Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-09-06
GERMAN RIP VAN wINKLE.

Another Version OF Our We1l.known
and Popular story.
Washington Irving's story Of Rip
Van Winkle Is only one version OF an
old legend that often appears in liter
ature. In the German, 1t is pictur-
esquely set forth in the story OF the
monk Alfus.
While still very young. Alfus entered
a monastery, devoted his life to study
and to prayer. AS the years passed, he
became learned and wise, yet he re-
tanned withal his beautiful faith and
childlike simplicity, SO that, while his
fame spread far and wide, his sincerity
and his noble life endeared him to the
poor.
In time, however, the monk noticed
low even the most beautiful things
palled on one by continual association.
The mountains that had filed him with
awe no longer had that effect upon
him; perfumes from flowers, which he
had thought very sweet, grew distaste-
ful, and he became weary even Of
iwelling on noble thoughts. Thus n
great dread filed him. In spite of many
struggles against 1t. that heaven itself
might not satisfy one as everybody
claimed 1t would.
In one Of these moods of depression,
he left the monastery and wandered in
the woods that surrounded it. Here
the great trees, the singing birds, and
The rushing river. which, when first be
beheld and heard them, filled him with
yearnings and awe too great for ex-
preston, now but reminded him of his
doubts.
In agony of soul. he prayed to have
this fear removed; and rising from the
sward where he had knelt, he looked
about him in astonishment. In place
Of the woods, with every nook Of whic.l
he was familiar, he stood where ey-
erything was strange to him. Unknown
trees cast their refreshing shade over
him: rare grasses and flowers such a.
he had never seen, were at his feet;
and In a rapture Of surprise he sa.
upon a stone to gaze about him.
Suddenly n beautiful bird appeared.
and resting upon a branch above him,
began to sing. The bird was a strange
low, clear, thrilling notes touched him
as nothing ever had before; but only
for an instant, then it disappeared.
leaving him sick with desire to hear it
again.
The silence remained unbroken, how
ever, and Alfus rose from his seat, and
dreamily turned toward home. But
what was his amazement to find that
his vigorous step Of the morning was
now feeble; his hair and his beard
hung about him in a soft whiteness
that was not like snow or anything
else except the touch Of age on a noble
life.
As he approached the we'll near the
monastery he saw strange women,
with children clinging to their skirts.
none Of whom he had ever seen be-
fore. And the monastery itself was no
longer small. low building, but
massive structure. with a wide Iron
gateway.
The porter that opened at his call
was young faced monk, who looked
at him askance. In vain he called for
the brothers that he had known; and
at last, in despair, he cried:
Does no one know Alfus? This
morning left the monastery to walk
in the wood, and now. on my return
all things are changedr'
An old brother, who was sitting In
the sun, answered him:
"Alfus? heard the brothers, when
1 was but a small boy, tell how Alfus
went into the wood and never return
ed. They said that as he was good
and holy, he must have been taken in n
chariot Of fire to, heaven, like the
prophet Of old. But that was a hun
dred years ago. for they heard it from
those before themw
Then the wise Alfus saw the lesson
that had been taught him, and falling
on his knees, he cried:
II see now how a thousand years are
but as a day in Thy sight, since I. In
listening but an instant to the bird
that sings without the gate of Para
disc, lived hundred yearsr'
And when those about him saw the
glory that overspread his face they
were dumb. for his soul had fed. to
listen to that bird forever.