Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-10-30
KARL.


The old-fashioned stage coach In which
travellers In Switzerland are still compelled tC
ride, comes whirling down the steep decline
at the end of the BFunig Pass 10 the we'll
kept, level road, which runs through the val
ley Of the Aar While the impetus Of ths
coach Is still forcing the horses 70 gallon. Z
firm pull upon the reins and q sharp appiics
tion Of the brake bring the vehicle TO q sud
den halt, Immediately in front of the post
Office at Meiringen.
The little village is built almost wholly
along the main road which runs through the
valley.
Perhaps thirty or forty frail, wooden, un.
painted cottages stand near each other on
either side Of the road. The old hotel is
among them but the new grand one, built
for the accommodation Of tourists, stands far
enough way from the highway 10 leave room
in front for an attractive lawn. Behind rise
the hills and, from their top, q sparkling
waterfall comes down the rugged hillside,
bounding from rock to rock, now breaking
into spray, and now lashed into foam until It
reaches the valley, where II Is soon lost in
the waters Of the Aar.
The little cottages which form the village
are not unattractive. They are all built in
that peculiar Swiss style of architecture which
pictures have made somewhat familiar to us,
but which still has q charm for all travellers
In Switzerland. Almost every house has q
store for the sale of wood-csrvinRs. There
is WheelWright's shop and q doctors shop,
q grocery store, q dry goods store, and lew
eller's establishment, and three or four beer
saloons; but they sell wood-carvings at the
jewellers and the grocery store and the dry
goods shop, and mayhsp at the saloons also.
In fact, almost all the men in the village are
- ~ 1T
lied communities have long since become
possessed.
There are few side streets which run ont
OF the main road, but they are OF little con-
sequence. Some Of them start out boldly,
but fade away in the fields, leaving no sign
by which they can be traced further, while
others scarcely leave the highway before they
begin TO turn and twist in their earnest eff
forts to get back to it. At the end of the
village, just where the main road makes
sudden turn, there is apparently q street Of
an ambitious kind. 1t looks as il MeirinRen
had risen in its might, and, determining TO
have q future, had laid out street wide and
grand enough for London or Paris. Perhaps
Meirngen's ambition o'ereaped itself, or the
Meiringeners had not sufficient patience At
ell events, the grand avenue has sunk back
so nearly TO its original state that only its
outlines are discernible.
However, at the place where the avenue
reaches the bills, which face the front Of the
hotel, is q cascade, not as large, perhaps, as
that which falls from the hills behind the ho.
tel but 1t tumbles from q higher hill and
through q more romantic de6le than its rival
Up the hillside, and along the gorge through
which the waters come, some one has made
a narrow and tortuous pathway; and, higher
still, q narrow bridge has been thrown across
the gorge, through which the cascade flows.
1t is fraiI structure, formed Of a single
plank. Orotched sticks fastened at the ends
support the hand-rails, made Of light poles
Turning back from this street of the fu-
ture into the main road, we noticed a house
which, not unlike its fellows, seemed more
neat and attractive than the cottages which
stood near it. In its window, wood-carvings
we're displayed aud we determined to visit
it's showroom. Ascending Aight OF stairs
on the outside, we reached ing piazza on
the side Of the house which led TO q door.
This opened upon a short flight Of stairs in
side the house, and brought us to the show
room.
1t was . sort OF children's fairy-land; ev.
cry kind Of artistic woodwork, from q trifiiDg
toy TO the most elaborate carving, were
spread out for exhibition. II one fancied q
knick. knack for q child, he could find it
there and, IL one desired an exquisitely
carved sou0enir for his lady love, his only
difficulty would be In determining what 10 se-
lect
As we entered the room, we were met by
woman who bowed with grave courtesy
There was something peculiar about her !;
and, unoonsciously, We sorntinized her sharp
ly. She had evidently lived through her for
tieth year, was tall and slightly built, and
possessed those easy, graceful movements
which those who do not accumulate flesh re-
tain even when their first youth has passed
away. She was not beautiful, for her feat
ures were irregular, the cheek bones high,
and her complexion sallow but there was
softness in her large brown eyes, q sweet ex-
preston to her mouth, and q gentleness in
her ways, which made us forget that time
had woven gray hairs among the black tress-
. es. She looked at us pleasantly, but did not
| smile. The expression of her face was sad
and her simple coarse dress black. Some
how, the thought entered our minds that she
had known great sorrow.
Her voice was q soft, pleasant one, and
she spoke English huently.
what can show You to-day 2" she asked.
Then, with untiring patience, she exhibited
to us the various works Of art spread out in
discriminately before US, and answered our
many questions. Yet, during all our con-
versation, the same sad expression seemed to
dwell upon her face, IS IL nature had placed
1t there. Her name, she told us, was Kathri-
ma and we learned at the hotel that she was
unmarried, and her family name was Essel.
Remaining at Meiringen several days. we
became quite we'll acquainted with KAthTina,
found her always gentle, courteous, and pa
tient, but never saw her arrsyed in any but
black garments, nor did the sad expression
ever leave her face. One day, as we strolled
through the show room at her side, one Of
us said 10 her;
DO you live here all alone ?"
"Oh, no." she answered quickly, "My
brother and l live here together. He Is the
carver now. II was my fathers house till he
died and then we two took 1t. My father
was carver, too but my brother is better
one."
She paused for a moment, and a bright
light came in her eyes as she added slowly,
"Ah, he was the best of all I"
Your father ?" asked. not comprehend
ing her statement.
"Oh, no, mol Karl All, he was grand,
so strong in the wrist, and yet with q touch
as dainty as a lAdys. There was not carv-
or in the whole valley who could rival him. "
Then, after a moments pause, she said In
q low tone:
"will you come with me and see ? 1 win
show you, but they are not for sale. Oh,
no not at any price, and please do not ask
me-" . D..
She led the way to an inner room, small
and neat, In which were many carvings hang
ing against the walls and resting upon Ia.
| bles.
''rhey are not for exhibition, like those
Others" she said, pointing to the show
rooms, 'but l would like to have you see
/ them"
Then she showed them TO us, and we mar.
yelled at them. They certainly were the per.
fection Of wood carving. There were bunch
es Of grapes as perfect in form as they are
made by nature roebucks, about 10 spring
from rock, that you almost expected To
move; birds, with partly opened wings
that seemed ready TO soar away dozeni
OF things, In fact, 30 mArvellously carved
that one could scarcely believe that they