Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES. -WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 613

[ocr errors]

of guilty minds is always cruel. They are now | ful than we are. We must, sooner or later, yield determined to hunt their victims among the fast- our place to the more prudent, the less embarnesses of the Alps, where they have hitherto never rassed, and the more vigorous off-shoots of our been molested, and to leave them no resting place race, and consent to occupy the easy chair of our on the continent of Europe. If Switzerland refuses senility. Nor is there anything to regret in this. to deliver them up, her cities are to be occupied The civilization that is removed is not destroyed; by Austrian troops, and her valleys ravaged, and and the genius of our people can exert itself as the old tyranny of Gessler revived. The absolut- well on the borders of the Ohio as on the banks of ists are encouraged by their success in Hungary the Thames, and rule the world with as much proand in Rome, and by the virtual cooperation of priety from the White House, as from the palace France. No man who is their enemy can here- of St. James. Europe has enjoyed power, and has after be allowed to draw the breath of life in any abused it, and the sceptre of the world's dominion part of Europe to which their arms can penetrate. is passing from her grasp. Civilization, as of old, If they dared, they would demand of Great Britain is following the course of the sun, and the doctrines the surrender of the political exiles who have of humanity will work themselves out in a new sought refuge on her shores, and if she refused, field and on a larger scale. would strike at her amidst her ships.

Liv. Age.]

["Never say, die," dear brother! But let us set to work It seems to us that here is an occasion for our to solve the problem how Israel and Judah may be regovernment to raise its voice in favor of humanity, united. Does not the federal government of these United in favor of the inviolability of national hospitality, States offer something as a foundation upon which wise in favor of a sister republic, now in danger of being master-builders may, by much prayer and self-denial, and made virtually a province of one of the German through God's blessing, erect a glorious temple of liberty monarchies. It is not our policy to mingle in the and brotherly love, such as earth has never seen? wars of the old world, but it is clearly our policy to rebuke a proceeding, the principle of which denies the right of one nation to shelter the political SALE OF THE MANUSCRIPT OF WASHINGTON'S fugitives from another. If Switzerland is to be in- FAREWELL ADDRESS.-The sale of the original vaded because she gives an asylum to those who MS. of the Farewell Address of Gen. Washington are hunted out of Germany, our own country is to the people of the United States took place last only safe because the despots cannot attack us with evening, at the Philadelphia Exchange. any hope of success. We should protest, therefore, no doubt of the authenticity of the handwriting, against this course of Austria and Russia, not only and the history of the document is clear. It has from the more generous motive of humanity, but been bound up in a neat volume, and contains with for the reason that if Switzerland is so far in the it a statement by Mr. Claypoole of the manner in wrong that she is to be taught her duty at the cannon's mouth, our own country, the asylum of so many state criminals from the old world, deserves the same treatment in a tenfold degree.

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.-The London Illustrated News, in its article on the signs and prospects of the new year, compares England and the United States in this manner :

There is

which he became possessed of it. It was stated by Mr. Thomas, the auctioneer, that Mr. D. C. Claypoole left no lineal heirs, and his collateral descendants are scattered over the country; the estate is also involved. and there was no other course for the administrator than to sell the MS., which was appraised as personal property. The document five hundred dollars. It ran up to twenty-three was then put up for sale, and started with a bid of hundred dollars, where it lingered for a period, and was then knocked down to the Rev. Dr. Henry D. Boardman, pastor of the 12th Presbyterian Church in this city. It was announced that he purchased it "for a gentleman living at a distance." Whether he was an American or not was not

stated.*

Afterwards, the original portrait of Washington, by Jas. Peale, painted for Mr. Claypoole in 1778, was also put up, and bought by Dr. Boardman, for the same gentleman on whose account the MS. was purchased.

A volume of the "Daily Advertiser," containing the Address, was also sold for $12. These all belonged to the Claypoole estate.

An empire, twenty, thirty, fifty times as extensive, and as rich as ours, has already arisen on the other side of the Atlantic to entice into its bosom the best blood which remains to us. The young, the hardy, the persevering of our country, and of all countries of Europe that groan under a weight of debt and difficulty, and of a surplus of population, and that cannot say, as the New World does, that every man is a man, welcome for the sake of his manhood to the great feast of nature, where there is enough and to spare for the meanest, are daily invited to leave the shores of effete Europe and settle in America. The growth of the United States is, in fact, the downfall of Great Britain. All the unhappy circumstances that are of prejudice to us, are of benefit to them. With us, the mouths that clamor to be fed are causes of decay. With them every additional mouth is an additional pair of hands, and every additional pair of hands is an increase of power, wealth and influence. Let us pour our millions into the great valley of the Mississippi, and it will hold and feed them all, were the numbers quadrupled. While in this old country the pauper vegetates and dies, in that new country he no longer vegetates, but lives and counts by thousands his flocks-a Job in the land of plenty. Let those who dream of a perpetual Britain *It has since been stated that the purchaser was Mr. think of these things. The signs of decay are Lennox of New York. We are relieved by hearing this around us on every side. Events are more power-of a fear that it had gone out of the country.-Liv. Age.

It was a mere

A MS. letter of Washington to General Mifflin, dated 4th April, 1784, was also put up for sale, on account of whom it might concern. letter of introduction, requesting the usual civilities by Gen. Mifflin to Count de Lavalatte Montmorency, brother of the Duc de Montmorency, who was travelling through the United States. brought $20, and was purchased by a gentleman named Bickley.

It

The attendance was large, and much curiosity was manifested as to the price the various relics would bring.—Ledger.

[Every time we see this, it is with a desire to copy it. We have passed it several times for fear of an outcry about some disputed doctrine; but it has so much that everybody will think good, that we now commit it to the judgment of our readers. It is "from a London work." -LIV. AGE.]

THE DAILY LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHILD.

COME hither, little Christian,
And hearken unto me:

I'll teach thee what the daily life
Of a Christian child should be.

When a Christian child awaketh,

He should think of God in heaven: And softly say, "I thank thee, Lord, For the sleep which thou hast given."

He must say, when he ariseth,

"From evil and from harm Defend thy little child, O Lord, With thine everlasting arm."

The water that he useth

Must remind him of the day
When baptismal waters cleansed him,
And washed his sins away.

And, in low tone and earnest,

He must say, "This day renew,
O loving Lord, the saving grace
Of my baptismal dew."

Then, dressing very quietly,

The Christian child should say, "With thy spotless robe of righteousness Lord, clothe my soul, I pray."

He reverently kneeleth

To pray beside his bed-
With closed eyes and humble voice,
His holy prayers are said.
And, as he thus approacheth
The God of heaven above,
He looketh down, and smileth on
This little child in love.

He goeth to his chamber,

To his work, or to his pay,
But the prayers that he hath prayed,
He must keep in mind all day.
He hath asked to be obedient,
And so he must fulfil
His parents' bidding cheerfully,
With a glad mind and will.

In all his daily duties

He diligent must be;

And say,

"Whate'er I do, O Lord,

I do it unto thee."

When the little Christian playeth,
He must use no angry word;
For his little fellow-Christians
Are members of the Lord.

If a playmate take his playthings,
He must not rudely try

To snatch them back, but mildly ask,
Or meekly pass them by.

He hath asked to be made holy,
So he must strive all day

To vield his will to others' will
His way to others' way.

No greedy thoughts dishonor

The Christian child at meals; He eateth what God giveth him, And ever thankful feels. Whene'er the Cross he seeth,

On chancel, church, or tower— In human form, in beast, or bird, In insect, tree, or flower

To his crucified Redeemer

He must turn his thoughts, and say, "May the Cross upon my forehead shine With living light alway!"

When no human eye can see him,
He knoweth God is nigh,
And that darkness cannot cover him
From his all-seeing eye.

When in a fault he falleth,

He must not hide the stainRepentance and confession

Must yield their healing pain:

He must kneel then in his chamber,
Confess what he hath done,

And ask to be forgiven

For the sake of God's dear Son.

Again, when evening cometh,

The Christian child will pray,

And praise the Lord for blessings given To him throughout the day.

Then, his soul to God committing,

He quietly may sleep;
God, and his holy angel hosts

Will watch around him keep.

God bless thee, little Christian!
Be holy, humble, mild,
Obedient, truthful, diligent,
A truly Christian child.

God bless thee, little Christian!
And bid thou God bless me !
I've taught thee what the daily life
Of a Christian child should be.

From the Episcopal Recorder

Out of the depths.-PSALM CXXX. 1.

PURE pearls lie deep. It is not they who swim
On the smooth bosom of the upper wave,
That learn what hidden things dwell down in
ocean's cave.

The nautilus, all brightly that doth skim

The calm, bright billow, diveth not below;
And so it is with us. To life's gay crowd
Our truer self we cannot, dare not show;
They see the surface, and they deem us proud,
Or cold, perhaps insensate. Boots it aught
If these pierce not the soul's incognito?
For, did they all its inner hist'ry know,

They would but count us fools. Far better taught
Are they, who hide the depths within their own,
And the full heart unveil to" God's own heart" alone.
Feb. 1848.
A. W. M.

From Burckhardt's "Legends of Many Nations."

SEPPI, THE GOATHERD.

A FAIRY TALE OF SWITZERLAND.

THE mezereon and the mountain lilies bloomed upon the hills and the wall-wort on the edge of the forest, or among the hedges which enclosed fields and gardens; and the Senners, that is, the cowherds and the goatherds, of the Puster-valley prepared for departure with their flocks to the beautiful pasture among the Alps. For miles, even before the droves of cattle came in sight, could the bells of the herds and the merry lowing of the cows be heard, for Peter Saibel, the big senner, alone, drove more than one hundred cows to the Alps. Slowly, and with solemn mien, he headed the procession. In his hand he carried the long staff, and his hat and shoes were adorned with loops and rosettes of many-colored ribbons.

Close behind him, and, as it were, imitating him in grandeur and pride, followed the beauty of the herd, the queen cow, the victress of the cow fights which frequently take place in the Alps. As a diadem she wore an immense wreath of mountain flowers, and her large bell was suspended from her neck by an embroidered collar. Behind her came the other cows, all adorned with variegated ribbons, with wreaths, bouquets and merry bells; following these, came the keeper of the young cattle, with the calves and oxen; and lastly came Seppi, the goatherd, with his numberless flock of goats, a handsome and good boy of about fourteen years, with long blonde curls, a tall, well-formed figure, and so kind an expression of face that every child in the valley was fond of him.

No one, at all the farm-houses which the imposing procession passed. paid much attention to the vain and stylish senner, who proudly strutted in front of his herd; but young and old had a smile and a friendly nod for Seppi, who looked extremely well in his red vest and clear white shirt collar, and even the boys said to each other: "Just look, what a fine fellow our Seppi is! he will be the smartest man in the valley when he once gets along in the world, and earns money to dress himself better. But just look at the senner; he looks like St. Stephen in a cabbage garden!" and all laughed and agreed with the speaker.

When the droves had reached the plains among the Alps, and the cattle quietly sought pasture, the herds divided, and Seppi with his goats came near a pretty large pond. The goatherd was tired of his long walks and stretched himself among the high grass by the water's edge, and, although the sun still stood very high, it was cool by the water's side, and a gentle air rippled the waves, and the blue sky reflected its image back on the surface of the clear water. Seppi always was happy at heart, though he was the poorest lad in the whole Pustervalley, but to-day he was especially happy, because spring had returned upon the beautiful green Alps, and our boy could again take his herds to pasture upon the rich blooming meadows. And for this reason he sang one merry song after the other, for the world and all around him delighted him.

Suddenly, as he lay quietly in the high grass, he saw a light fog arise on the top of the waters, and the fog became thicker and thicker every moment. He closely watched this phenomenon, and observed a most lovely figure gradually emerging from the fog as from a close veil. She wore a wreath of water lilies around her long black hair, a golden crown rested upon that, and in the midst of the crown sparkled a large diamond. She was more

beautiful than the picture of the Madonna in the forest chapel, which was the most beautiful thing Seppi had ever seen.

"I wonder if that is like a fairy!" Seppi thought to himself, and had a great inclination to run away. But the beautiful lady beckoned him, and said, "Sing that beautiful song again, my boy, for that has called me hither, and I will richly reward you for it."

"Well," said Seppi to himself, as he lost all fear, "she speaks so kind and so friendly, and I think she is too beautiful to do me any harm, as stupid people say that mermaids are apt to do." And he sung his song again and again, until the fairy signified that she was obliged to him and had heard enough.

Or

"I will now give you a cup full of gold sand; with that you can buy land, hire people, and have as big a herd as your senner," she said. perhaps you have another wish, which you want me to fulfil ?"

"If you are a water fairy," replied Seppi, confidently, "I would rather that you showed me your sub-marine dominions; it must be very cool and beautiful beneath the blue waters."

"Give me your hand, then," said the fairy, who guided him across the waters, and Seppi found to his astonishment that his feet remained perfectly dry; in the middle of the pond she stopped and touched the surface of the water with a small wand of whalebone; and the waves opened, and a large staircase appeared, the steps of which were of pure crystal; the fairy conducted Seppi down the stairs, who wondered whether down below there he would find such beautiful green mats, and such handsome flowers as above, where the bright sun shone; and gladly would he have jumped down three or four steps at a time, in order to be quickly there. But this was not so easily done, for he seemed to have walked more than an hour already, and still the stairs appeared to have no end. But every moment the fairy seemed to him more beautiful; he loved her more and more, and it appeared as if all that shone around him only came from her eyes, which were as blue as the horizon he loved to look upon. Her hand was as white as snow, and her nails looked like painted rose-leaves; her small foot scarcely touched the ground, and lay like a lily in its sandal. Seppi could not cease looking at her, and he felt, of a sudden, as if it would be the greatest misfortune that could happen to him, if he were compelled again to separate from her; for in all the world, as far as he had seen it, he had never seen anything as beautiful as the water fairy, and he required no other gift from her than the permission to remain near her as long as he should live. And this he told her in all confidence, and even before they had reached her domains; but though she listened to those words with a kindly smile, and gently smoothed his golden hair, she made no reply.

Then Seppi took courage and said: "Did you not promise me, in payment for my song, to fulfil my dearest wish? Now there will never be anything so dear to me as yourself, and therefore you must go with me to the beautiful green Alps, and always remain there with me."

66

“I dare not live by the light, or among men," answered the fairy sadly; and cannot therefore grant you that wish, as much as I might desire to do so. But come first down to my dwelling, and you will find many other things worthy of your wish."

"If you dare not return to the light with me, no

one shall prevent me from staying down below | when you like it so well among mankind, and in here with you. And that you may see that I am your pure Alpine air?" in earnest in my request, just have the stairs destroyed as soon as we are down; for, without you, I do not wish to return to the world."

"Only once every hundred years, and then only for one day, I may rise above the surface of the waters," said the fairy, "and no one but myself can conduct you back to your home. Therefore consider well what you desire; for I either lead you up this day before the sun goes down, or you must remain a hundred years here in the depths of the water. And if I even conduct you back, if afterwards you should change your mind, I should lose my life, as many of my sisters have done before me. When the first ray of the sun touches me before the century is past, I shall undergo a fearful transformation, which the greatest magician in the world cannot release me from. Therefore, I pray you, abandon your wish, which you may easily rue afterwards."

But Seppi only became more anxious and excited by this reply, and swore, by all he held holy and dear, that he would remain with her as long as he lived. Then suddenly a high portal opened before him, which led to a large saloon, where many elves were playing. A chandelier with more than a hundred branches was suspended from the ceiling, and burned blue, red, green, white, and yellow flames; these made the saloon look as bright as if the sun shone into it, and spread a delicious odor all around. Here, little lake elves were dancing; yonder, small fairies were seated around little table, eating diminutive sea-snails, which were most deliciously prepared. Another set were amusing themselves by playing at feather-ball with a ball no bigger than a pea, and adorned with the most beautiful plumes of the humming-bird. Seppi would gladly have joined this play, but wherever he stepped, he drove the little people away, for he might have buried ten of them beneath his foot. And then his figure cast such a large shaddow that the company always sat in the dark when he approached within a few steps of them, and they begged the fairy to protect them from that fearful giant, of whose thundering voice they were so much afraid.

Now Seppi was very much annoyed that he could not play and gambol with the silly little folks, and that he should appear such a fright to them. The fairy, who observed that he was annoyed, conducted him to a sofa in the corner, and by a wink commanded her servants to bring all sorts of refreshments to her guest. And in large crystal bowls they brought sweet watermelons and all sorts of beautifully prepared fishes and crabs; in short, everything they had handy-and Seppi did full justice to the excellent fare, for he had eaten nothing all day. His master, moreover, was a very close and stingy man, and did not give his servants enough to eat. But although Seppi was very hungry, and had never enjoyed so splendid a table before, yet there was something wanting which even the fairy could not provide for him. There was no bread beneath the water; and although all the viands were excellent, they did not taste right to Seppi, since he had not the "staff of life," to which he had always been used.

"Now you see," said the beautiful fairy, sadly, "that you will miss many things below here, to which you were accustomed in the world above, and which, with all my power, I cannot provide for you. Why, why, would you stay here with me,

But Seppi consoled her, and said that he would willingly miss all terrestrial enjoyments, to be allowed to remain with her, and even now he would again leave his home to follow her, if she were to bring him back to the upper world. Then her face beamed with joy and happiness. She now showed the boy her beautiful garden. There, on high espaliers, grew rare flowers, of wonderful color, and fruits so large and beautiful, as Seppi had never seen them before. He asked the fairy whether she would permit him to pluck some of these beautiful things, and she replied that everything in her whole kingdom was his as well as her own. Then Seppi wanted to pull a beautiful rose, which hung heavy upon the stem, but when he took it into his hand, he found that it was only a work of art, cut from a red jewel, and that the green leaves were made of chrysoprase. It was the same case with the fruits; the great plums which invited Seppi, were made of sapphire, and the apples of rubies, the pears of agate and emerald; in short, all were made of jewels: but though they were beautiful and looked inviting, Seppi could not eat them. Then a shade of discontent passed over his face, for there he had seen happy children at play, and could not join them, or share their joys. He found the rarest fruits, but could not eat them; and, with the exception of the fairy, no one understood his language, or would reply to him. True she was always near him, as Seppi had desired, and studied constantly to make him happy; but she could not succeed in it; nay, Seppi even began to be afraid of the wonderful things he saw everywhere around him, and the mysterious power of the fairy filled him with awe.

"I pray you," he said one day to her, "conduct me from the artificial garden, and from the splendid saloon, to some green meadow, where plain simple grass is growing, such as my goats eat; there I will again sing all my songs to you, all those songs you love so well."

Then the fairy sighed, for her kingdom consisted only of the great magic garden, and the beautiful saloon, and she could easily perceive that these two places did not suit her favorite. For not once since had he sung so happily as at the time when he sat last by the side of the lake; and when he now, at the request of the fairy, sang one of his old melodies, it had no longer the happy, merry sound as of yore, for Seppi's heart was no more happy; on the contrary, he was sad and languishing. And yet now he was so much better off than at the time when he was but a poor goatherd, and had to starve in the employ of the avaricious senner. What then ailed him?-As he had wished, he was always daily and hourly by the beautiful fairy, who nursed and cherished him like a child. He dined every day off five courses, and from golden dishes; slept on a soft, luxurious bed, and beneath a silken cover. And here, in the realms of fairy land, reigned an everlasting spring, and it never became night; but the flowers and fruits were only artificial, and the light was not that of the sun, but of thousands of lamps which hung upon the ceiling of the saloon, and against the crystal walls, and burned always. In the world above, no one had cared for poor Seppi, who had no parents or relatives, and his goats, at the utmost, used at times to lick his hands with their small lips. Now, the beautiful fairy kissed his forehead, played with his locks, and brought him new and

beautiful presents every day. And with all this | he would immediately die, if he had left her domains Seppi became more sorrowful, day after day, and (whither he had gone of his own free will) alone : his merry eyes looked dim and sad; he would have she saw that the door began to move, by the heavy almost given his life to pass another hour by the pushes of Seppi, and forgot her own safety, in her pond, where the fairy had met him, and he was anxiety to save him. Quick as lightning she flew constantly thinking of the clear bright sun, the blue to his side, took him by the hand, and she herself ether, and the high grass, that grew so merrily opened the portal, so that Seppi in an instant was upon earth, and so fast that he used to see, each above the waters. morning, the progress it had made during the night. In the fairy's empire everything was beautiful beyond description, but he never could feel at home; he wanted so many things that he had been used to in the world above-his brown bread, the berries he used to pluck in the forest, even his goats, which were wont to come at his call.

"I really wish," he said to himself, "the fairy would leave me alone for a moment. I would, just for fun, see whether I could find the crystal stairs by which I came down here. Only for curiosity-I would not ascend-for I am very well here, and the fairy is so kind to me, and loves me

so much."

[ocr errors]

And just as if the fairy could read his thoughts, she said, on the following morning, "Seppi, I must leave you for a few hours! Try and pass your time as best you can. When I come back I expect to give you a joyful surprise.' It was her intention to swim as nearly as possible to the surface of the water, and see whether no child approached its neighborhood; then she would coax it to the edge of the lake, and quickly draw it down with her, so that her dear Seppi might have a human being near him to cheer him up again.

Whilst she was thus waiting and hiding herself beneath the water lilies and large leaves that floated upon the pond, so that no rays of the sun could reach her, Seppi was walking about, torn by restlessness and discontent. He wanted to know whether that staircase was still standing, and secretly, like an evil conscience, he stole from the saloon. And behold, he found the crystal steps, which he had descended with the fairy about a month ago, as he thought, and his heart beat with joy.

[ocr errors]

Why did not the good fairy have these stairs torn down, as I begged of her? then these tempting thoughts would not have entered my head. But I will ascend a little way, to see whether I cannot discover the blue sky through the water," he said, as he ascended higher and higher.

But had not the fairy told him that he could not leave the place alone,-that she must herself conduct him back to the light? True, but perhaps she only meant to frighten him from the attempt; he could not easily convince himself; he wanted to see whether he really could not emerge into the open air, and then he would quietly return to his place, and the fairy should never know anything of this attempt. No, he would never endanger the life of this beautiful and kind friend, as little as he would leave her; for he knew how much she loved him; and that she would weep her clear blue eyes blind if he were to desert her.

But as he thought so, he had already gained the last steps; and now all his good intentions suddenly were forgotten, he would and must again behold the beautiful green earth and the blue sky-and with all his strength he pressed against the crystal ceiling, through which he had entered with the fairy as through a door.

The fairy, who, as I have above related, was watching close behind, for a child, now suddenly perceived her faithless favorite; she saw his danger;

Greedily he breathed the fresh mountain air that wafted across the Alps-but alas!-a broad ray of the sun fell like melted gold through the portal upon the poor fairy, and with a dying voice she sighed aloud. Frightened, Seppi looked around towards her, and he saw how the folds of the green veil she wore turned into green leaves, her feet and golden sandals changed into yellow roots, and her tall beautiful figure appeared as a reed shrub above the water. And then the waves took Seppi, and carried him playfully to the shore; he rubbed his eyes, stretched out his arms towards the reed, which a few moments before had stood by his side, but which now raised its head in the middle of the pond, and reached its thin, trembling arms languishingly towards the shore. A soft wail and a sigh passed through the reeds, and cut, like a bitter reproach, through poor Seppi's soul. He covered his face with his hands, and ran away, so as not to see the sad reed shrub any more. Thus he finally reached the senner's cottage, which belonged to his master, Peter Saibel. There he found an old man, of whom he inquired for the senner.

"I am the senner," replied the other.

"But what has become of Peter Saibel?" asked Seppi in astonishment.

66

Why, youngster, you must have been drinking," replied the old man; "the Saibel owned this senner's hut long before me, and has been dead these eighty years. My father used to tell me the story about him, and about a young lad, and that both of them had disappeared on the very same day, and that it was just on the day when the cattle were driven out for the first time in spring-Peter's body was found by some of the mountaineers; but he had always been a loose character, and stayed, perhaps, too late at the tavern; then he probably crossed a Harach (frozen snow-drift between the mountains) and was lost. But the young lad, the goatherd, never was heard of again."

At first Seppi thought that the old man was crazy, but a young maiden came in, who seemed to assert all that her father had said. Eighty years then had passed, and this long time had seemed to him, whilst in the fairy's dominions, scarcely as many days. If he only had had a little more patience, a century would have been passed, and the beautiful fairy might have brought him back to the Alps without losing her life in the attempt!

And now all joy for him was at an end, for he could indeed no longer look upon the clear blue sky, with a pure heart and a clear conscience; for had he not become stained with guilt-did not the death of the beautiful fairy rest upon his mind? He no longer found joy in contemplating the mountains, and the valleys, or in the bright sunshine; all the day long he lay by the side of the lake, and listened to the sad sighing of the reeds. Nay, he even once passed a night there, in order that he might be as near as possible to the fairy. He then dreamed that he saw her again floating upon the water, as he had first beheld her, wrapped in a thin green veil of fog, and that she again, in all her beauty and loveliness, offered him her hand to

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »