The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-12-21
ChriStkindel.
FROM THE GERMAN BY w. BRAcHvoGEL.
TRANSLATED BY LOUISE WEARING.

TRANSLATED BY LOUISE WARING.
The autumn had been unusually long
and beautiful; even the second Sunday in
Adventwas still mild. The Frau Bauerin
of the Holy Ghost Farm had deemed it
wise to take one more outing before win
ter should set in in earnest, and had
walked down into the valley to attend
mass. On her way back she found the
heat so oppressive that she took off her
heavy Jacket. Suddenly towards even
ing an icy wind began to whistle through
the pine tops. driving cloud upon cloud
until the distant hills were covered with
a greenish, misty veil. The following
morning a leaden sky hung colorless
over the valley. At last snow began to
fall with pitiless fury; the storm shook
the giant trees and made them groan.
In the night the storm had abated, the
stars came out triumphant, and it turned
icy cold. AS the sun came climbing over
the mountains, the scene was one of daz-
cling, shimmering beauty, the snow re-
VI SOIOlS OH luC
farm everything was life and hustle; in
spite of the Sabbath. all hands, young
and old, were put to work; even the Frau
Bauerin took shovel and began to open
path leading to the barn. All the snow
must be cleared away before the freeze
which was sure to come-should set in;
the winding road leading down into the
valley must be opened in order to make
an easy descent to church for the mid
night mass.
The Frau Bauerin had that morning
got up in the very worst of humors; she
scolded the servants and found fault
with everything "Old Randel," a half.
deaf woman, who ate the bread of char.
ity at the farm, and who had just come
over from neighboring village, mutter-
ed as she seated herself behind the green
tiled stove and began to spin: ugh
she must have got out of bed left foot
first"
On seeing old Randel the Bauerin be-
gan to rummage in large heavy oaken
linen chest. Her heart was wont to beat |
with pride at the sight of these snowy
homespun treasures tied with red tapes,
and piled in stacks; but this day her
heart was heavy.
The Frau Bauerin was of medium
height, plump and ruddy, an energetic
step, and bright, intelligent eyes.
You here, Randel ?" she said, while |
taking out pile of sheets.
What are you doing?" mumbled the
old woman, somewhat startled, for she |
feared that her turn for a scolding had |
come.
Did you not have dream-book ?"
asked the BaueIin, without turning.
"Why? Have you had dream ?" an.
swered Randel, dropping TIE thread she
was spinning.
Eyes, something very strange"
Nonsense Tell me what it was"
This was fine morsel for old Randel, |
and the thought of something uncanuy
animated her stolid couutenance.
The Bauerin put down her pile of
sheets and came nearer the stove. 81
know my teeth are strong enough to
bite iron, and yet l dreamed that while
biting into piece of black bread two of
them dropped out"
Old Randel shook her head ominously,
and said: Teeth? Two teeth? l fear
this forbodes evil"
go fetch me the dream book" urged
the other.
Randel rose clumsily and went out.
The Bauerin, halffrightened and half-de-
family, while her eyes wandered restless
ly around the rooms, muttered: II was
afraid it meant no good something aw-
full is going to happen to me-"
Then her thoughts travelled across the
valley to the opposite hillside, where, in
an old little house, lived her only daugh-
ter, Resi-. 1t was for this child that the
buxom widow had up to this time re-
manned obdurate to many worthy
sutton, fearing that by second marriage
the property might become entangled
and Rests interests jeopardized. All
these points had been fully weighed in
the widows thrifty mind. But one day,
Wastl, a handsome young wheelwright,
came to work on the farm, and all was
over; few days sufhced to shatter all
the hopes she had cherished for her child's
future. Resi- declared she would have
Wastl. or none other, and. her head be-
ing as strong as her mothers, the latter
had to yield-that is, she said: eff you
cannot give him up, then marry him; but
henceforth you and part"
She had stuck to her word these two
years. The last time they had met was
at church, some three months before.
Resi- had made timid attempt to speak
to her mother, but the latter had coldly
turned her back Even the kind old par
ish priests exhortations were fruitless.
In vain he urged the stern woman to
forgive her child She would not ack-
nowledge to herself how cruelty she suf.
fered through this separation. At times
when the natural, tenderer instincts
struggled to assert themselves she