Year: 1863

believe there Is no country in the world
utterly devoid Of superstition II one form or
other Germany is generally considered to be
the land Of legends and tradition, yet the part
in which I have lately resided, IS, l think, the
least political corner of Europe. In Silesia,
which was formerly Polish province, scarcely
is vestige of ancient grandeur to be found,
and nothing can be more matter of fact, uure-
lieved by the least fancy or Imagination than
both the habits and tastes of its inhabitants
yet even there, amidst those uupoetic plains,
romance fiction, call it what you will, has
found some channel and from time to time
threads its way through the commonplace
title tattle of this most prosaic era.


Whilst staying at the small garrison town
of ". | was invited to a coffee party"
an entertainment generally given toladies alone,
the unfair sex being vigorously excluded
The Frau Landrathin Won - had assem-
bled round her hospitable board a numerous
party Of ladies from the neighborhood, aud
extensive were the preparations made for their
delectation. The younger members of the
circle might probably have considered that an
whom the town was then full would not alto
gether have marred the enjoyment of the eHd-
less refreshments set before them but the rule
of exclusion was stringent as the laws of the
Medes aud Persians, so they were fain to make
the best of existing circumstances, and vile
away the time by discussing the merits of
absent friends-male and female. A little
scandal or " klatchen" as it is called in Ger
man, is a necessary ingredient, in all small
assemblies, and if report speaks truly, is an
amusement not exclusively confined to the
weaker sex.


On this occasion the conversation became all
the more lively for being interspersed with
repeated stps at that delectable composition
called Bowie" This is a beverage of which
Rhine wine, pine apple sugar, and champagne
form the principal ingredients; when mixed
with due skill aud science, the flavor is ambro-
sial aud it is particularly favored by the ladies
as being more delicate and refined than the
ordinary vinous beverage.


Who knows how many characters would
have been torn to pieces. or matches made or
even unmade, on that afternoon, had not our
good hostess chanced to express her admiration
of pearl necklace, Of great value worn by
one of her guests.


1t is more curious than beautiful rejoined
the wearer you know it is the famous Nal
zhan necklace"


What, the necklace exclaimed all the
ladies, in chorus. "Oh, pray, let US see it :"


inquired into the cause of all this curiosity,
and as few besides myself professed ignorance
of the well known story, the countess was kind
enough to relate it for our benefit


The PEARL NECKLACE.


You mnst know then" said she Z" that
one of our ancestors, a Count Malzhan, iuhab-
ited at a very remote period, the Castle of
Mlitisch, in Silesia. He was married to
very beautiful young lady, and in due course
of time became the happy father of son aud
heir, whose birth was greeted with the most
joyous festivities in Castle and Hall.


Shortly after the child's birth, as the
young mother had fallen into deep sumber,
she had strange dream or vision, which made
SO deep an impression on her mind, that she
could not refrain from relating it the next day
She dreamt that little dwarf had appeared
at the bottom of her couch, and begged and
prayed her in the most piteous tones to have
her baby's cradle removed from tbe spot on
which it stood, as the rockening, he said, dis
turbed his wife, who was very i'll, and could
not sleep for the noise. The poor countess
only got laughed at for her foolish dream
The next night however, her troublesome
guest reappeared this time urging the request
with still greater earnestness she therefore
determined no longer to withstand his entreat-
les, and the next day had the baby and his
cradle removed TO the other end of the ROOM
The ensuing night, the little man again visited
her in her Dreams but this time in high spirits,
thanking her profusely for her kind acquescence
in bis wishes. and assuring her that bis wife
was already fast recovering in consequence.


The countess was well pleased when the
vision disappeared, and left her for some time
in peace, Relief, however, was not of long
duration, and few weeks later the poor ladys
dreams were again disturbed by the same ap- /
partition. This time the little dwarf had no
intention of again dislodging the poor baby or
his cradle, but he made strong objections to
the nurses habit Of throwing away the water
from the ehild's bath through the ordinary
channel.


He declared that every particle of it pat
tered down. drop by drop. on his unfortunate
wifes head and that if the countess would not
deign to order her servants to throw away the
childs bath on some other spot. his beloved