The herald., 1894-07-22
THE KAISER'S TREE.

1t was in tho year of grace 1911. TIVE
men were crossing the turf of the quiet
minister square in Breisach. Ono was
somewhat advanced in years, with fine,
aquiline nose full blond beard verging on
gray, and long hair that escaped in heavy |
locks from under red velvet besctta. He
walked with so majestic tread that 1t
was very evident he was no common man,
but one on whose broad shoulders rested
an invisible world. Handsome, tall and
noble, he was indeed a king among men
"a kaiser-a German kaiser from crown
10 toe. A poet, too, he was, and a hero
in the true sense of the workmanship
Grun's Last Knight" Macmillan l.
Here in Breisach-his city, as he called
1.-THE kaiser escaped from all affairs Of
state, and here he wrote those tender let
tiers to his daughter, Margaret, in the
Netherlands. But in 1911 threatening
clouds hung low and Swallowed tho kaisers
brow, for they presaged a storm that was
to carry him away forever from the quiet
spot of earth he loved so we'll His eyes
swept sadly over the bright landscape that
lay at his feet And suddenly turning to
his companion he asked:
'Whoso children are thosea" pointing,
as he spoke, to q niche in the wall where
o boy and girl knelt and with great indus
try were planting a rosebush. The girl
was about 8 years old and the boy some
four years her senior, and SO absorbed
were they in their work that they did not
hear the kaiser approach. When he stood
beside them, the boy looked up and ex-
claimed:
'Why, il Is the kaiserr'
t'What arc you doing there?" asked
Maxinailian, his artist eye feeding the
while upon tho charming little pair.
1--WE are planting rose tree to the dear
God,'' said the lad fearlessly.
= ,, ,sssa.-l'leasedY' - I'LL -
1t is tho best we have,'' he said shrug-
ging his shoulders.
The kaiser smiled as he asked, "What
is your name?"
''Hans Liefrink."
"And is the little girl your sister,"
mo; she is our little neighbor, Council.
Or Ruppacher's Maria. -
"Ah, indeed And you love each other
very much?''
Eyes; when grow up-and have knife
Il am going to marry her," The kaiser
aool1od astonished.
Unjust you have q knife to get married."
Eyes, certainly" answered the lad.
sWithout knife 1 cannot cut, and If I
cannot cut 1 cannot earn money, and I
must have great deal to marry Mailie,
because she is councillors daughter"
''But what will you cuta"
II will cut wood. -
"Ah, understand now; you want to he
a wood carver Was that your fathers
art?''
"Yes. When 1 was little, watched
him carve, and now want to learn my
self, but father is dead, and mother cannot
buy mo knife
.'Will this dor" And the kaiser drew a
magnificent many bladed ono from his
pocket.
Tho hot color rushed into the boys face
and ono could almost SEQ his. heart beat
with joy through the little, coarse, torn
shirt
Eyes, yes,' he stammered; cit is splen-
didp'
"It is yours. Be diligent with it," said
the kaiser.
Hans took IL timidly. ''Thank you,
very, very much, - was all he could say
but bright fire glowod in tho dark eyes
that showered sparks Of love and graft
tudo upon tho kaiser.
NOW you can go to Nuremberg"
81 should love to so there to Durer's, for
will never carve plates. / can't boar such
fiat work. l mean to carve figures that
are natural and that one can take hold of. -
'HTho genuine soulptor!'' exclaimed the
Raiser. You are right, Hans Iiefrink.
Hold to what is natural, and you will never
fail" He drew q leathern purse from his
aoublet, and handing 1t TO tho lad said:
''Only have patience, Hans. Keep these
guldens until You arc old enough to
travel, then go to Duror and tell him that
ms his sister once held the ladder for him
SO shall he hold iG now for you, to mount
Is high as he. win you promise me oil
this?''
Eyes, dear Herr Kaiser" cried Hans
enthusiastically, and he took tho kaiser's
hand and kissed il in his sudden joy. IF
ever carve the dear God," he exclaimed,
I will make him look just like YOU
Farewell - laughed the kaiser as he
strobe down tho mountain with his COM
panion.
The boy stood rs in dream, while
Mailie chewed hole in her apron. A
maid ca1ne in search of her, and to her
Mailie told the story Of the kaiser and the
knife. 1t soon became tho gossip of all
Brcisach. "Hans Licfrink was such a
bold fellow. 1t was no marvel that he
should have been prattling to the kaiser
and every ono wanted to sec the wonder
full knife and the contents of the leathern
purse. But the latter Hans was prudent
enough to show to no one
y
Years passed. Hans Liefrink lost his
mother, Mailie hers, and the orphan chill
dren were drawn closer together In the
evening after work Hans would break
through tho hedge that separated the gar
dens and would carvo lovely figures for
Mailie, such as no child In all Breisach
possessed, and she listened in open eyed
wonder and admiration while hc told her
OF the wonderful pictures and wood carv-
ings he had seen In tho Freibu1g cathe-
dral.s Whenever they could they ran up
to the minister and watercd the roso tree
the kaisers tree, Hans had named it---and