The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-01

well the ponies knew Jan; how they
would rub their black noses against
his cheek, and pretend to nip his
shoulder; how they would reply with
soft, joyful whinny to bis voice, and
prance around him.
As for us, it was like an old fairy tale
to step from the beating storm into an
empty house with fires of logs glow
ing on the hearth and sending the
fragrance of birch and pine far around; (;
the bedchambers all ready with the
white sheeted beds, and warm with the
lighted fires in the porcelain stoves: in
the kitchen everything prepared for
supper, the meat ready for the spits
and the bread for the oven, and even
the keys of the cellar and the pantry
fortunately dropped on the floor.
Janchen and Peterkin stared around
with bright wondering eyes, wide
awake over all these marvels. Rebee-
ca and her mother and David were
quickly in hustle attending to the
comfort of all. Only the Countess
and my staghound took the situation
without surprise, the cat quickly ap-
propriating for her dainty person the
warmest place in the room, aud the
staghound choosing spot close to my
side.
Suddenly we were startled by the APP
partition of a shock-headed peasant,
with wild eyes and. pale face, peering
in out of the dark, and quickly van
ishing again. David gave chase, and
caught the man, bringing him in to
tell his story before the fire.
II was frightful tale. The tavern
keeper and his family had fled in wild
panic at the sounds of JAMS ponies,
their tramping hoofs and shrill neighs
seeming TO threaten the onslaught OF
the wild horsemen that had so long
devastated the country. In their terror
the unfortunate people had taken the
path along the face of the cliff, and
had fallen into the sea, blinded by the
furious storm and the rising waves.
This man, a poor cowherd, must have
perished with them, had he not turned
back at the last moment, unable TO
give up his cows to be slaughtered.
He hoped to let them loose, unpereeiv-
ed 10y the soldiers and drive them TO
the shelter of the woods.
When reassured by warmth and
food, he gladly took the milk-pails
and sought the cow-house, whence we
soon heard a joyous lowing, and he re-
turned with pals brimming over with
sweet warm milk, which the twins
drank with silent delight.
1t was decided that we should keep
watch by turns this first night Of our
abode in strange quarters. The first
watch fell TO me, and it was not dill
cult TO keep awake, so excited was
with ali the strange happenings Of the
day, and with the fierce noises Of the
wind in the great fir trees. The waves
too beat on the rocks below with deep
and laundering sound.
The next day the sun shOne, and we
saw for the first time our home, the
deep window-seats in the stone walls:
the heavy doors with the date and fam
lily name above the arch; the gables;
the arched and projecting easements,
and the clustered chimneys.
Soon the general was surrounded by
happy faces. Jan was to have free pas
turage in the forest for his ponies; the
faithful cowherd was re-engaged at
higher wages; aud as for Peterkin and
Janchen, they ran on the terrace with
shouts of glee, and were ready to en-
brace every one. Had not their grand
father purchased for their sole use the
two smallest aud gentlest of JAMS po-
nipso