The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-19
DER TROTTEL

Holgcr Drachmann. in the Baltimore star.
When the Schlitza River after a hot
day breathed GOODNESS over the sloping
banks, when the sun sent its last greet
Ing through the valley. while in the east
dark clouds gathered threatening around
the mountain peaks, he usually came out
Ike the cuckoo from a clock and sat
down on the bench outside a low straw
matched house.
Here he would enjoy the cool breeze
and the red glow Of the setting sun. rub
bling his fat legs With his hands and
smiling through his frog eyes, as II the
whole world belonged to him. And then
IL the children called him 10 give him a
big. copper coin The smile grew happier
! still. He stood up and trotted down the
slope, MS big shapeless head nodding his
thanks, while the clumsy limbs did their
best 20 obey the command Of the will.
Below him the river was rushing. and
behind him the evening clouds were Pill
ing up against the mountain sides. Sill
houetted against the stern landscape, he
! stood there In the laSt rays Of the sun,
I grotesQue In his delight, freed from the
ties Of earthly woes by his ignorance and
! carelessness. happy as an animal that is
being stroked by a friendly hand-happy
as only an idiot can be
/ In moments like these he almost ap-
peared handsome 20 us-because Joy
beauties all living beings, and our friend
the doctor said: Il feel as If I might
envy him"
But when the young people OF the VII
llage teased him or threw stones at him
and when he sought shelter behind oul
house without a thought OF defending
| himself. like a hunted beast that does
not know its own strength; when he looks
about with this palned, helpless expires
sion in his eyes, as II the whole world
was closed 10 him and there was nothing
left but to jump into the river. our hearts
would bleed with pity
It seems that every village in Kaern
then must have its idiot. its "Trottel.
Jarvis had him. and here is his story
About ten years ago Jarvis had NJ
"trottel," but a young healthy widow
had come 70 the village with her boy. I
splendid. sturdy little fellow OF I'VE o.
six, with bright, rlischievous eyes.
The mother did not amount 70 much
She bad one Job after the other on th,
farms. she went 90 dance IN the viIlag
and there were soldiers enough 70 fir
with the pretty girl, and in the meantime
the boy, who had been given 10 an oil
woman. was left 20 take care OF himself
The old woman had a son, a cobbler b,
trade. and the cobbler had a tame black
bird. that like himself. whistled- Every
body liked the boy. who was bright an
happy as a chipmunk, and' the cObble
divided his love between the blackbir
and the Hue one. Jolly Seppel." as h
was known. was a practical fellow, an
not the least sentimental, and althOug
he soon made up HIS mind that the prett
face OF the boys mother had taken hir
IN too. he did not mind that she SCENE
to care now for one and now for another
Women are and always have been e rid
die, he would say When they love YOU
you must love them again. but you mus
not expect miracles.
When he was told that the girl ha
fallen in love with the son Of a wealth
mountain farmer, Seppel said: ''Wh
shouldn't she2 II she can catch the bird
II viii be the most sensible thing she ha
ever done. but believe he is too fox
for her"
Then one afternoon she called for tn
boy. She wanted 70 take him alon
D -, ~
mountain villages.
Hadn't you better leave the boy here?
said SepDel. and looked at the BLACK
bird sitting on top OF its cage. II
will only be a bother 70 you, whereve
you stay over night. and he Is too sma
to find his way home alone If you los
him"
But she wanted her boy. and took hi
Glong. His little brown hands wave
"Gruess Colt" 10 seppel, and the brigt
little eyes were happy at the thought {
the long walk with his mother. All III
same, Seppel was rather cross with hin
self for letting the boy go.
During the night the thunderstorl
broke out that had threatened ali daI
SeppeI went outside the house time an
again TO look for the boy. The air wa
trembling with the roar Of thunder. III
: lightning flashed, and then left one
darkness so black that even the BRAY
Seppel thought he saw al kinds Of thing
in it. All the crucihXes along the mour
tain road writhing in pain. and the vii
huntsman was rushing down from tn
peaks, with his head under his arm
whom he so often had told the DO
about when they were sitting at the fire
: side in the evening.
When the storm was over II was 70
lowed by wind and icy sleet. Sepp
did not sleep a wink until nearly da!