Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-08-01

often said:
my son, when wilt thou bring me
home daughter and myself wifeP"
And Gustavus, smiling and pressing
kiss on her forehead, would answer:
"When | find maid as good as
thee, mother; but want no idle,
shrill-voiced wife to disturb our quiet
home"
But one day his mother said, more
sadly and seriously than ever before:
''Gustavus, l am growing old and
feeble. i can no longer make and
mend thy clothes and keep our home.
Thou must have wife. Promise me
that at the .tete next week thou wilt
choose one from among the maidens
there"
Gustavus reluctantly gave her the
desired promise, but it weighed heav-
lily upon him. He could think OF
nothing else afterward, and, the more
he pondered, the heavier his heart
grew. At last he seized his gun and
|
perplsxing question followed him,
until, in despair, he threw himself on
the ground grooming: "Oh, that some
wise man would make this choice for
me!'
A moment after he looked up and
saw, as if in answer to his wish. the
wizard approaching him. "Why." he
EXCLAIMED to himself, Ibid not think
of him before? Surely he, if any one,
can help me-" Then, with throbbing
heart, Gustayus sprang up and ad-
vanced to meet him. The wizard
greeted Gustavus warmly, for he felt
strong friendship for the young guide
who had taken him safely through
many a dangerous mountain excur-
sion.
And now his sympathetic question:
"Why, what's troubling you, my
boy?" opened the way for Gustavus to
pour out all his perplexity, ending his
recital with the question: "Canst
thou not help me to choose a good
wife, who will make my life happy,
from the maidens at the Jete next
week."
The wizard smiled sympathetically,
and then thought in silence a little
while before he answered.
"If pure, true heart is united to a
true, pure heart, both lives must be
happy. There will be one such heart
at the Jetc, but you may fail to recog-
nize it. However, if you will come to
me tomorrow will give charm that
will show you this heart.
Here was a comfort, indeed, and
with a light heart Gustavus thanked
his friend and bounded forward Left
!, alone, the wizard continued down the
mountain side until he came in sight
of the Widow Neur's chalet. where he
, found Marie sitting by the spring.
: Instead of her usual sunshiny smile,
tiny tear-drops stood in her eyes, and
there was grieved look about her
!, rosy lips that made him wish to COM
: fort her.
"What is the matter, little one?" he
. asked, gently.
"Oh, SIR" she said, 81 want to see
the great tete next week, but have nc
:. pretty ornaments to wear, and
then" The long curtains dropped
:. low over her shining eyes, and the
!, sweet voice sank almost to a whisper
-"the good mother says none of the
young men will care to dance with
me, for / can not talk and laugh with
. them as other maidens. My heart
beats fast If they do but glance toward
me, and l know not what to say, and
. so"-here tear slipped from under
y the long eyelashes-' my mother say:
l had better not 60"
9 Courage, little one," the wizart
= answered. "Tell your mother an
:, going to lend you silver belt to wear
;. and that my knowledge tells me tina
:, the bravest, handsomest youth in al
the land will dance with you quite joy
. fully" The happy Marie, as Gusta
y vus had done, thanked the wizard ant
ran off to tell the wonderful news tt
), her mother.
" Early next morning Gustavus wen
a for his charm. He found the WHARF
a waiting for him, and, taking him int,
his strange room, the wise man said
- smiling, as he had the day before, hal
d quizzically, half alphabetically
Here's the charm, my good fellow
- You see it is magic ring. Put
: on before you 60 to the .fete, and b
- sure you dance with every maidel
/. there. When you place your arm
! about the waist OF the one who's
;, heart is true and good "a strange feeiin,
- will run through you and your han'
a will cling to her."
a Gustavus, greatly wondering
,. thanked the wizard and slipped on tn
"A ring. 1t was curious circlet Of iron
"a with fiat extension, which the wiz
m ard babe him wear pointing towar
"a his palm.
& When the fete day came Gustavu
rs was there among the other young men
'. eager to try his charm. All the maid
"a ems of Obgadin canton were there also
"a aud on the outskirts of one Of the ga
NJ crowds little Marie lowered timidl
,g beside her mother.
" ''Why didst thou come. Marie?
e. asked one of the girls; "didst thou thin
ID any youth would want to dance with
" mouse to-dayP"
IN Then, seeing the quick tears trem
be bling on Mayle's lashes, she added
d. more kindly:
"Ah! well, thou canst at least Sc
n our good times; and what Lowell
q. belt thou hast Marie! Where did: