The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-09
Tllc Little Grave.

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of the Rhine, lying amid fresh greer
meadows, and surrounded on all side
by mountain heights, showing up q
dim, aspiring forests, in the glad sun
shine resting above it all2 If so, thel
you have Ebcrbach-only Eberbach with
out its real glow, since that you neve:
can picture without seeing.
"Please buy my flowers! my sweet
fresh fowers!"
The voice was very young, ringing and
musical, and at the sound thereof many
turned, to discover only a little maiden
of some ten or twelve summers, pacing
back and forth beneath the walls of the
lunatic asylum, which since the time
am telling Of has been removed thence
for lack of space to its new site on the
Eichberg. A basket of myrtle hung on
the one arm, while in the hand of the
other she held a bunch of the fragrant
sprays, as though to tempt, as it were,
the passcr-by into buying her pretty mer'
chandise.
A young man passed; he was the son
of the pastor of the Cloister church,
johann Won Hohenburg by name; his
face was good, clever and bright, and
his blue eye sparkled with the fresh,
sweet glory Of the world-a glory which
seemed to fall also upon little Gerba, the
flower girl, as his gaze then rested upon
her. 'Ill buy thy flowers, little onc,'
he said, gaily, taking the bunch from
her hand and leaving in its stead a silver
coin.
"This is too much money, Herr 10.
ham, unless you will take all my flow.
ers," faltered Gerba. holding out as she
spoke the basket for his acceptance.
"And they are too many, u less you
take all the money I have'-and Johann
clinked together a couple or so Of stray
coins which still remained in his pocket
with such a comical air that the child
laughed also, in a way which was truly
refreshing after her pathetic sadness.
Only for a moment, however, did thi,
merry mood last; for the next, pointing
gravely toward the grey walls. an6
quaint old window close by, she said
with finger on lip. as though in mute re.
proach upon herself, my mother is in
there, Herr Johann, and folk. say she will
never come ont again"
"Poor child" Tue word of sympathy
dropped deeply down.
ut was about fathers going away that
she frctted so much, never sleeping day
nor night, and so-and 80"
eyes, k KNOW" and taking the child's
hand Johann tried to lead her away.
"Come, I'll sell thy flowers" he went
on; and so together they passed into the
busy market-square, where men sold
wines and men bought, while those who
did neither yet paused to drink Gas
about to purchase) from the
ample goblet, which according to
is presented to all. And Johann
lasted with the rest, afterward thinking
bis stray bits of money, and then with a
and jest going on to another, till
in time a remote corner of the square was
reached, where stood many of Johann's
gay, rollicking fellows like him,
self. and who, like himself, judging
from their flush faces and excited talk,
lad a'so INDUCED in the ''pearl OF
drink"
GLOW now, Johann" And then Jo-
ham, holding up his hand for silence,
told them of the child's bereavement,
and of his having offered to prove sales
man on her behalf. Oh, but they had
kindly hearts, though in many cases
their pockets were we'll nigh empty
one by one paid for a spray of flowers as
he could, wherewith to adorn his button
hole, one by Ole said some kindly words
to the little girl in turn, although from
many of them, as Johann felt, the child
shrnnk back in fear and dislike.
Nov the little one had no hold upon
Johann-none whatever; therefore it was
in very kindness, the kindness OF true,
loving. and manly heart, that, leaving
his friends to themselves, he led her
away-away to the banks Of the Peters,
bornchen, which flowing from the noun'
tains downward, sheds beauty in its
way. till at last it loses itself utterly and
gloriously in the Rhine river, which with
its tiny power it helps to swell. 1t was
a day Of fairy pleasure to little Gcrba, to
sit there while her companion told tales
of the past, of the wild boar who had
fixed the site of the ancient cloiStcr, and
who in company with angels harhelped
to build the same while men slept.
81 want to say something, Herr Jo-
hann-somcthing which I fear you scarce
will like to hear" The child's voice
faltered, and her blue eyes looked misty
when she raised them to his.
"Say on, child. I won't be angry"
"Wcll. then, Herr johann, | want to
tell you what made my father unkind
and bad, and what made him 60 away