Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
The Neustadt Fair.
BY OLIVE STAvE.

Far, far away in Germany there 10 q
great big wood called the Black forest
The trees there seem almost to touch the
sky. and their branches are so thick that
hardly any light at all Is able to come
through. So you may imagine that on the
very brightest days this, 10, an exceedingly
dreary place indeed
Now, on the outskirts OF all this gloom
there lived q poor woodcutter and his little
grandchildren, Hans and Gretchen. Their
home was only a little hut, very small and
poor and they had to work and chop wood
and do lots Of things that perhaps you and
would think very hard, and yet they were
happy and contented and had many pleas
ant times together.
Once a year, in the very middle Of the
long cold winter. came q big fair to the
little village Of Neustadt, and as this was
not so very far from their home It was pos
sible for all three to 60 and to this coca
year around. ......, .,,..>t
But finally the grandfather grew very
old, and this year when it was time for the
fair he called hts little gran nstahsn 70
very cold now, and my rheumatism is SO
bad that I cannot take the long walk to
Neustadt, so make up your minds to miss
be old enough to go alone" Hans was q
boy and ashamed to cry, but the tears
trickled down Gretchen's face. and they
both ran away to hide their disappoint-
ing out his chest 'Why can we not go
alone? I will take care of YOU Let us try
and persuade grandfather"
At first the old man was firm and said
NO" but at last he consented. and with
many, many directions gave permission for
an early start the next morning. above
ALL" said he, don't stay until 1t gets
dark
And at In the morning they were ready,
happy as possible with a lunch of lack
bread and cheese, and a few coppers tucked
away carefully for trinket or two or a
What good time they did have! Moth
ing escaped them. They saw the wonder
full dancing bear, the Punch and Judy show,
the beautiful pictures and stood for hours
into the lions den.
But the best of times must have an end
and prudent little Gretchen said, Come,
Hans, it is getting late and we must re-
before it gets dark.
But Hans WAS interested in beautiful
white bear just then. and begged for a
few more minutes there, a second here, I'M
til the sun had nearly gone, and little
Gretchen was more and more uneasy.
Come, dear brother" she said anxiousy.
think Of that long. long walk before u.s."
And Hans at length listened to his cautious
little sister. and soon the CHEEKY little viii
lage of Neustadt was left behind them
and they entered into the gloomy Black
Forest. But, oh, how different everything
looked when it was really night! The trees
cast such queer struggling shadows, and
there were no pretty birds about and Hans
and Gretchen clasped hands very tightly
and Quickened their gait. But In spite Of
their hurry 1t grew darker and the paths
seemed all the same to them and they were
quite confused. And dreadful stories came
into their heads OF wolves and bears and
all oP fhaf not
pleasant to think of in the dark.
Both realized at the same time that they
were really lost and they stood perfectly
still together. Hans held up his finger and
with no other sound around them save the
beating Of their own frightened little hearts.
there came. borne on the cold night air, a
faint howl.
The wolves, the wolves. dear Hans"
said Kretchen. What will we dor
Keep up your courage. sister," said her
plucky little brother We are not lost
And Just then. as II some kind fairy had
seen their need and come to help them, did
they spy big tree, whose branches came
nearly to the ground. and into this the little
children scrambled. and in a minute we're
high up tn the air. None too soon, how
ever, for the bowling kept growing louder
and louder. and with many howis a pack
of wolves dashed into the opening, quickly
scented the little wanderers and seated
themselves under the tree. Their horrid
little eyes shone quite red in the dark and
poor Hans and Gretchen shook and trem-
bled, but, oh, so thankful that they were
many feet above their enemies.
And thus did they spend. the night, which
seemed an endless one. But at last tho
first rays of the morning sun appeared and
with them went the wolves. The two chill
dren waited for some time and then care
fully crept down, and after much searching
finally found a familiar path which took
them straight to their little hut.
And they found such an anxious grand
father awaiting them.
ooh, my children" he said, III you had
not have spent the night In that cold
forest. But surely the good fairies must
have taken care OF You and sent that tree
for the protection OF my little Hans and