The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-05-06


laid his plan and went ont of the room.
In the courtyard he called four stout
fellows to him aud said, "Comc up wili
me to your masters room and stand Two
at the head and two at The foot of the
bed. When Icry up then quickly seino
the bed, raise it up and around, so that
my lords feet may lie in the place Of his
head" They did SO, and in trice the
godfather sat at the sick mans feet. His
face grew furious as he noticed the trick,
and, shaking his fist at the weaver, disap.
peared. The uobleman recovered, how.
ever, that very hour, and was quite merry
over the remedy. The weaver received
the money and ate and drank and carous-
ed with the lord until evening.
But as he came TO the wood, on his
homeward way, the air seemed changed
TO heavy mist. He became terrified and
fearful, and all at once the godfather
stood in his path. The weaver greeted
him and tried to push on, but the latter
stepped forward. seized the horses bride
and breathed upon him heavily, saying;
"You false fellow, you have meddled
with dangerous matter to day, and now
I will break your neck"
"Ah, dear godfather" said the weaver,
ri beg for mercy. Once counts for moth
ing; it shall never happen again. l am
deadly frightened and will fall from my
horse. How much better for you to take
mo to your house and give me soEe re-
storatiye."
"Well, l am willing" snorted out
Death; "fasten your horse and come on"
Death led the way through the forest. the
weaver followed him, and at last they
reached black door over which hung q
shield upon which was painted an hour
glass, and underneath the words, "Ah, the
End" This was the home of Death.
They entered the vestibule, in which
hung scythe, and then came into very
long hall in which many thousand can.
dies were burning near each other and
over each other. Some of these were
quite long, others had half burned down,
and there were some that were but little
stumps and their light fickered up and
down and nearly went out.
The weaver was very much astonished
and said, "I always fancied that it would
be very dark in your house. What do
all these candles mean, and why are some
long and others short?"
Death answered, "a candle is placed
here for every man at bis birth, and each
of these lights denotes q human life.
One is slowly consumed, another rapidly,
and when the candle goes out the mans
life is at an end. Those whose candles
are still long have still many days before
them, but those whose candles are burn.
ed down are about to die and would be
wise to make themselves ready, for 1
must 60 to sit at their head"
The weaver was still more astonished
and after awhile he said, Godfather, l
would like very much to know how much
longer I have to live? Can you not
show me my candle, so that l can learn
by it?" Death led the way, passed
through the rows of candles and at last
stood still, saying, "fhis is your candle,
this belongs to your wife, this to Anasta-
thus, and these to your other children"
The weaver grew pale; the other can
dies were burning away merrily and were
all long-Anastitius had the longest of
all-but his own candle was burned down
to tiny stump and the fame wavered
here and there, as if under strong wind
and about to 60 out every moment.
Then the weaver raised his hands to
Death and said, "Ah, dear godfather, I
am become q rich and happy man
through your goodness. Now when I
know better than others what it is to live
now must I 60 away. leaving everything
behind! Think of my wife aud children,
what will become of a weak woman and
poor little orphans, Anastatius among
them, when their head and supporter is
gone? I beseech you to have mercy!'
Tears nearly overaowed the eyes ofkind
Death at this speech, but he replied, II
cannot, for I am but the servant of one
mightier than 1 and must do my duty"
"Most certainly" begged the weaver,
"but you need only put fresh candle in
the place of the little stump. Oh, dear
godfather, pray, pray shew me this favor,
but quickly, before it is too late"
"Well, I am willing" said DEATH. II
will do it for my godchild's sake;" and
he took up fresh candle to light it.
But his hand proved too large and clum-
sy to remove the little stump, and in
raising it he crushed it between his fin
gers. The tiny fame was extinguished
and in the same instant the weaver sigh.
ed and fell lifeless to the ground.
X X
And SO men say, "No contract can be
made with DEATH" and, "One must die,
though Death stand godfather" There
fore it is wise not to place ones whole
heart upon life, but SO to :ct that one
need neither fear Death nor be ashamed
longer to live.-7ranslated from German
folklore Tales By s. B. Duryee.
FiendiSh Revenge.