The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

-
Impression that they are reading Orien-
tai literature; yet his style is an exceed
lng1y pure German and distinctly HauH.
The impression is created by the sim
pliclty and directness of the story, the
spontaneous metaphor and the pure in
genuous fancy.
There are only a few of these simple
story tellers The Bible has preserved
the finest specimens of those in extant
literature The arabian Nights" form
the most inclusive collection, but one or
varying merit. Hans Christian Andersen
was such a teller of tales, and the native
simplicity of his style was refined by his
constant study Of the ancient "Bidpal,
the great stories of India.
Wilhelm Hauff's story, 1.-THE Cold
Heart has been retold in many ways in
many languages. Under varying titles.
such as THE Cold Heart" "Das Katie
Herr" and "Peter Munk, the Charcoal
Burner it has been used for more than
q generation in school literature and
thus has become almost as familiar to the
children of the Occident as the stories of
Damascus and Bagdad are to the chill
dren of the East. 1.-The Iron Heart OF
Peter Stark is an Americanized version
of this famous story.
TN their manners as we'll as their CO.'S
tunes the people of the Black Forest
in the beautiful German territory OF
suevia set themselves apart from
other people. 1t Is as II the tonic seen.
of their great pines had given them
frnner. If also ruder, spirit than tnat
owned by the dwellers of the plain. They
are far taller than common people, broad
shouldered and of mighty limbs
on one side Of the forest the people
busy themselves with glass ana CLOCK
making. Their black garments, req
stockings and wide-brimmed hats with
nointed crowns lend them a strange and
dgnifed air.
ple deal with their trees. They raft their
pines through the Neckar and down the
Rhine to Holland to the rich mynheers'
who build ships with them.
These people wear kirtles of dark linen
and a broad green suspender over the
broad chest. Their great pride Is In thelr
boots, which are probably the largest
worn in the world, for they can be drawn
two hand-spans above the knees. ana
the raftsmen can wade IN tnree leee VI
water without getting wet.
The forest spirits of the Black Forest
are CARRIED the same as the people them
selves. Thus the Glass Man, beneilcent
little spirit only three feet tall, always
appears In the tall pointed hat red STOCK
inps and black coat of the folk In. MS
territory. ssssgss ~
The Hollander Michel, on the WOODS
mems side of the forest, is giant CARRIED
like raftsman; and they who nave seen
him are glad that they need not pay Tor
the calves that must die to make pair
of boots for him.
Tbe Hollander Michel has a most snls-
Tor reuutation, and honest people cross
themselves whenever they hear his name.
THE Glass Man, on the contrary, Is wen
known TO be a sprite who can do won
derful things for those who find favor
in his eyes-especially IL they have been
born on a Sunday and know certain
verse.
peter Munk was one of those with such
lucky birthday, and he knew three of
the four lines. They ran:
Lord OF the Forests treasury,
Thou hast seen many century
Thine is all land where pine trees be,
hut strain his mind as he would. he
could not remember the last line. without
which the charm was vain
He thought and thought day after day.
Peter Munk was a charcoal burner ana
these people have much time to think.
When he sat by his smoking pit. the deep
silence of the woods attuned his heart to
tears and vague longing.
He envied the glassmakers, the ciock-
makers and even the men who played in
the taverns. Their positions were all SUI
periorq to that of a poor charcoal burner
Most of all he envied the fortunate,
ewaggering raftsmen in their stately garo.
When these splendid ones took out hand
fuls of dollars and threw dice his wits
nearly left him, and he used TO creep mis-
erably away to his hut.
Most of all he envied three men, of
whom he did not know which was the
most wonderful. One was stout tall
man with a red face, known as the Fat
Ezekiel who was considered the wealth.
lest man of the district. He always sold
his lumber with marvellous luck, even
when the rest failed.
The second was the tallest man in. the
forest Men called him the Long
Schlurker. He associated only with the
wealthest people, and even they never
dared to contradict him, because he
seemed to be stuffed with money.
The third was a handsome man, who
danced so well that he was known as
, the Dance King. He had been in the
service OF lumberman as woodchopper,
but suddenly exhibited an apparently end
less supply of gold. None knew how he
had obtained it, over night it were.
but young and old admired him as If he
were prince.
One day Coalmunkpeter. as they called
him in the forest, could bear his poverty
and his envy no longer. He put on his
Sunday hat and dressed himself in his
holiday costume with his best red stock
inps and made his way to the Tannen-
buhl. where the Glass Man was said to
dwell.
The Tannenbuhl is in the highest eleva-
tion of the Black forest. For two hours
tourney around it there is neither hamlet
nor hut for the people are aware that
things are not right there Axes fly from
their helyes and kill men who try to fell
trees In the Tannenbuhl. The raft-mas-
tiers would not dream of taking pine
from the place, because men and raft are
sure to meet disaster II single log from
the weird spot be in 1t.
Even birds avoid the Tannenbuhl. Peter
Munlx trembled when he entered the dim,
sinister, silent place.
He paused before an enormous pine
took off his Sunday hat and said in low,
uuivering voice;
Lord of the Forests treasury,
Thou hast seen many century,
Thine Is all land where pine trees be
Hardly had the words left his lips when
he was terrified by the sudden appear
ance of tiny form peering from behind
the great tree. 1t vanished again mme-
diately.
Fear overcame Peter. He dared not lin
ger The gloom seemed to grow more in
tense He turned away with hasty steps
that soon became frightened leaps. He
did not pause until he reached hut in
habted by a family of woodchoppers.
They took him in kindly and gave him
place at the table, on which there was
a great roasted forest cock and excellent
apple wine.
After the supper the women gathered
H. J<~l.k ~l