The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-07-02
Tng srppENT,s GIFT.
An Old German Legend Vhlc! Is Pops
lar Irv.,n INT, Thia nny.


lar Even UntI This Day.
Whom the Germun Kaiser, Karl, lived
at Zurich, according to an old legend
retold by tho Jcwclors Weekly, he
dwelt in house called THE Hole" In
front Of which he caused u pillar to be
erected with bell on the top Of 1t, TO
the end that whoever demanded justice
should have the means OF announcing
himself. One day as he sat at dinner In
his house he heard the bell ring, and
sent out his servants to bring the claim
ant before him. But they could find no
one. A second and third time the bell
rang, but still no human being was to be
seen. At length the Kaiser himself went
forth, and he found large serpent,
which had twined itself round the shaft
of the pillar, and was then in the very
act of pulling the bell rope.
"This is Gods will, said the monarch.
"Let the brute be brought before me. /
may deny justice to mono Of Gods Great
ures, man or beast"
The serpent was accordingly ushered
into the imperial presence, and the
Kaiser spoke to 1t as he would to one Of
his own kind, gravely asking what 1t re-
quired. The serpent made a most
courteous reverence and signaled in its
own dumb way for him to follow. He
did so, accompanied by his court, and
the creature led them to the shores Of
the lake where it had its nest Arrived
there the Kaiser soon saw the cause Of
serpent's seeking him, for its nest,
which was full OF eggs, was occupied by
q hideous toad of monstrous proper
tions.
"Let tho toad be flung into the fire."
said the monarch, ''and let the perpent
have the possession of the nest restored
to it."
Three days after, as the Kaiser again
sat at dinner, he was surprised at the
appearance OF tho serpent, which this
time glided into the hall unannounced.
"WhGt does this mcan?" thought the
Kaiser.
The reptile approached the table, and
raising itself on its tail dropped from
its mouth into an empty plate which
stood beside the monarch precious
diamond. 1t then silently disappeared.
This diamond the Kaiser caused to DO
set in costly ring, which he presented
TO his wife, the much beloved Fastrada.
Now, this stone had tho virtue OF at |
traction, and who so received II from |
another, so long as he or she wore 1t, re-
ceivod also the intense love OF that in
dividual. 1t was thus with Fastrada.
For no sooner did she place the ring on
her finger than the attachment Of the |
Kaiser, great before, no longer knew
any bounds. In fact, his love was more
like madness than any sane passion.
But though the talisman had full power
over love, 1t had no power over death, |
and the mighty monarch was sent into
despair over the sudden demise Of his
wife.
lie was inconsolablc. lie would not
listen TO the voice of friendship, but sor-
rowed in silence over tho dead body Of
his once beautiful bride. He would not
allow her TO be buried. At length Tur-
pin, Archbishop Of Rheims, being made
aware Of the cause OF the Kaiser's inoon-
solable grief, contrived TO engage his al
)ention while no removed the magic
ling.
Immediately that the tailsman was
the spell was broken. The
'steem, however, that he had held for
fastrada was now transferred 10 the
'ossessor OF the ring. Archbishop
rurpin. The pious ecclesiastic was SO
'ersecuted by the Emperor's affection
hat he finally cast the talisman into q
istant lake which surrounded one OF the
castles.
An immediate transterence Of tho
oyal liking took place, and the monarch
hcnceforth and forever after during his !
Ifo-time loved this castle and lake a. q !
IAN mightlo his wife. So much did he
ecome attached TO 1t that he directed
hat he should be buried there, and :
here accordingly his remains rest until
his day.