The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-14
KATRINA, THE MoRAvIAN.


KATRINA, THE MORANIAN.
An original Romance by Julia Jackson
Christian.
The old town of Salem was settled hy
the Germans many, many years ago.
They were Moravians in religion and
adhered strictly to all the rules and
customs of their fatheiland.
One of these customs was that the
wives Of the men were chosen by lot.
A large box was always kept in the
church and all the names of the bonny
lasses in the village were put therein.
Then the bridegroom, TO be. would
assemble all of his company and draw
out one of the names. Then the name
that was drawn he would take her for
his wife.
The girls rarely ever murmered, for
the majority would rather marry al
most anybody than be old maids all
their lives. which was the penalty.
One evening a beautiful girl. named
Katrina. was walking down the long
avenue of trees, leading TO the church.
She seemed to be in deep thought.
Presently, hearing the hum of wheels,
she looked up. but saw the most stiak~
ing tailor at his work, busily sewing
on the machine whose hum had attract
ed her attention.
He, looking up about that time, saw
n trim and graceful figure walking down
the avenue.
Her hair fell in ringlets around her
neck and forehead, and the sky-blue bow
that fastened her simple gown of white
at the throat just matched her large and
azure eyes.
The picture reminded him of an angel,
come down to earth. The green trees
behind her. and the sun going down III
a great ball of flame, set her golden hair
on FIRE, rs it were.
4 week or SO after this meeting the
tailor went to see one of his companions
and asked him if he knew this girl that
he described.
The young man replied that he did,
and that he would introduce him.
So several evenings after the young
,men went around to katrina's house, Il
very picturesque little place away back
in the trees. They stayed short while
and then took their leave. the tailor
making an engagement TO go to church
the next evening.
The next evening to church they went,
and many other evenings. At last one
evening, like the one on which he hfst
had met her. he could resist no longer,
and he asked her the question that has
been asked So many times and Wall DC
as long as the world exists, and she
consented.
Now, about that time the ugliest old
bishop in the parish took notion that
he would like to be married and so he
got together all the names of the pretty
girls and then drew one. Alas! alack! IL
was our beautiful Katrina.
Now. he. being bishop, for the bishops
were almost worshipped, they We're held
in such high esteem by the people. Kat
rina never Thought of murmering and
prepared her wedding gown, and got TO-
gether all her attendants, and few rela-
tives and friends and, on the arm of her
father. went slowly down the avenue
leading to the church, where only
few months before she had met her
betrothed.
AS she neared the tailor-shop she look
ed up, but the hum of the busy wheels
had ceased. and the sight that met her
eyes was heart-rending.
There sat the tailor his head bowed
upon his knees and such q detected look
about him that Katrina forgot all about
everything, except her lover. and with
one wild spring she was in the tailor's
shop.
They were soon out Of the back door,
over the hills and far away
The people at home We're III great
state of CONSERVATION, for there stood
the bridegroom Ito be- ready, waiting
for his bride. but no bride comes. Them
when the whole truth of the matter came
out. the old elders and bishops were so
shocked that they thought 1T was about
time they put stop to this custom, II
this was the effect it had on the young
folks; so all the people gathered together
and voted it out.
Nothing has ever been heard OF Kat
rina and the tailor from that day to
this. but please God they are still liv-
ing in happiness and contentment.
JULIA JACKSON CHRISTIAN.