"To old Bernhard the crumb of cheese and the few spoonfuls of wine seemed poor enough, and he accepted the little bottle and piece of cheese only to get rid of the importunity of the dwarf, who would take no refusal. "Towards noon Bernhard was proceeding to his village; the road was long, and feeling fatigued he lay down in the shade of a tree, took out the gift of the dwarf, and begun to eat and to drink. Meanwhile my evil stars bring young Hildebrand, the most miserly fellow in the village, in his way:-'God bless you, Father Bernhard!'-'Thank you, my Thus the conversation proceeded. The niggard sees the old man comfortably enjoying his repast; so he sets himself down beside him and takes a share. There they eat and eat for about an hour,-the wine never gets less, and the cheese is never done, and both behold the miracle till their hair stands on end. son. a leveret over hills and dales; but now, farewell to friend Almerich, I shall never leave this place; however, it is all one,-perish here or die there, a dying bed is ever a hard one, even though it should be of down and silk." "Now really," replied Berthold, "you are too whimsical, fiddler. The cold blast never hurts a tough fellow who is accustomed to run about the mountains,-there, slip into my coat and walk smartly on, for a shower is approaching and that rascally wallet is weighing me down." "Patience, child, patience!" said Almerich, "that coat is quite warm from your shoulders, I feel very comfortable in it,-slowly, gently; your story of the marvellous cheese and wine has quite restored me to warmth-how did the matter go on?" "You rogue and rascal," thought Berthold "All was now over, Master Fiddler, and poor to himself, and then continued his lamentable Berthold was undone! "Hildebrand chose words as polished as marble; they went down with Bernhard as smoothly as honey; my dear sweet Siegelind was pledged to the rich miser with the marvellous cheese for her dowry. The old man was quite beside himself, -the young man talked finely, they were to outdo the whole village and keep their secret to themselves; I was called a miserable wretch, and the spirit of mischief just brought me into their way in time to hear the whole sad story." tale. "How did it go on!-Gertrude sang to the same tune as her husband; Siegelind grew sad and lost her colour and strength; the old boy urged the matter, and Hildebrand too,-Bernhard was anxious to get the rich and proud son-in-law, and was in great fear lest the enchanted wine should soon dry up,-the young fellow had money in his eye, and wished to turn the bewitched cheese to usury,—thus the wedding was determined on, and I was left in sadness upon my mountain. I tried to "Ah! good heavens!" again exclaimed Al- forget it; I thought Siegelind could not have merich, “I am undone with cold; it is turning borne me in her heart, otherwise she would a cold rainy day, and my bones are too naked! not, to escape death and martyrdom, have -Hew, hew! how the storm blows into my married the red-haired Hildebrand. Last night very soul! This day will be my death,-II could find neither rest nor sleep upon my thought so before. Go, my son, I give you straw; I must go and see her with my own eyes the fiddle in a present,-leave me the wallet take that miser for her husband. Near the here, I will stretch myself out to die upon village I will wrap up my head and dye my it." hands and cheeks with berries, so that nobody will know me; and in the bustle of the wedding, when everything is turning topsy-turvy, not a living soul will care for poor Berthold. When all is over I will, so it please Heaven, become wise again; or if not, my head will turn altogether, and that will be a blessing too." "The mischief's in it!" grumbled Berthold; "if matters are to go on this way, we shall be a year and a day hence still travelling this cursed road. Hark ye, old boy, you are an odd fellow! with crutches, without meat and drink, and without a worsted coat, wandering through our rough country with a fiddle as big as yourself, and a wallet as heavy as seven three-stone cheeses! That may indeed be called a tempting of Providence! Why the deuce do you drag after you that ass's burden of old rubbish, and have not the convenience of a cloak in your bundle?" "It is all very true," said Almerich; "I am not yet accustomed to be the lame, feeble man you see me. Thirty years ago I skipped like "My good child," said the dwarf, "all that will pass over. Now, I perceive well that it is a hard journey and a bitter wedding too for you; it is however good luck, my child, that you have me for a companion. I will fiddle till your heart leaps again; your sorrow grieves me as much as if it were my own." Whilst talking thus a few drops of rain fell which proved the prelude to a heavy shower; and although the travellers had already gone a considerable way, they were still far from the | end of their journey, and gush after gush the rain poured upon their head till the water run down from their hats as from a spout. Berthold trudged silently on, sighing frequently and heavily under his burden,-he could have sworn that it increased a pound's weight every step; nevertheless it was impossible for his good nature to think of giving it back to the poor cripple in such a tempest. The moisture began to trickle through his waistcoat, and run in a cold stream down his back; he wished himself, the dwarf, and the wedding, all far enough, but stalked sullenly on through the mud as if he had been wading through the highest alpine grass. The fiddler limped close behind him, croaking occasionally through his raven throat an old spring song which told of sunshine and singing birds and pleasure and love. He then drew himself snugly together, and expatiated on the excellence of the herdsman's coat, which he said was quite water-proof; next he called to Berthold to step leisurely, to pay particular attention to the wallet and fiddle, and not to overheat himself. Berthold; "if our journey has led us as far as this, we shall surely get on a little farther; if I have brought the fiddler this length to the bitter dance, I will also bring him to the wedding-house-though I am a fool, I am nevertheless a good-natured one." With these words the herdsman took off the fiddle and wallet from his back, and supplied their place with the dwarf, whom he carried over as easily as a bundle of straw. Then he fetched the fiddle, wallet, and crutch, which lay as heavy as so many stones upon his shoulders. "Well, the best of it now is," said he, "that we shall soon reach the village-either my head is turned or that wallet is filled with flesh and blood, and Master Almerich's body is stuffed with chaff!" "Nonsense!" replied the fiddler with a broad grin. "You have behaved well, child; it would be a great pity if the bride yonder should not get you; you have the genuine patience of the lamb in you, yet I perceive you have also strength enough, with your heart in the right place, and as much wisdom as there is any need of in the country. Come, let us paint your cheeks and take out the old cap you will find in my wallet, and the green waistcoat, and get that belt about you; then take up the rest of the things and follow me; to-day you shall be the fiddler's boy, and not a living creature know you." The herdsman would have lost all patience and courage a thousand times over in dragging his hundredweight of a load and playing the fool to the crazy fiddler, if he had not been ashamed to throw away the burden which he had volunteered to carry, and to forsake the person whose company he had himself invited. The fiddler opened his wallet and threw out But in his heart he vowed deeply and solemnly the disguise to Berthold-shut it hastily again never again to lend his coat to a fiddler, nor-painted his face with cranberries, and his give away his cheese, nor carry a fiddle and wallet, and after all be mocked and laughed at by such an odd quiz of a fellow! "If," thought he at last, "the upshot of all this is a fever in the evening which carries me quickly off-be it so-it remains a bitter wedding. After a few hours of rain the two companions reached the valley, where a swollen and rapid torrent rushed across their path, which had swept away every vestige of the little bridge that led to the village, with the exception of a single small plank; the herdsman heeded not the narrow footing, and was stepping boldly across, when the fiddler began to roar out lustily about the dangers of the path; "For my life and soul I will not move from this spot! Neither cat nor rat could pass over there, I would be a dead man if I ventured on that cursed plank! Let them fiddle yonder who can swim,-I wish I was in a down bed with my fiddle for a pillow!" "Don't make such a noise about it!" cried beard and eyebrows with a bit of coal, and then they walked gaily on the last quarter of an hour towards the village. Evening was just coming on, and the sun broke out all at once from under the cloudsthe birds began to sing cheerfully—the flowers opened their leaves as if to listen, and Berthold felt his clothes sooner dried than if he had been sitting close to a large fire. In a few minutes our wanderers mingled with the merry wedding-guests; noise and merriment was echoing all around, and no one looked sad but Siegelind, who kept her tearful eyes fixed upon the ground. The old fiddler was welcomed with shouts of applause; the rain had prevented the arrival of the band of fiddlers and pipers who had been invited on the occasion, and everybody pronounced it a piece of marvellous good luck for the wedding, that Master Almerich should have got through. "Now, children!" exclaimed the old boy, "fetch us something to drink, and some cheese and bread, and do not forget that youth who has dragged myself as well as my fiddle here to-day.' The guests ran about to execute the old fiddler's commands, and even Gertrude and Bernhard seemed well-pleased and brought whatever was on the table. Poor Berthold's heart was bleeding; he kept, however, eating and drinking that he might not be obliged to speak. Meanwhile the old fiddler put dry strings on his instrument, and began to tune it so stoutly that it thrilled through marrow and bone, and quickly drew the attention of all upon the musician. "Bless me!" whispered Bernhard to Gertrude, "upon my faith it is the very dwarf who gave me the bewitched wine and cheese! Be gentle to him, wife, and say not a single word." But horror-struck and deadly pale did Hildebrand and Bernhard and Gertrude become when they saw the wondrous wine and enchanted cheese in Almerich's uplifted fist. "Dares he can he-will he," darted through their hearts; but woe and alas! in one turn of his hand the glutton with his large ox mouth had swallowed the bewitched draught and marvellous cheese without leaving a morsel! A roar of passion from the red-haired Hildebrand, and a gush of tears from Gertrude, now terrified the people; while old Bernhard stood like one petrified. A cheerful smile flew over the countenance of Siegelind, and Berthold rose boldly from his bench, and stood ready to use his fists upon Hildebrand if he should dare to touch the fiddler. "You rogue! you beggar!" at last exclaimed Hildebrand, "who told you to give that old fool of a fiddler that gift of Heaven? You may now give your house, and your bride too, to the rabble; I do not care a straw more for you and all that remains to you!" All at once the fiddler struck up so stoutly and briskly upon his fiddle that the very house shook; blow upon blow, he commenced such a furious strain that the whole company leaped up from their benches, and began dancing as With words of venom and execration Hildeif they were mad. "Heigh! heigh!" shouted brand rushed out of the room, while, silent the people, "there is a fiddle;" and everyone and terrified, the outraged Bernhard and his capered and whirled through the wedding-crowd of guests looked after him. "I am a chamber as if they danced for a wager. The young people led out the dance, and the old ones hobbled as fast after them as they could; nobody remained in her place but Siegelind -who wished herself ten thousand miles away from the merriment-and Berthold, who looked steadfastly and sorrowfully upon his beloved. In the midst of his fiddling Master Almerich beckoned to the beautiful bride to step near to him: "there stands a little bottle yonder where your bridegroom has been seated, and some old cheese with it-I daresay it will not be the worst in the house-I would taste a little of it-this playing makes me a little nice in the palate." The good-natured bride was little interested in the preservation of the precious articles; she brought them and placed them upon a chair beside him, thinking the old man might take as much as he could eat. The dwarf quickly laid his fiddle aside, raised the bewitched bottle in his right hand, and the cheese in his left, and exclaimed with a loud voice: "Well, my good people, well, here's the health of that beautiful bride there and her sweetheart; may she live long and joyfully!" "Long and joyfully!" resounded through the room, while fifty bonnets and hats were tossed up into the air. dead man!" at last exclaimed Bernhard, "my child and we all are ruined; the wedding-feast and the adornments are all unpaid! Oh cursed, horrid miser! bring me a knife-a knife!" "A fig for a knife!" exclaimed the fiddler; "there the bridegroom has just come and has brought with him a whole wallet full of gold— and the bride loves him with all her heartand the guests are still together, and my fiddle is in glorious tune.' With these words Almerich crippled forward to the half-bewildered and yet joyful Berthold and drew him into the circle; he wiped his face with the skirt of his coat, and showed to the delighted bride and the astonished guests their well-known neighbour, who was dear and welcome to all. The wallet was hastily dragged forward, and Almerich having quickly opened the lock, behold pure red gold in coins and chains tumbled out from it, dazzling the eyes of all with their splendour! Old Bernhard and Gertrude embraced by turns the lovely Siegelind and the ugly dwarf. Almerich took his fiddle and struck up a tune which bewitched them all, and they danced till midnight in joy and glory. The musician then escaped and left a whole house full of merry-makers around the two happy lovers, who, till their last day, a thousand times blessed the bitter wedding in which they had been so wonderfully united by the benevolent lame dwarf. LOVE AND DUTY. [Westland Marston, LL.D., born at Boston, Lincolnshire, 30th January, 1820. Although he has successfully employed his pen as a novelist (A Lady in Her on Right, &c.), it is as a dramatic poet that Dr. Marston has won the distinguished place he holds in contemporary literature. With the exception of Lord Lytton he is almost the only living representative of the legitimate drama. The Patrician's Daughter, a tragedy, produced in 1842 at Drury Lane, with Mr. Macready, Mr. Phelps, and Miss Helen Faucit as the impersonators of the principal characters, at once established his reputation. It has been followed by a long series of poetic plays, of which it will suffice to mention: Philip of France; Anne Blake; The Heart and the World; A Life's Ransom; Strathmore; and, recently, Life for Life. Of Strathmore, from which the following scene is taken, a critic in the Athenarum remarked: "This play is undoubtedly the author's best. It is full of delicacy and true humour." The action of the play takes place at the time of the struggle for supremacy in Scotland between Episcopacy and the Covenanters. Strathmore, who was betrothed to the daughter of Sir Rupert Lorn, a staunch royalist, has, in spite of his love and friendship, espoused the cause of the Covenanters. The fierce contest between his love for Katharine Lorn and his sense of justice forms the groundwork of the play, and finds its climax in the last scene, when Sir Rupert has been rescued by his son, Henry Lorn, from the hands of the Covenanters, and Strathmore is made prisoner.] SCENE.-A Chamber in Lorn Castle. Enter HENRY LORN, ISABEL (his wife), SIR RUPERT, and KATHARINE, leaning on her father. Sir R. (to Isabel.) So, lass! my brave boy's succour has postponed Your heritage awhile. But, for that aid, Another sun had seen him Lord of Lorn! How went it with the knaves? Sir R. My child! I would not cloud this day with grief, Yet, mark! I will not shield persisting treason. If Halbert Strathmore formally subscribe Such recantation of his guilt as I Will forthwith frame, and, to atone it, pledge A loyal future-by our tried allegiance I will beseech his life. I think even Dalzell Will grant that boon to service proved like ours. Henry. Exeunt SIR RUPERT, HENRY, and ISABEL. Rebel! What means that word. Fear for my father Right trampled on-pure conscience counted crime- My brother owned it! And the man who beards Asks better surgery than you afford. Strath. Dalzell, you say, comes hither? Roland. Strath. So sharp a hurt Ay. sir! Then Each captive's fate is sealed. Beseech Sir Rupert Roland. I'll do your bidding. [Exit. Could I save the rest, I'd know no other care! My soul breathes freely- Of Death's grim arch, I catch the fields of day. Yet, Katharine! There earth's fond last weakness clings. I shall not have a tomb in that fair realm Where I had once a home. You say it-not in hatred! Kath. Hatred! (looking mournfully in his face) Oh, how fierce Has been thy struggle! Strath. That I have struggled? Kath. Can you feel Nobly! Yes, I know it. Strath. You know it, and absolve me! You will bear To think upon my memory! Kath. While I can bear to think Thy memory! |