St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-28

tai, and of such wonderful virtue that it
was not long before the child was en-
tirely cured, to the great discontinue of
all the physicians of the country and
the joy of his parents.
Since then the springs. called forth by
the fairy nightingale, flow with I'M
diminished regularity. and their healing
virtue is known far and wide.
-
From the baths at Rippoldsaw and
Wildbad a broad road conducts the
traveller to the valley of the 'Wildersee.
1t passes through the very heart of a
venerable forest of pines, their branches
garlanded with festoons of gray moss.
Here noisy brook leaps and gurgles
over its rocky bed. dashing its crystal
spray over the huge stones along its
margin. These stones have rich pur-
pie hue that contrasts beautifully with
the pale green of the thick turf. Their
peculiar tint is owing to a species OF
lichen with which they are covered.
They are found only IN this part OF the
valley, and within the area of a mile.
The guides relate that this valley was
once subject to the power of evil spirits
somewhat akin TO the families of the
gnomes and the COLLINS. These hostile
powers committed numberlesS crimes.
They led astray solitary travellers on
the ir way through the forest and har
assed all who attempted TO cross the
valley of the Widersee. Terror reigned
in the land. One morning the Prince
Palatine, who had gone to hunt the
evening before, was found dead in the
forest, and Oh his forehead was flame
cOlored mark of five fingers that seemed
burned into the flesh.
Now hOlN rpnIuSn lived in fbp VAL
ley at this time-a deyout man, who
passed his days in prayer and medita-
ton. The peasants in the neighbor-
hood, terrified at the strange death of
the Prince Palatine, assembled the
mountain by the road leading to the
hermit's cell, which was surmOunted
by rude wooden cross. and implored
the man of God to come to their assist
ance.
Il am ready to aid you," was his re-
ply. ''With Gods help | will meet
your enemies, and may He give ne
strength to overcome them! Confess
your sins and do penance. TO the end
that my efforts be not in Vain."
The same evening he quilted the her.
mitage. His white beard descended to
the ground, and he walked with bare
feet over tine rocky path. On reaching
the valley he asked those who had in
vOked his assistance to bring him a
wand of oSier, strand of thread and a
bundle of wispS of straw. The peas
ants feared TO inquire of what use these
simple weapons might be in his ap-
preaching encounter and fastened in
respectful silence to comply with the
request.
Nov" said he, ''return to your homes
and pray that the Holy Virgin will lend
me her add
Night came on. The evil spirits
swooped down on the valley. filling the
air with shouts of unearthly laughter.
They jumped like eats, frisked like
monkeys and danced real devils
r0ndo. The good hermit was on his
knees in the midst of the large white
stones, worn smooth by the waters of
the neighhoring torrent, that were
thickly scattered around the spot where
he awaited the coming of the genii.
The demons scented the blood of a
Christian and rushed ut the hermit.
Their eyes Shone in the darkness like
Goals of fire, The good man made the
sign of the cross; then he fastened the
| thread to each end of his wand, after
| the fashion of a bow, and discharged
/, one of his wiSpS of straw into the air.
y weird cry followed the flight of the
sacred missile and two flaming eyes dis
appeared.
The Infatuated demons now circled
over and around the hermit like a swarm
of vultureS. A second arrow sped on
its fatal errand, and another devilish
face was missing from the internal
throng. At last the bundle of StrawS
was exhausted, but not before the en-
emy'S rout was completed.
At daybreak the mountaineers has
tened with fearful hearts to the scene
of the conflict. They had heard the UNI
earthly cries of the demons the night
before, and trembled for the safety of
their revered protector.
"Who knows?" they said to one