Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-06-25

praised the city ana the fruitful nelQS
he had passed through that day.
Yes said one of the citizens, and
ne stroked his beard complar entity, yes,
it Is a blessed piece of country, and if
the taxes were not so high we might
be contented, even If it isn't any lon
ger as it was in the old tunes. Then
things were different. Wheat, corn
and barley still grow pIentifully in our
fields, and the mountains give US wood
in abundance, but in old times they
gave us other treasures besides, that is
silver and gold; but all that was over
long ago.
Yes said another guest, If what is
written in our chronicle is true, our
community was formerly rich beyond
compare. Once the emperor visited
the city, and it was an ancient custom
among the inhabitants to honor the
emperor with a gift, namely, a sheep
and lamb; why Just this and nothing
more 1 cannot say. Therefore the peo-
pie brought the emperor the usual Of
feIing, only the sheep was of silver and
the lamb of gold. And his majesty is
said to have been very much amazed at
il.
They say, too, began a third, that
in old times there stood near here viii
lage which has now disappeared. The
village possessed ineXhaustIble silver
mines, and the people hardly knew
what to do with the excessive riches.
Then, as is apt to be the case, they be-
came proud and naughty, and, in Their
arrogance, played ninepins with balls
and pins of gold, and committed all
sorts of crime besides; and one night
the village, with children and ninepIns,
was swallowed up, and at the present
day 1t is hardly known where it stood.
Now the landlady, who came and
went with keys and mugs, entered into
the conversation of the men. You have
heard the story, but haven't heard II
correctly. The case of the sunken vii
lage is altogether different. The people
who dwelt there spent good lives and
bad ones, like ourselves. They were
prosperous, but they did not play with
golden ninepins. Now, it once hap
pened that whole year passed without
a death among the Inhabitants Of the
village, and when All Souls Day came
they said, 'Why should we pray and
mourn? We have carried nobody to
the grave in the last year SO they
we're merry and gay. played and
danced, and eXulted as in the jOyfu
time of MAY. Only one workman, who
was piOusly inclined, took no part in
the goddess things, but went to church
in the next village. And when he re-
turned home at evening his village had
disappeared. y golden cross only rose
above the ground That was the eros:
on the church spire. Little by little
that sank too, and now grain grow.
over the place where the village once
lay But from time to time it rise:
and becomes visible, and there are peO
pie living who have seen It-but it i:
not well to talk of such things Thu
spoke the landlady and drew lone
breath.
What he had heard gave the stone
cutter much to think about lie hai
only half heard what had been said a
the drinking table and looked con
stantly at the gold ring on his finger.
Wnen the watchman's cry SOUNDED
on the street and the guests left tht
table for the night, Diethart went to hI
room. He had Travelled a long dis
tance, but sleep would not come to hin
tonight. He sat up awake on hI
couch, and thought about his adventure
and the beautiful silent maiden. Agar
he fastened his eyes on the ring ant
tried TO find some engraved mark. The
outside was smooth; perhaps there
might be something written on the IN
side, and be drew the ring from hi.
finger.
Then the door opened gently, auC
into the room stepped the one who ha'
worn the ring before. With Joyiu
fear Diethart jumped up and reached
out his longing arm 10 the lovely WON
an, and the silent maiden Sauk, bliss
fully smiling, on his breast, and re
turned the caresses OF the loving youth
When the stars began to grow pal
the beautiful, mysterious maid stol,
away from her lovers arms, and nov
she gained the power of speech
Now We must part she sald, 'bu
We shall see each other again. As Otter
as you long for me, take the ring from
your finger, and 1 will come to you
And do you tell me nothing more
my hearts love, about yourself and tn
place where / first saw yOu?'
She looked at him earnestly and laiC
her finger silently on her mouth. Thel
she We [ toward the door,
And may l not even know you
name?'
L am called Sigune,' answered tn
her white hand, then lett the room a
silently as she had come.
In the courtyard the cocks wer
Growing TO announce the dawn of day
For the young stonecutter blissfu
time had begun. All day long b.
worked on the building With hamme
and chisel; but when night came on
and the other young men sat behlnt
the full tankards, or Joined in tn
merry dance with their sweethearts
Diethart drank in love and happines
from rosy mouth, and IN the arms o
his Sigune forgot the world.
oh, why has the days so man
hours, when | cannot have you witt
Inel' said he once, intoxicated wit
love, to his beautiful wife. why mus
| only caress you secretly? Why ma
| not follow you to your silent home?
DO not wish that she replied, anT
iously- Woe to me if you should one
compel ne TO take you with me. Lister
to me and take my words to heart.
know that you love me above every
| thing; but you men are tickle creatures
and your fidelity is not as steadfast "A
the everlasting stars. If another WON
an should gam power over you ant
your heart should turn away from me
then take this ring which | have givel
You from sour hand and throw il in tn
| deepest well. Then The chain whicl
binds me TO you, and you to me, vii
be broken, you VIII forget me, and
may never come to you again. But
you should call me after another ha
taken my place, then you viii b
/ obliged TO follow me to the place yO
know, and from there will there be Il
return for YOU
The beautiful SIgune spoke thes
words with sadness, but he kissed tn
tears from her lashes, and swoTe tha
| he would always be true
The most beautiful girl of all tn