Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-21

wind we're so inflated that the gTis looAeu
much like ballet dancers.
The wife and mother of my guide were at
tired much the same as the daughtr save
that the colors were not so bright Tue head
Of the old lady was fearfuly and wonder
fully gotten up, and the handkerchief which
covered it was as stiff as starch could make
il and had two ends which stood out like the
extravaganza collar of an end man at the
MINISTRIES.
The dinner was nearly ready when came
in and a moment later was upon the table.
Although had just had my dinner did not
refuse my hosts invitation and sat down
with the family at the table. There were no
plates. knives or forks, the only eatables
were a pot of corn meal muSh and dish OF
lettuce. The muSh was put on the table III
the same pot in which it was boiled and we
ate it with iron tablespoons, each person
helping himself and dipping into the pot at
every mouthful The salad was eaten in the
same way. IL was first a spoonful OF muSh
and then a spoonful of salad and 50 on; and
when we were done both pots were clean.
Nv host made no apology for the ScantinesS
OF the meal 1t was probably his best meal
of the day and he doubtless thought it good
enough for any one.
The dinner over we took the kahn and
began our Journey laid myself on the hay.
NV guide lighted his pipe and took the push
ing pole in his hands and for several days We
nzily moved about through the narrow
canals OF the Spreewald AglOrious journey
it was. Now we would go through luxuriant
meadows, on which the young men and
women were cutting the grass and loading 1t
ON boats and pushing it along the canal with
their bare arms. Tho women work here in
the field with the men, and Us rule they
have tho hardest part of the work. With the
green fields as u background, with the fresh
skin of ont of door life and their picturesque
costumes they made a sight l never tired
looking at. And then nature during the
ride was so changeablo and beautiful. The
hanks Of the smaller canals were 50 near that
| could almost pick flowers from them as we
passcd lazily along. Now we wOull shoot
into a great forest, and for miles tho trees
would form a perfect arbor over us, shutting
out tho rays of the sun. On the plains the
grass waited its lotuS-liEe perfumes into our
noStrilS, and the birds and insects OF the
forest and meadow sang march rs We
pushed along. Here and there We would 90
by a matched cottage, with moss, perhaps,
growing on its roof and white capped, short
skirted children playing upon its canal bank,
and every human soul, from the child to the
old man, would sing out CHEEKY "Guten
Morgen"
And then the queer scenes of Swedish life.
Now young man and woman pass with
kahn filed with household goods AMI tho
happeSt smile on their faces, leading you to
think they have Just been married and are
going 10 housekeeping. Now bare-legged
Venus goes 10y with n load Of hay. She
smiles rs she passes Her kahn almost grazes
yours, and You are half tempted to pinch
those rosy limbs rs they pass. There Is moth
ing new to bring you back to the present
Everything is old and quaint The moSS on
the roofs is deep and thick, anu the boards
and stones Of the houses are gray with the
age Of a hundred years.
At one point stopped the kahn, and, look
ing into stable, watched the mllEmaids
working away with their buckets held fast
between their knees. My guide told me that
the girls did all the milking. cleaned the
stables and took care Of the cows.
This guide was = character. Hts broken
German enabled us to get alOnS very well.
He told me that most OF the NendS were
ProtestantS, and that no belieTed IN the
Bible He looked upon me as great curl
oSity when he found was an American. and
he pointed me out a. such 10 every one we
met. He had been soldier in tue German
army, and he sail times were good IN Ger
many, and that the ordinary wages IN this
part OF the country were now from twenty
10 thirty cents day for women, and from
twenty five to fifty cents a day for men. He
was very grateful when | gave HIM little
moro than the regular fec at the close, ami
no told me he wanted me to take bis wife ;
photograph 10 America so that lac could say
that his wife bad kcep there. IIc afterwards
sent me tins photograph, and publish u M
this letter IL he ever SECS 1t doubt not he
will think the millennium has begun.
FRANK e. CARPENTER