Baronet in 1888 and in 1867 he wa
made Pnvy-Coup cilor. His chief works are
" Bubbles from the Brunnen Of Nassau" (from which
we quote; 1" Life Of Bruce" THE Emigrant
A Faggot OF French Sti ks" "a Fortnight il
in ireland" Stokers and Pokers" "The Roya
Engineer" a." Narrative OF His Administration l.
Upper Canada" etc. He awarded sIOO q yea
In recognition Of his services TO literature
What more than its castle attracted nv
attention in the village of Frauenstein was
an immense plane-tree, the limbs of which
had originally been trained almost horizon.
tally, until, unable to support their own
weight, they were now maintained by a
scatfo!ding of stout props. Under the
parental shadow OF this venerable tree the
children of the village were sitting in every
sort of group and attitude one or two OF
their mothers, in loose, easy dishabille,
were spinning; many people were leaning
against the upright scaffoldins; and a
couple of asses were enjoying the cool shade
of the beautiful foliage, while their drivers
were getting hot and tipsy in a wine. shop,
the usual sign of which is in Germany the
branch of tree affixed to the door-post.
As had often heard of the celebrated
tree of Frauenstein, before which l now
stood, | resolved not TO quit it until had
Informed myself of its history, for which
| wall knew had only to apply to the
proper authorities for in Germany, in
every little village there exists a huge
volume, either deposited in the church, or
In charge of an officer called the Schuld-
heisz, in which the history of every castle,
town, or object Of Importance is carefully
preserved. The young peasant reads it
with enthusiastic delight the old man
reflects upon it with silent pride and to
any traveller searching for antiquarian
lore, its venerable pages are most literally
opened, and the simple information they
contain generously and gratuitously be.
slowed.
On inquiring for the history of this beau.
tiful tree, | was introduced to a sort of
doomsday. book about as large as church
Bible; and when l compared this volume
with little secluded spot so totally un-
known to the world as the valley or glen
Frauenstein, | was surprised to find that
the autobiography of the latter could be so
bulky-in short, that it had so much to
say of itself. But 1t is the common weak.
ness of man, and particularly, l must &C.
knowledge, OF an old man, to fancy that
all his thoughts, as well as actions, are of
vast Importance to the world; why, there
fore, should not the humble Frauenstein
by pardoned for an offense which we are all
In the habit of committing?
In this ancient volume the rigmarole his
tory of the tree was told with so much &c.
centric German genius, it displayed such
graphic description of high. born sentiment
and homely life, and altogether it formed
SO curious specimen Of the contents of
these strange sentimental village histories,
that | venture to submit the following
literal translation, in which the German
idiom is faithfully preserved at the ex-
pehse of our English phraseology.
The old Count Kuno seized with trem.
bling hand the pilgrims staff he wished
TO seek peace for his soul, for long repent.
ance consumed his life. Years ago he had
bsnished from his presence his bloomisg
SOD, because he loved maiden of ignoble
race. The son, marrying her, secretly
withdrew. For some time the Count re-
manned in his castle in good spirits-looked
cheerfully down the valley-heard the
stream rush under his windows-thought
little of perishable life. His tender wife
watched over him, and her lovely daughter
renovated his sinking life but he who
lives in too great security is marked in the
end by the hand of God, and while it takes
from him what is most beloved, it warns
him that here is not our place of abode.
The g haus frau" (aife) died, and the
Count buried the companion of his DAYS /:
his daughter was solicited by the most
noble of the land, and because he wished
to iBgraft this last shoot on a noble stem,
he allowed her to depart, and then, solitary
and alone, he remained in his fortress. So
stands deserted, upon the summit of the
mountain, with withered top, an oak =
moss is its last ornsment-the storm sports
with its last few dry leaves.
a gay circle no longer fills the vaulted
chambers of the castle-no longer through
them does the cheerful goblet's "clang "
resound. The Counts nightly footsteps
echo back to him, and by the glimmer OF
the chandeliers the accoutered images of
his ancestors appear to writhe and move on
the wall as if they wished to speak to him.
His armur, sullied by the web of the vigi-
liant spider, he could not look at without
sorrowful emotion. Its gentle creaking
against the wall made him shudder.
Where art thou" he mournfully ex.
claimed SCI thou who art banished o,
my son, wilt thou think of thy father, as
he of thee thinks-or art thou dead !
And is that thy fitting spirit which rus
ties in my srmor, and so feebly moves it
Did but know where to find thee, will
ingly to the worlds end would l in re.
pentant wandering iourney-so heavily II
Expresses me what have done to thee !
can no longer remain forth / will go to
the God OF Mercy, in order, before the
image of Christ, in the Garden of Olives,
to expiste my sins %
So spoke the aged man-enveloped his
trembling limbs in the garb of repentance
took the cockle-hst-and seized with the
right hand THAT formerly was accustomed
to the heavy war-sword) the long pilgrim
staff. Quietly he stole out of the castle,
the steep path descending while the por.
ter looked after him sstounded, without de.
handing "W nither %
For many days the old mans feet bore
nun hlde away AZ last ne reached small
village, in the middle of which, opposite to
ruined castle, there stands very ancien,
plane tree. Five arms, each resembling a
stem, bend towards the earth, and almost
touch it. The old men of former times
were sitting underneath it, in the still
evening. just as the Count went by ; he was
greeted by them, and invited to repose. As
he seated himself by their side, s. You
have beautiful plane, tree, neighbors," he
said.
YES" replied the oldest of the men,
pleased with the praise bestowed by the
pilgrim on the tree ''it was nevertheless
PLANTED IN BLOOD u
50 How is that ?" said the Count.
60 That will 1 also relate, said the old
man. Many years ago there came a
young man here in knightly garb, who had
young woman with him, beautiful and
delicate, but, apparently from their long
journey, worn ont. Pale were her cheeks,