The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-24
ROSA OF TANNENBURG.

the knight Of Tannenburg, and his
daughter, Rosa. 1t was iu the days
when the law less mobiles of the country
we're constantly quarreling with enc
another, each burning his neighbours
grain and stealing his cattle wi lie the
owner was fighting in distant wars.
The castle Of Tannenburg was like
all castles OF that time, strongly forti-
fed and surrounded by high walls and
a deep moat. In an upper room one
warm summer day, Rosa and her father
sat,together. The knight had just come
home from the wars, badly wounded,
and Rosa, q fair-haired girl of II, sat
by him working over her gayly colored
Father" she said. TELL mo the
story of how you got the chain round
your neck"
Rosa had heard the story hundred
times before now, but she never tired
of hearing IL any more than tho old
knight OF telling it.
"When | was u page at court, began
the knight, stroking his long, gray
beard, "a great tournament was given
in honor OF French prince VINO came
to visit our cmDerOr. There | saw your
mother for the first time and so lovely
was she that she was elected to be the
queen of beauty, and was to give the
prize, q golden chain, to the victor. |
loved her from the moment saw her
and her beauty gave me such strength
and daring that | came out first in the
games, much to the chagrin Of the
young baron Of Odenwald, who opposed
mo liercely In the tourney. He was
like myself, u suitor for the hand Of
the queen OF beauty, and when finally
won her for my bride he swore that he
would have his revenge OF me-"
But" interrupted Rosa, "his castle
is only fifteen miles from us, and he has
done us no harm yet
"Yes," answered her father, "that
was many years ago, and he has now a
still hates me bitterly and"
a loud clamor in the ourtyard inter-
ruptcd the story, and on looking out Of
the window to their consternatiOn they
saw the very man they were speaking
of, the baron Of Odenwald, and his SOL
diers marching up to the castle doors.
The knights soldiers were still at the
wars and the few old mon left to guard
the castle had been easily overpow cred
by the fierce baron.
Rosa screamed with terror, She
heard the tramp OF armed feet coming
up the stairs. In came the haug hty
baron Of Odenwald and ordered his men
to bind and rry of the wounded and
helpless knight Of Tannenburg. In
vain wore Rosa's tears and PRAYERS.
The unfortunate knight was hurried
or, Rosa turned out Of the castle,
which was looted, and then locked up,
and tho poor girl left weeping and dis
consulate.
All night she wandered through tie
oh 10 f<>, oh
cOal-burner's hut, where she was taken
in and kindly treated. Days passed by
and Rosa lopgcd to see her father Cncc
more, and perhaps help him to escape.
Accordingly, one day she stained her
lace with brOWnberry Juice, changed
her own pretty dress for a PEASANTS
coarse cotton gown, and with q large
basket OF mushrooms on her arm,
started off for the castle Of Odenwald.
The sentinel, seeing only harmless
little peasant girl, let her pass over the
drawbridge and through the castle
gates. She walked up to the porter's
lodge, whore the porter's wife stood in
the doorway scolding her children.
The baron of Odenwald was extremely
1ond OF mushrooms, and ths basketful
WAS soon bought and paid for by the
porter's wife.
"Will you not stay with me and help
me look after the children and cook the
food for the prisoners 2" she asked after
few moments chat with Rosa. II
need young, strong girl like you and
Will give you q new dress every year If
you will stay"
Kosa accepted this offer eagerly, and
her duties, none too light, began that
very day. She had to light the fire in
the morning, dress the children, helu
the porter's wife cook the most un.
savory soup for the prisoners OF the
castle and do many other things. One
day the porter came to his wife anC
told her that he was obliged to 20 ava,
with the baron for some days and tha
she would have to take the prisoners
1000 to them, besides cooking it.
mo, indeed" replied his wife
promptly, there are murderers ant
thieves In those cells and [ viii not et
near them"
. Let I me GO" begged Rosa. 81 will
"Very we'll" said the porter, rather
surprised at her request, come with
me and | will show you how to unlock
the doors"
Together they went down winding
night OF stone stops, opened q door
heavily bolted and barred and down q
long dark corridor, dimly lighted by
the porter's lantern. On one side were
small stone cells behind whose iron
gratings wild, cruel faces cleaned in
the light Of the passing lantern. Hide
ous oaths and fearful laughter followed
them, and Rosa shrank, frightened, &c
the porter's side.
"Do not fear them," he said, "they
cannot possibly escape. This man
however, 10 good and gentle, and you
can go right into his cell" He stopped
In front OF one of the gratings and hold
up his lantern. Rosa's heart beat fast
and loud. There, on wretched hear
OF straw, lay her father, asleep, pale
and emaciated. She longed to cal
MIN, but remembered she must be
silent before the porter, and they left
him sleeping and walked back Through
the long corridor, boiling the heavy
door behind them.
The next day Rosa took into the nr,s
on the bowls of unappetizlng SOUP
pushed ono under every grating anpd
finally came to her fathers cell. In
locking his door she rushed in anf
knelt by the sick mans side. Father
Yathor p1 aha nf>iad ttIlOca ~ ovol,ix. -.