The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-23
Der Tr0ttel--A Short Story
b HOLGER DRAcHllANN

When the Schlitsa river after = hot
day breathed coolness over tho slop-
ing banks, when tho sun sent its last
greeting through the valley. while In
the east dark clouds gathered threat
enins around the mountain peaks. he
usually came out like the cuckoo
from . clock and sat down on the
bench outside q low straw matched
house.
Here he would enjoy the cool
ting sun. rubbing his fat legs with his
hands and smiling through his child
like frog eyes, as il the whole world
belonged to him. And then. II the
children called him to give him . big
copper coin the smile grew happier
still. He stood up and trotted down
the slope, his big shapeless head nod
ding his thanks. while the clumsy
limbs did their best to obey the COM
mand OF the will.
Below him the river was rushing
and behind him the evening clouds
were piling up against the mountain
sides. Silhouetted against the >stern
landscape, he stood there In the last
rays Of the sun. grotesque in his de.
light, freed from the ties Of earthly
woes by his ignorance and careless
ness. happy as an animal that 10 be
ing stroked by friendly hands-happy
as only an idiot can be.
In moments like those he almost
appeared handsome to us-because
joy beauties all living things. and
our friends the doctor said. Il feel al
might envy him."
But when the young people of the
village teased him or threw stones a,
him. and when he sought shelter be
hind our house without thought OF de
Tending himself. like hunted beast
that does not know its own strength
then he looked about with this painet
helpless expression in his eyes. as o.
the whole world was closed to him
and there was nothing left but t.
jump into the river. our hearts
would bleed with pity.
! 1t seems as II every village II
Kaernthen must have their idiot
their "Trottel" Jarvis had him ant
here is his story.
/ About ten years ago Jarvis had NJ
"trottel," but young healthy widow
has come to the village with her boy
a splendid. sturdy little fellow Of Nv
or six, with bright, mischievous eyes
But the mother did not amount II
much. She had one job after tn
other on the farms, she went to dane
in the village and there were soldier
! enough about to fiirt with the prett,
girl. and in the meantime the boy VIII
had been given to an old woman, wa
left to take care OF himself The oil
woman had q son. cobbler by trade
and the cobbler had tame blackbir
. that like himself, whistled Every
. body liked the boy, who was brigh
and happy as chipmunk, and tn
cobbler divided his love between tn
blackbird and the little one. "Joll
Soppel.' as he was known was q pras
tical fellow and not the least sent
: mental, and although he soon mad
: up his mind that the pretty face q
the boys mother had taken him In to,
: he didn't mind that she seemed to car
: now for one and now for another. W.
men are and always have been riddl
he would say. When they love yo'
you must love them again, but 70
must not expect miracles.
When he was told that the girl ha
fallen in love with the son of wea
thy mountain farmer, Soppel said
why shouldn't she? II she can cate
that bird, it will be the most sensibl
! thing she has ever done, but beliey
> he is too foxy for her.
Then one afternoon she called Il