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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ead17a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #56155 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56155) diff --git a/old/56155-0.txt b/old/56155-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 08c5416..0000000 --- a/old/56155-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4250 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales from Gold Lands, by May Wentworth - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Fairy Tales from Gold Lands - -Author: May Wentworth - -Release Date: December 10, 2017 [EBook #56155] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES FROM GOLD LANDS *** - - - - -Produced by Larry B. Harrison, MFR and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: _The Moorish Pearls._ _p._ 31.] - - - - - FAIRY TALES - FROM - GOLD LANDS. - - BY MAY WENTWORTH. - - List to these legends quaint and old, - Tales of the marvelous land of gold, - Rich in its mines of shining ore, - Rich in romance and mystic lore; - List to these tales, they come onto thee, - From over the waters—the boundless sea. - - NEW YORK: - A. ROMAN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. - SAN FRANCISCO: - 417 & 419 MONTGOMERY STREET. - 1868. - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, - BY A. ROMAN & COMPANY, - In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States - for the Southern District of New York. - - - - -DEDICATION. - - - TO - CHILDREN EVERYWHERE, - A Merry Christmas - TO YOU ALL, - WITH MUCH LOVE, I DEDICATE THESE STORIES, - ESPECIALLY TO MY - LITTLE NIECE AND NEPHEW, - Mamie and Wentworth. - - MAY WENTWORTH. - - - - -PREFACE - - -As a child, I was fond of stories, and well remember the dearth of -the intermediate season, when "Jack the Giant Killer," had ceased to -please, and I was yet unprepared to enjoy works written for older and -more cultivated minds. Children require stories ingeniously written, -with a pleasant tinge of romance about them to fix their attention, and -a touch of pathos that goes to the heart, to make them good and happy. - -In writing these Christmas Tales, I have earnestly hoped they may serve -to while away many a weary hour, which finds its place even in the -sunny days of childhood. - -The scenes of most of these Tales, will be laid in California, a land -full of romance and beauty. - -It is not strange to hear from the miners of "the early days," tales as -marvelous as those of the "Arabian Nights." - -Of these "early days" I shall write, and of the Spaniards, and -Mexicans who inhabited the country before the coming of the -gold-seekers. - -Now as I send away the first volume of the series, I think of the -children who will read it, of their sweet, innocent faces, and -guileless hearts. - -May the blessed Christ, who smiles upon them in this holy Christmas -season, never leave them, but dwell in their hearts making them pure -and happy forever. - - MAY WENTWORTH. - - _San Francisco, 1867._ - - - - -TABLE OF CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - - I. SANTA CLAUS AND THE CHRIST-CHILD 9 - - II. THE MOORISH PEARLS 17 - - III. THE TWO GOOD-FOR-NOTHINGS 46 - - IV. CHING CHONG CHINAMAN 77 - - V. ZALETTA 108 - - VI. THE STRONG MAN OF SANTA BARBARA 136 - - VII. JUNG-FRAU MALEEN 152 - - VIII. JUANETTA 162 - - IX. EMPEROR NORTON 185 - - X. DEATH'S VALLEY 204 - - - - -FAIRY TALES. - - - - -SANTA CLAUS AND THE CHRIST-CHILD. - - -It had been raining all day, and the mist hung so heavily over the -bay that the vailed waters tossed their troubled billows in unseen -restlessness, like the swelling of an aching heart that the mantle of a -fair face covers. - -Down Pine Street a hundred rills were rushing, as though each had its -special and important mission to perform in advancing the prosperity of -the queen city of the Pacific. Men passed along fearlessly, cased in -the invulnerable armor of India-rubber coats and glazed caps, and now -and then a woman dared to trust her dainty little feet to the mercy of -mud and water. - -Minnie Bell had been very uneasy all day, for she had been promised the -pleasure of a walk on Montgomery Street, and she intended to choose a -few rare gifts from all the Christmas treasures that brightened the gay -shop-windows. - -Minnie had not yet learned the woman's lesson, to smile when the heart -aches, and be gentle in disappointment, so tears filled her large -blue eyes, and the rosy lips pouted with vexation, as she looked out -on the pouring rain. Her mamma was a fair, dashing woman, who loved -Montgomery Street as well as Minnie herself; doated upon the theatre, -opera, and every thing gay, but, of all things in the world, disliked -to be annoyed by the petulance and nonsense of children. She lay all -day upon a luxurious couch, reading "Les Miserables," leaving Minnie, -poor little _miserable_ of the household, to take care of herself, and -thus I found her alone in the hall, picking in pieces the flowers of a -pretty worsted lamp-mat, the very spirit of discontent and mischief. It -takes so little to make a child happy, that I am always sorry to see a -shadow upon their young faces at the time when this life should be all -sunshine, so I called the little one to me, and taking her upon my lap, -told her the story of Santa Claus and the Christ-child. - -More than eighteen hundred years ago, one fair bright night, when the -moon was casting her floods of silver light upon the mountains and -valleys of Judea, it seemed to pause in worshipful wonder over the -little village of Bethlehem. - -Diamonds sparkled in the dew-drops, and emeralds in the green grass -of the meadows, where the shepherds fed their flocks by night. The -shepherds were amazed, as the holy light shed its soft brilliancy -around them, and even the grazing flocks forgot the dewy grass, as a -sweet, unknown voice, from the viewless air, told them how that night -the fair Christ-child was born at Bethlehem, and lay cradled in a -manger, with horned oxen feeding near him. A thousand angel voices -joined in the rich deep melody of praise and gladness, and the first -Christmas carol echoed and re-echoed through the mountains and valleys -of Judea. - -Wise men from the East, brought golden treasure, jewels, and rare -perfumes, as offerings to the pure Christ-child. There he lay in the -arms of his fair virgin mother, Mary, with all the native beauty of -infancy brightening every feature of his lovely face, and that rare -halo of divinity about him that even the inspiration of Raphael -and Murillo has but half portrayed. These immortal artists had only -the colors of earth to paint the brightness of heaven. The wise men -bowed in adoration before the Christ-child and worshiped him as their -temporal king, and for their rich gifts received blessings, and went -away well pleased to their luxurious homes. Then came an old man, -trembling with timid humility. He was but a poor keeper of the flocks -upon the mountains, and brought only the few pale flowers of winter, as -tokens of his devoted homage. - -"Sweet mother," said he, kneeling, "I have nothing but these poor -flowers and the unchanging love of a devoted heart to lay at the feet -of the dear Christ-child; but, thrice-blessed mother, do not turn away -from this humble offering. I bring thee all I have." Smiles, like the -golden light of morning, shone upon the face of the fair Christ-child, -and he took the flowers more pleased than with all the rich treasures -of the East, that lay unnoticed around him. - -The holy mother blessed the poor man, and with a voice teeming with -maternal love and divine richness, she said: "Thy pure, loving heart -is an offering dearer to the Christ-child than all the riches of the -world, and these flowers are a fitting token of thy love. Thou shalt -not die as other men do, but thou shalt sleep, to awaken each Christmas -eve, and gladden young hearts through all time, and in all lands, with -thy welcome Christmas gifts, and the blessing of the Christ-child shall -rest upon the spirits of childhood through the holy Christmas season." - -And thus it is that in all countries we hear of the good Santa Claus, -who brings such beautiful presents on Christmas eve. In the cold north -countries he wraps himself in furs, and rides swiftly over the crusted -snow in a sleigh drawn by reindeers, his long beard shining with the -frost of winter. In the sunny South he rides in a light car decked with -flowers. - -"But, May," said the now happy Minnie, smiling; "when Santa Claus comes -to San Francisco he'd better bring his India-rubber coat and overshoes." - -"I've no doubt he will, darling," said I, kissing the little face -beaming with earnestness and beauty; "and perhaps he'll bring his -umbrella, too, but 'twill make him no Paul Pry—I'm sure he won't -intrude." - -"No, indeed," said Minnie, "I want to see him too much for that. Do you -think, May, if I sit up till ten o'clock, I shall see dear old Santa -Claus?" - -"I think, little one, if you go to bed at eight and sleep sweetly, -he may come to you in your dreams. He generally manages to come when -children are sleeping." - -Thus it was that little Minnie forgot all her sorrows and disappointments -in the anticipated vision of the good Santa Claus. The rain fell heavily, -but in the sunny heart of childhood all was happiness. - -Now, a "Merry Christmas" to you all—young and old! May the blessing of -the pure Christ-child attend you, and Santa Claus be munificent in his -beautiful Christmas gifts! - - - - -THE MOORISH PEARLS. - - -Many years ago, near the Mission of Santa Barbara, there lived a -wealthy Spaniard and his wife, who had been married a great many years, -and were still childless. - -It was the cause of great regret to both, especially to the mother, who -loved little ones dearly. - -Every day she made an offering to the blessed Virgin, and prayed her to -have compassion on her loneliness, and give her a dear little child to -take care of, and love. - -At last her prayers were answered. - -One Christmas eve, when gifts in memory of the blessed Christ-child, -were making so many young hearts happy, a beautiful little daughter -was given to her, making her the happiest, most thankful woman, in all -Santa Barbara. - -As the parents were very rich, all the great Spanish families in the -county were present at the christening; and all the priests from the -Mission of Santa Barbara were invited. - -There was a great feast, and every one was delighted; but, above all, -the father and mother blessed God for his precious gift, which they -prized more than all their great riches. - -The little girl grew finely, and was very beautiful, not like the -lovely children of the North, fair and golden haired, but her -complexion was a rich olive, with the pure crimson blood of health -tinging her cheeks, and her lips were red as ripe cherries. Her hair, -in the sunshine, had a soft purple hue; in the shadow, it was black as -a raven's wing, and her dark eyes were as soft as a young gazelle's. - -She possessed in a wonderful degree, the symmetry and grace of the -Spanish women, and her hands and feet were so small and exquisitely -formed, that they were the marvel of the whole country. - -In the family there was an old duenna, who had taken charge of the -mother when she was young, and, to her superintending care, the little -one was intrusted. - -Years before, the old duenna came from Spain with the mother's family, -and her love for the beautiful lady whom she had nursed in infancy, -almost amounted to a passion; but for the proud Don Carlos, the -husband, she had a jealous hatred, though he was always kind to her, -and made her life in the "wilds of the strange country," (thus she -always spoke of California,) as pleasant as possible. - -Though she called herself a Christian, the wild blood of the Moors -flowing through her veins, tinged her life with the mysticism and fire -of that fated race. - -Sometimes she would give herself over to strange devices and -superstitions, which were very displeasing to her devout mistress, but -the old woman covered these distasteful habits with so much art and -affection, that she enjoyed the confidence and love of the good lady, -and generally every thing moved on very smoothly and pleasantly, at the -Buenna Vineyard. - -The house was large and commodious, built, like most Spanish houses in -California, in the form of a square, with an open court in the center, -and broad piazzas on all sides. It was very cool and pleasant, with its -latticed windows, and vine-covered porches. - -In the rear was a beautiful garden, surrounded with a high, strong -wall, and massive gates with bolts and bars. - -There, in a grape-vine covered arbor, the purple fruit hanging within -reach, the old duenna loved to sit, spinning lazily with her distaff, -now and then stopping to see that no harm came to the little Lenore in -her play, and often calling her to her side, to listen to some quaint -old Moorish legend. - -The father and mother were very fond of their little daughter, and gave -her every thing that heart could wish. One day, when the little girl -was about ten years old, the father called her to him, and said: "Papa -is going away, far across the waters to the fair castellated land, -which has been your childhood's dream, to dear, beautiful Spain, and -what shall I bring back for my little daughter?" - -Lenore's eyes grew large and liquid. "Beautiful Spain! beautiful -Spain!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands in ecstasy. - -"Every thing there is so lovely, how can I tell what to ask, dear papa; -but wait one moment," and she ran to the garden arbor, and told the -duenna all, and said, "What shall I ask?" The old woman frowned till -her brows met, then she laughed strangely, and said, "You shall ask for -a string of pearls, as pure and white as snow, and as large and clear -as the dew-drops." - -Lenore ran into the house, and throwing her arms around the father's -neck, ran her pretty fingers through his hair, and said, "I would like, -papa, a string of pearls for my hair, as pure and white as snow, and as -large and clear as dew-drops in the first flush of the dawning." - -The father looked at the little lady with a heart full of love and -pride, and he kissed fondly the little, pure, oval face that was -lifted to his, and said, "My little daughter shall have her wish, let -it cost what it may." - -The little girl clapped her hands, dancing about the room, full of -happiness, saying, "The dear papa! the dear papa will bring me the most -beautiful pearls in the world." - -Her childish joy was subdued when she looked at the mother, who had a -smile of love on her lips, but a tear of sorrow in her eyes. - -Then the father said, "What shall I bring mamma?" - -The mother answered, laying her head upon his shoulder, "Only yourself, -dear husband, and your precious love." A tear came to his eye, but he -brushed it hastily away, and whispered, "I shall soon return, dear -wife, to my dearest treasures;" then he kissed them both, tenderly, -and went away, leaving Lenore and the mother weeping bitterly. - -Lenore soon sobbed herself to sleep, with the tears resting upon her -eyelashes and cheeks. The sunlight stealing in, and shining full upon -her innocent face, made a tiny rainbow over her head. - -The sad mother saw it, and thanked God that the bow of promise -overbends its beautiful arch over all childish griefs, and she wiped -away her own tears, saying, "He will return again, my dear husband, why -should I distrust kind Heaven." - -When Lenore awoke, her pretty face was wreathed with smiles, and, -kissing her mamma, she ran out into the garden to seek the old duenna. - -She found her in her favorite arbor, spinning, but when she saw -Lenore she laid aside her distaff, and drew the child to her, with a -mischievous smile upon her dark face. - -Her treatment of Lenore had always been marked by a strange commingling -of the love she bore the mother, and aversion she felt for the father, -but through it all, she wove a web of fascination, that gave her great -power over the susceptible heart of the young girl. Lenore sat down by -her side, and for a while she talked of Spain, smoothing the child's -hair caressingly with her wrinkled hand, then she told her a curious -legend; of how Boabdil, the Moorish king, had once a string of pearls -like those she had asked the father for, and how, after the Spaniards -had overcome the Moors in a great battle, he intrusted these lustrous -gems, with much other treasure, to one of his servants to be hidden -upon a distant island, but, by some strange misfortune, as they neared -the landing, the Moor dropped the pearls into the sea. - -Now this Moor was an enchanter, and, because he could not recover the -lost treasure, he cast a spell upon it, that would bring death to the -first, who should touch the pearls, perpetual servitude to the second, -and riches, honor, beauty, and love to the third, who should retain -them in the family forever. - -"No matter how many years should elapse, this would surely come to -pass," and again the old duenna laughed that strange, unpleasant -laugh. Lenore, trembling with fright, sobbed convulsively, "Oh! the -dear papa! the dear papa! he will die! I will call mamma, she will -send a messenger for him, he shall not touch the horrid pearls," and -she started up to go, but the duenna caught her. "Silly child," she -said, "I will tell you no more pretty stories, that was only a legend, -and the pearls were not real and true, but only dream pearls, just to -please my pretty child." She soothed Lenore and laughed again, till -her tears were dried, and she joined to the shrill voice of the weird -duenna, the merry, childish laugh of trusting innocence. The days of -absence passed by in dreamy quietude at the Buenna Vineyard. - -The wife was very lonely, for no one could supply the place of the -loved husband in her heart. The pretty, dark-eyed Lenore missed the -dear papa sadly, but her time was much occupied by the master who -taught her music, French, and English. Spanish she learned from the -duenna, who in this language was quite a scholar. - -Everywhere she followed the young Lenore, and, in her varied moods, -treated her with a curious combination of love and selfishness, -tenderness and severity, but, through all, maintaining her unbounded -influence over her charge. - -Full of wonderful legends of the Moors of old, she fostered a love of -the marvelous in the mind of the maiden, till often she would waken -in the darkness of the midnight, from fearful dreams trembling of -superstitious dread. One morning early, she ran into her mother's -chamber and woke her kissing her eyes and cheek. - -"Oh mamma" she said, "do wake up, I have had such a beautiful dream -about Boabdil's pearls, pure and white as snow, and large and -glistening as the dew-drops. Some one from Spain brought them to me, so -noble and handsome, mamma, that I could not help loving him dearly, and -I was so happy." "But, Lenore," said the mother, "where was the dear -papa." "Oh, mamma," said Lenore, "I did not see him, he was not there." - -A strange terror filled her heart, and looked out from her startled -eyes, and she buried her head in the pillow and wept piteously. - -"'Twas only a dream, my daughter," said the mother, tenderly, but -still Lenore sobbed. "How could I forget the dear papa, for a stranger -and a string of pearls." Then the mother kissed her, and soothed her -till she was comforted. Soon after a ship arrived, bringing letters -from the father. "I am now in Spain," he wrote, my dear, native land. -Bright Castile! the world has nothing like thee! No mountains like the -snow-capped Sierras, no valleys like Granadas, and no river like the -blue Guadalquivir, but, "where the treasure is, there will the heart -be also," and my greatest earthly treasures, wife and child, are in -California, and, though far away in castellated Spain, my heart wings -its way homeward, and every delight is treasured, to be renewed again, -with you. "I shall soon return to you, dear wife, the husband you love, -but little daughter, the pearls, 'pure and white as snow, and large and -clear as the dew-drops,' I have not found in Spain, but have heard of -them, and if possible you shall have them at any price." - -He wrote a long letter, glowing with hope and affection, promising a -speedy return, and the mother took heart again, and was happy, while -Lenore thought with delight, how beautifully the rare, Moorish pearls -would glisten in her purple hair. - -She seemed to have forgotten the dream, and the legend that frightened -her so much. Even the name of pearls chained her listening ear, and -the duenna often talked of them, their great beauty, and how pure and -lustrous they shone among the crown jewels of the Moorish king, till -the imagination of Lenore was spell-bound, by the magic beauty of the -wondrous pearls. Often she would say, "Mamma, show me your pearls." - -Then she would take them in her hands and count them, or twine them -round the bands of her purple hair. - -"Beautiful," she would say, as the sunlight kissed them, "but not clear -and large enough. 'Pure and white as snow;' and large and clear as -the dew-drops, these are not so, but the dear papa will bring them." -Lenore's great gift was music. - -She would often sit in the twilight, and improvise rare snatches of -melody, and when the mother would say, "What is that Lenore?" she would -answer, "My string of pearls, mamma," and go on playing as though the -genius of music thrilled her dainty fingers. One day the duenna called -her to an old lumber-room, to see a picture. The picture was really a -good one, but had been cast aside because the frame was broken. 'Twas -of a fair young girl, standing upon a rocky shore, looking eagerly out -upon the waters, at the white sails of a ship the wind was wafting -toward her. - -"What does the picture represent, Lenore?" said the duenna. "'Tis -a maiden watching on the shore, for the ship that brings her dear -papa and the Moorish pearls, clear and white as snow, and large and -glistening as the dew-drops." The old duenna smiled, as Lenore took the -picture to her room, and hung it over her bed where she could see it on -waking. - -Every day they went to the sea-shore and looked out upon the waters, -for the white sails of the ship that was to bring the father, till at -last one evening, when all the west was gorgeous with the radiance of -golden sunset clouds, the ship seemed to rise out of the waters, and -there, on the sanded sea-shore of Santa Barbara, was the living picture -of the lumber-room. - -The duenna had called Lenore from the garden early, saying, "At sunset -the ship will be here; come pretty child, let us hasten to the shore," -so Lenore ran and kissed the mother saying, "Mamma! mamma! the ship, -with its white sails spread like the wings of a bird, is flying to us, -and I must go. Oh! my snow-white pearls! my beautiful pearls!" - -"Lenore! Lenore!" called the duenna, and the maiden ran away dancing, -and clapping her hands, as she always did, when very happy. On came -the ship till it was moored in the harbor, and with one great rush the -passengers came ashore. - -Lenore's eyes dilated with delight, but by-and-by an anxious suspense -filled them. - -"No more! no more!" she cried, "all landed; where is the dear papa?" - -The snow-white pearls were forgotten only the father filled her heart. - -The duenna cast her eyes around. Don Carlos was not there, and who -better than she knew that he could never return. - -There was a handsome young stranger in the crowd, and, from his lordly -bearing, she knew he must be a hidalgo of the old dominion, so she -approached him and asked him for her master, Don Carlos. - -"He is not here," said the stranger, "but I bring a rare and beautiful -gift for his daughter—the famous Moorish pearls." - -Lenore gave one glance at the stranger, she had seen him before in her -dreams; and she trembled so that she could not move or speak. - -"He is dead," said the duenna. - -"He is dead," said the hidalgo, in a low tone, fixing his piercing -eyes upon the sharp, eager face of the duenna. - -Low as the words were spoken, they reached the strained ear of Lenore, -and with a wild, broken wail, she fell insensible upon the ground. - -The stranger handed the box which contained the pearls to the duenna, -and taking the young girl tenderly in his arms, carried her home to the -mother. - -Poor, heart-broken wife! The pearls had come, but not her treasure. -Lost! lost! God, pity all such! - -The mother's love was all that saved her from madness; for her child, -her beautiful Lenore, she bore the burden of life. - -The stranger was kind and gentle. - -He told the bitter story as soothingly as possible. - -When they arrived at the island, Don Carlos was suddenly taken ill, -and just as the ship was about sailing, he breathed his last, first -sending his undying love to his devoted wife, and the Moorish pearls to -Lenore. - -"Tell them," he said, "my last words were to bless them." - -In the confusion of the first moments of their grief, the duenna stole -from the room, her sallow face flushed with feverish eagerness. - -"The pearls," she said, "Don Carlos was the first to touch them, he is -dead! This brave hidalgo was the second, and I will be the third to -hold this wonderful talisman in my hands." - -"Rich, fair, and beloved! - -"Can I be fair, so old as I am? - -"We shall see!" - -She pressed the secret spring, and pure and white as snow, large and -glistening as the morning dew-drops, lay the Moorish pearls in their -golden casket. She took them in her hand, and held them to the light, -and it seemed as though they absorbed whole floods of sunshine. "How -beautiful," she exclaimed, then suddenly she dropped them upon her lap, -and pressed her hand to her heart. - -What a strange, agonizing pain. - -It seemed as though chains were riveted about her vitals. - -"Can I be the second to touch the pearls, and forever a slave? No! no! -It cannot be! - -"Don Carlos the first, the hidalgo the second, I am the third. - -"Rich, fair, and beloved! But this pain," and again she pressed her -hands upon her heart. Slowly she replaced the pearls in the casket, and -the pain passed away. - -When Lenore recovered she would not look at the pearls. - -"Take them away, do not mention the hated gems to me," she said, with a -shudder. So the duenna kept them. - -Day by day Lenore sat by the dear, sad mother, who only smiled when -she looked upon the beautiful face of her child, who grew more lovely -with every rising sun, at least so thought the young hidalgo. In their -sorrow he never left them. - -All that a devoted son could be, he was to the mother, and to Lenore he -was every thing. - -Very often the duenna sat alone in the garden-arbor, plying her -distaff, for Lenore seldom came to her. Often she would steal a glance -at the beautiful pearls, saying: "I am surely the third, why am I not -rich and fair?" - -"Don Carlos is dead, the hidalgo was the second, I must be the third. - -"I have the pearls, the rest will follow;" then the distaff would -fall from her hands, and she would dream curious day-dreams, and build -castles of her own in air. - -One evening, just one year after their deep grief fell upon them, the -young hidalgo and Lenore persuaded the mother to walk with them on the -beach. - -The time had been very long and lonely to her since the -sorrow-freighted ship came in, and as she sat upon a moss-covered -stone, and saw the white sails of a gallant ship, winging its way to -the shore, the tears filled her eyes, and, that her sorrow might not -sadden the hopeful young hearts of her children (as she loved to call -them), she bowed her head upon her hands, that they might not notice -the grief she could not restrain, when suddenly a joyous shout from -Lenore sent a warm thrill through her heart, and the blood danced -through her veins with renewed life. - -"The dear papa," cried Lenore, and sure enough, the proud form of Don -Carlos was before them. - -One moment and the happy wife was folded to the warm, true heart of her -returned husband, and Lenore clung to his arm, weeping for joy. - -Once more light and happiness dawned upon the Buenna Vineyard, with -the return of the loved husband and father. How beautiful home looked -to the wanderer, as he sank into his own chair, upon the vine-covered -piazza. His grateful wife sat beside him, and Lenore stood leaning upon -his chair. - -"How tall you have grown, my daughter," he said, looking proudly upon -the young maiden, just blooming into womanhood; "but where are the -pearls, my darling?" - -"I have never seen them," said Lenore, "how could I think of pearls -and you; dear papa, gone!" And again and again she kissed his bronzed -cheek. - -"Call the duenna," said the mother, smiling, "we must see the pearls." -So Lenore called the duenna from her dreaming in the garden. - -"Don Carlos returned! Not dead!" exclaimed the old woman, while her -heart stood still with fear, as she entered the room pale as death, and -trembling with an unknown dread. - -"The pearls," said Don Carlos, after a kind greeting, to which her -palsied tongue refused a response. - -She gave them to him with a trembling hand, and, as he pressed the -secret spring, the golden casket opened, and there lay the wonderful -Moorish pearls, pure and white as snow, and large and shining as the -dew-drops in the flush of morning. - -"Take them, Lenore, daughter," said the happy father, fondly, and the -fair taper fingers of the maiden clasped the luminous treasure. - -The duenna's eyes were fixed upon her. - -How beautiful she grew with pleasure. Her dark eyes soft as a gazelles, -were radiant with light, her red lips parted with smiles, and the -Moorish pearls adding a new luster to her purple hair. - -"Can she be the third?" thought the duenna, and in a voice husky with -emotion she gasped: "Don Carlos, those pearls! How came you by them? -What hand has touched them?" - -"Tell us all, dear papa," said Lenore, not noticing the duenna's -agitation, in her own delight. - -"In all Spain," said the father, "I could not find the pearls, but I -heard of them from an old Moor. - -"He said they were lost near the shore of a distant island, and he -promised to procure them for me for a large reward, which I agreed to -give him; so we sailed for the island, but I became so ill at sea that -when we arrived I was confined to my bed. - -"At length the old Moor brought me this beautiful casket, and pressing -the spring I saw the pearls, radiant with all their snowy whiteness, -but I was so ill I did not take them out, and when I handed them back -to the old Moor to place in my cabinet, the pearls fell out into his -hands, and flooded the whole room with light. Great Allah! exclaimed -the old man, in terror, and, as he replaced them and closed the casket, -he fell down and expired instantly. - -"The physician said he died of heart disease. I grew much worse, and -fearing I should die, confided the pearls to the care of our friend, -who brought them to you, and soon after I fell into a swoon so like -death that all thought me dead, and the ship sailed without me. - -"The white sails were not hidden from sight when I began to recover, -but a long, lingering illness detained me from home, but thank God I am -with you at last, darlings, well and happy." - -"And now that my dear papa is home again, I can enjoy the pearls, the -beautiful pearls," said Lenore, still toying with the luminous gems. - -"More beautiful in your hair than in the golden casket," said the -admiring hidalgo. - -"The señorita was the second to touch them," he continued, "since -Boabdil's minion consigned them to their hiding-place." - -"No, I was the second, shrieked the duenna, clasping her hands to her -heart, where the chains of servitude were riveted. - -"Always a slave," she moaned, as they bore her from the room, flushed -with the delirium of fever. - -For many days she lay prostrate upon a bed of sickness, but when at -last she recovered the evil spirit had passed from her forever. - -She was kind and gentle, ready to serve any one, but especially the -master. - -"I am but the servant of servants," she would say. "I will do my duty -in the station whereunto I am called. God have mercy upon my soul." - -Don Carlos and the mother lived to see Lenore wife of the handsome -hidalgo, and the mother of a maiden beautiful as herself, whose purple -hair often glowed in the luminous rays of the wonderful Moorish pearls. - - - - -"THE TWO GOOD-FOR-NOTHINGS." - - -A long time ago, in a little village on the banks of the Rhine, lived -the young boy Karl, in the low, rude cottage of his father, Hans -Heidermann, the carpenter. - -Karl was the second son in a family of ten children, all boys but the -baby in the cradle—the little, blue-eyed Ethel, the pet and darling of -the household. - -The good Lord had sent to the cottage plenty of children, "the poor -man's blessing;" and in their youthful days, when Hans and his good -wife were strong and full of hope, the little ones were greeted with -smiles of love. - -Later in life, when the mother found that, with all her patient labor, -the tiny feet must go unclad, and eat little as she possibly could, the -supper was not only poor but very scanty, the boy Julian and baby Ethel -were wept over at their coming, yet with tears so full of compassionate -tenderness that the mother's love shone through them more sweetly than -through the sunshine of smiles that dawned upon their first baby. - -The youthful days of Karl were passed in toil, and though the natural -joyousness of childhood would sometimes bubble up and overflow, the -mantle of care fell upon him very early. - -When he was only sixteen, he was quite a man in his ways, and able to -contribute not a little to the comfort and support of the family, and -he, more than all the rest, was ever ready to lighten the burden of the -mother's weariness and cares. - -When Karl was eighteen years old, he was guilty of a great piece of -folly for a poor boy, though I am sure he was not to blame. It was the -pretty, violet eyes and sweet voice of the young maiden Chimlein that -made him so much in love with her. - -Poor, foolish Karl! with nothing but his handsome boyish face and -honest German heart to give her, even his strong willing hands still -belonged to the father and mother. - -Poor, foolish Karl, to be in love! But he was very hopeful! The -brothers were growing strong, and even now all but the little Julian, -could add something to the family store. What brightness, wealth, and -happiness might not two years bring them all. - -One evening, about this time, Karl received from the merchant, his -employer, for a successful month's work, quite a present over his -usual pay, as a reward for his faithful industry. - -He was very happy as he started homeward, and, looked smilingly upon -his patched clothes, thinking "Now I shall be able to buy the new -suit I need so much, and I can take Chimlein the beautiful, to hear -the rare music that she loves so well, and she will store it away in -her bird-like throat, and some day it will gush forth in loving songs -in our own cottage home." Then he sung gay snatches of his favorite -opera—for even the peasantry of Germany are born musicians—and, -looking at the sunshine as it danced upon the bright waters of the -Rhine, he blessed the good Lord for the brightness, beauty, and -happiness of life. - -Soon the shadow of the cottage fell upon him, and he entered to find -tears dimming the eyes of the mother as she went silently about her -work. She wiped them hastily away, but Karl had seen them, and all his -bright dreams melted at the sight of the dear, pale face, shadowed by -age and sorrow. - -Throwing his strong arm round her, he softly said, "What ails thee, -mother?" - -Then she told him how an old debt of the father's became due on the -morrow, and how she feared, she knew not what, because there was no -money to pay it. - -So Karl put his hand into his bosom and drew forth the treasure that was -to bring him so much happiness, and placing it in his mother's hand, -said: "Take it, mother, dear;" and before she could reply, he had gone -out into the soft, summer air, down to the banks of the dear Rhine River. - -The sun had sunk in clouds of crimson and gold, and the gray twilight -cast its cold shadows upon the waters, and Karl's heart had grown -very heavy as he thought of the sweet-voiced Chimlein, and her -disappointment. "But 'twas for mother," he said. "Poor mother, how pale -she looked, her eyes wet with tears." - -He walked on, silently, looking with dreamy eyes out of the dim present -into the untried future. - -One year after, he stood by the mother's new made grave, and, while -his heart swelled with sorrow, he blessed God that he had been to -his care-burdened mother a loving and dutiful son. And then came the -thought of the old clothes that, for her sake, he had worn so long, -and he could have kissed the dear old clothes, grown so patched and -threadbare, for her sake, the _dear, dead mother_. - -After the mother's death, the family was broken up. - -The little Ethel and Julian went away to another part of the country, -to live with a good aunt, who was very kind to them, and the younger -brothers went to trades, and only Karl and the father remained at the -cottage. Then it was that Karl brought home the sweet-voiced Chimlein -to be the angel of his house. - -"The dear father is lonely," she would say, as with her quiet words, -and small, white hands she smoothed his pathway down the rugged vale of -dim old age. - -The good God only lends us the presence of his angels for a short time, -and in the spring-time he called Chimlein from her home by the blue -Rhine River, to her home in heaven, the golden, and from the heart of -Karl, her husband, to the bosom of the blessed Mother. - -The cottage was very dark and lonely after Chimlein went to heaven. -Karl went out to his work with a sad heart, and returned in silence -to sit by his desolate hearth-stone, till the fire went out in the -midnight darkness. - -The father (now an old man with locks white as the driven snow) sat -during the long, summer days by the little willow cradle, and sang in -the shrill treble of broken and sorrowful old age, to Chimlein's little -one; or, when the babe was full of playful innocent life, he would take -it down to the banks of the clear Rhine, to revel in the sunshine and -listen to the voice of the waters. - -To the old man's desolate heart, that child was a priceless blessing, -and in his eyes she was the most beautiful of all the good Lord's fair -creation. - -When she was three months old, he dressed her in snowy white, and bore -her to the baptismal font, where she received the name of Gretchen, -though to the grandfather she was always "mein schönes kind" (my -beautiful child). - -A circle of golden curls played around her baby face, and the violet -eyes of her mother shone clearly in the fair light of the morning, as -she looked steadily into the face of the priest who took her in his -arms and blessed her with the baptismal water which consecrated her "a -child of God and an heir of heaven." - -The old grandfather gazed wonderingly at the child, as in the softened -light of the sunshine stealing through the cathedral windows she looked -so like the rare picture of the divine Christ-child. - -"She is even now a bird of Paradise," whispered tremblingly the old -man, as he received the little one from the priest's hands. "The angel -soul is looking out from her violet eyes, and heaven's blessed light -falls like a halo of glory upon her golden curls." - -With a shudder, the old man sunk away into the shadow until the -sunshine had faded from her hair, and rocking her to and fro, while a -master's hand sent rare, glorious music from the grand cathedral organ, -he watched the violet eyes till they closed, and the rich brown lashes -rested upon her fair baby cheeks. One little soft hand was tangled in -the old man's beard, and the tone of her gentle breathing told him that -his darling slept the pure, refreshing sleep of healthful infancy, and -once more his heart was calm and happy. - -Karl loved the beautiful child; but when he looked at her, and saw -her mother's eyes reflected in the dewy light of hers, a deep sadness -filled his heart, and often he turned quickly away to hide the -glistening of his eyes, and drew his rough hand over his face to drive -back the unshed tears. - -"Poor little motherless thing," he would say: "If it was only a boy!" -"Poor little daughter, ever too much you will need a mother's care." -Then he would snatch up his hat and go out to the banks of the blue -Rhine, where the body of the angel Chimlein rested. To the man, nothing -is so dear as the pure, true woman of his heart. - -Two summers had passed over the head of the little Gretchen, making -her more charming than ever, with all the winsome ways of her innocent -childhood. - -The grandfather was becoming every day more infirm in body, and every -day brought his mind nearer to the innocent child who was the darling -of his heart. Nearer and nearer to heaven, the golden, he walked with -faltering steps through the darkened vale of second childhood. - -When at home, Karl would watch sorrowfully over these two children, the -old man and the beautiful child; but when he was away at his work, they -were a constant care upon his mind. - -In passing his neighbor's door, Karl often noticed Elizabeth, the -thrifty daughter of the house. He saw that her restless hands were -always busy; not one speck of dust escaped her sharp, black, eye. - -Though her voice was loud and shrill (Karl knew too well he could never -find another sweet-voiced Chimlein) he hoped her heart was kind, and -he thought she might take better care of the father and the little -Gretchen than he could. So he asked her to be his child's mother, his -father's daughter, and the mistress of his cottage. - -Elizabeth felt keenly that he was no ardent lover; but he was her -first, and might be her last; so with no more intense feeling than a -desire to secure a home for herself and a provider for her wants, she -consented to be his wife, and become mistress of the cottage. - -Elizabeth was full of energy, and after she went to the cottage there -was a great change in its appearance. Every nook and corner was made -thoroughly clean, the rents in the curtains were neatly mended, the -bits of carpet were all washed and spread down upon the sanded floor, -and there was always a clean shirt for Karl when he came from his work, -and a button, was never known to be missing. - -Altogether there was not a more notable housewife in all the burg than -Elizabeth. But her shrill voice grated sharply upon the sensitive ear, -and, worse than all, it seems as though the old grandfather and the -little Gretchen were always in her way. - -From morning till night the old grandfather had a vile pipe in his -mouth, and the smoke made every thing black and dirty. She then would -look at her clean curtains and whitewashed walls, and frown. He was -continually dropping the ashes about, and sometimes would even spit -upon the floor, which was too much for mortal woman to bear; and then -there was no end to the trouble the little Gretchen made her in a -thousand ways. - -To think that she, who always disliked children, should be obliged to -take care of another woman's child! - -At first she would bite her lips and choke down the angry words that -strove for utterance, but in her heart she called them "THE TWO -GOOD-FOR-NOTHING'S," and would cast such angry looks upon them that -in their shrinking sensitiveness they would steal away to the banks -of the blue Rhine and try to forget Elizabeth and their trouble. But -alas! poor unfortunates! too often they would return with torn or -soiled clothes, and then the mistress would be more angry than ever. - -It was only for a short time that Elizabeth confined her anger to black -looks. Before she had been in the cottage two months, her sharp voice -would ring its angry changes upon the _Two Good-for-Nothings_, as she -now loudly called them, and both the grandfather and little Gretchen -went about silent and trembling, like two culprits who feared detection -and punishment. - -She would have them to go to bed before Karl returned in the evening, -for she was very careful to conceal her unkind treatment of them from -him. He was obliged to go very early in the morning to his work, and -saw but little of them, and as the cottage looked clean and cheerful -when he returned, he thought they were well cared for. - -Sometimes, for whole days the old grandfather and the little one would -wander on the banks of the beautiful Rhine River, and in her sweet -infantile voice she would rival the songs of the birds. - -So wonderful a development of voice in the child was a marvel to all -who heard her, and the fond old man's heart swelled with pride as the -neighbors gathered round to hear her sing. Every one loved them but the -mistress, and they were always sure of a welcome at the noon-day meal -from any of the neighbors. The silver-haired old man was "grandfather" -to them all, and the little child "mein schonest liebes." - -The mistress did not object to their long strolls from home. "The -Good-for-Nothings" were only in the way; it did her good to have them -out of her sight a few minutes; while they, poor innocents, escaped -many a rough scolding, and the little child many a blow from the hard -hand of the mistress. - -How they enjoyed those days together. - -As Gretchen grew older, and the grandfather more feeble, she would lead -him by the hand and run to the neighbor's for a coal to light his pipe, -saying: "The dear grandfather must smoke." Then they would sit down on -the green bank, and with the smoke-wreaths curling above his head the -grandfather would tell old legends and fairy tales to half the children -in the village, and "little Golden Hair," as the children called her, -would sing to them. - -One day, when Gretchen was about five years old, they returned from -their accustomed stroll to find a new inmate at the cottage, and Karl -called them to look at the little sister baby. The old grandfather -looked sad, for he could not love the mistress's child as he did -Chimlein's, and he feared it would bring yet greater trouble to his -little Gretchen. But the unsuspecting child opened her large violet -eyes full of wonder and delight, thinking, as all little girls do, -there is nothing in the world so pretty as a baby. - -But that baby was her destiny. - -No more days by the dear Rhine River. No more songs with the village -children, or fairy tales told under the waving trees with the fresh -air blowing round them. But the little, golden-haired child became a -fixture by the cradle. The baby would not go to sleep unless soothed -by Gretchen's voice, which now was oftener full of subdued pathos than -childish joyousness. - -The grandfather, too, had his hours of care and watching. But day by -day he was drawing nearer the dark river that rolled between him and -heaven the golden. His earthly love seemed all centered in Gretchen. -Karl he seldom saw except on Sundays, and then, in his rough manhood, -though he was always kind to his father, he seemed a great way off with -the harsh Elizabeth for his wife. - -Only Golden Hair, knew and shared the old man's cares and sorrows. At -night she slept in his bosom and always rested in his heart. - -The two "Good-for-Nothings!" - -Alike sufferers from the mistress's harshness, how they loved each -other, though they dared not show it when the mistress was near. She -was angry at such nonsense, as she termed their holy affection. - -The winter after Gretchen was six years old, was very cold and stormy. -The blue waters of the Rhine had grown black and sullen. In the cottage -times were not improved. The baby was teething. The mistress was not -well, and visited her accumulating ills upon the poor Good-for-Nothings. - -She would not have allowed Gretchen to sing at all, but for the baby, -of whom the little girl now had nearly the whole charge. And very thin -and pale she looked, with the rich flush of her golden curls falling -upon her white forehead, and her violet eyes large and languid; but her -little hands were red and hard, poor little hands that had so much to -do. - -Child as she was, the woman was growing in her heart, and with -tenderest care she watched the grandfather who had no one but her who -understood his sensitive feebleness, and loved to care for him. Many -times in the day, when the mistress was out of the room, she would put -her little hand in his, and kiss him. Only the sick and sorrowful know -how sweet was the pressure of that loving hand. - -One day, in that miserable winter, the baby had been more troublesome -than usual, the mistress more unkind and exacting, and the Two -Good-for-Nothings more silent and depressed. Gretchen had been whipped -because she did not sing; but how could she, when the grandfather's -chair had been moved to be out of the way, into a corner far from the -fire, and he was trembling with cold; and, more than this, Gretchen saw -by his heavy eyes and pale face that he was ill—how much, poor child, -she did not know. - -After a time the baby slept, and the mistress left the room. Then -Gretchen stole to the old man's side, and threw her arms round his -neck, and begged him to draw near the fire. - -"Never mind, Golden Hair," said the old man, "grandfather is going -where he will never be sick or cold any more. But, oh, mein kleines -kind (my little child), 'tis thou that break'st my heart. To leave thee -alone! mein liebes, mein schonest." - -Tears gathered in the dim eyes of the old man, and the cold, withered -hand stroked lovingly the golden hair of the little maiden, who looked -wonderingly at him with her large, violet eyes glistening, and the big -tears rolling down her pale face. - -"Mein kleines Gretchen, she'll whip you, and call you -_Good-for-Nothing_ when your old grandfather's gone; but sing, mein -liebes, sing all you can; the good Lord will hear the voice of his -own. Oh! to leave you, kleina, 'tis so hard! so hard!" And the old man -rocked himself to and fro, weeping and trembling with cold and sickness. - -The little Gretchen threw her arms around his neck, kissing his tears, -and, half choking with sobs, she whispered: "You'll smoke, grandfather, -darling; your little Golden Hair'll get your pipe." Little child! she -could think of nothing else, and she must do something for the dear -grandfather; and often before, the pipe had been a great solace to him, -when the mistress had been unkind; so the little nimble feet ran for -it, and brought it to him filled, and with the red coal glowing in the -bowl. - -Just then the baby cried out, and Elizabeth entered in time for her -sharp, black eyes to take in the whole scene. - -Snatching the pipe angrily from the little child's hand, she threw it -against the chimney, breaking it into many pieces. "I'll teach you to -leave the baby to be playing with fire. Take that, Good-for-Nothing." -And she gave Gretchen a sharp blow upon the little golden-crowned head, -and pushed her toward the cradle, adding, "see if you can sing now!" - -And Gretchen tried hard to obey, but 'twas a wail, broken with sobs, -that rose from the bursting heart of the child, through the winter cold -air of the Rhine land, to the feet of the good Lord who took little -children in his arms and blessed them. - -That night when little Gretchen was sleeping, her weary head resting on -the grandfather's bosom, his troubled spirit passed alone and silently -through the dim portals of the dusky way, and, entering the pearly -gates, found perfect rest in heaven the golden. - -In the early morning, Karl was awakened by a wild, piteous cry. - -'Twas little Gretchen. The grandfather was cold, icy cold, and she -could not warm him, though she had rubbed him till her own little hands -were like ice, and had pressed her soft, warm cheek to his. - -She could not warm him! He could not speak to her—not one word from -the dear grandfather for the poor, little, motherless child, now the -lone "Good-for-Nothing." - -When Karl found that the grandfather was really dead, with the big tears -rolling down his cheek, he took the little Gretchen in his arms, and -wrapping a blanket round her, walked to and fro, trying to soothe her. - -He loved the old father and the little daughter. But the poor man's lot -leaves little time for endearing cares. He must work early and late to -procure even coarse food and clothes for his family. - -Little Gretchen's bitter, but uncomplaining grief brought tears to the -eyes of the kind neighbors, as they looked upon her sad, pale face, and -large eyes, so filled with the shrinking loneliness of her sensitive -nature. Even the mistress's heart was touched by the hopeless agony of -the little one, and while the grandfather lay dead in the house, she -was more gentle and kind to her than she had been before. - -In a few days they buried him under the trees, by the blue Rhine River. -By Chimlein's grave, where he had so often listened to the sweet voice -of his little Golden Hair, the poor old "_Good-for-Nothing_" sleeps his -last, cold sleep. - -Very wearily rolled now the years for Gretchen. - -As she grew older, the household drudgery fell upon her. The mistress -seldom gave her a pleasant look or word, and no matter what went -wrong with the house or children, the burden of all fell upon the poor -"Good-for-Nothing." - -The mistress had now four children, of whom Gretchen had almost the -entire charge; and, at the age of fourteen, in the frail form of a -delicate child, she bore the heart of a subdued and sorrowful woman. - -She had had no opportunities for improvement, always at work in the -cottage; yet her voice, a marvel in infancy, increased wonderfully -in strength and clearness. It was a God's gift, and she sung with -matchless sweetness and taste, heaven taught. - -One day, as Gretchen sat rocking the youngest child in her arms, and -singing as only she could, there came a knocking at the door. The -mistress opened it, and saw a tall, sweet-faced lady dressed in deep -mourning. - -There was a fine carriage at the gate, and she knew by the lordly -coat-of-arms, her visitor was no ordinary person, so she dropped a low -courtesy and waited. - -"Was it you, my good woman, I heard singing just now?" said the lady. - -"Ah, no, madam, 'twas only Gretchen, the Good-for-Nothing, putting the -baby to sleep." - -"But the Good-for-Nothing can sing beautifully, and I would hear her -again." - -So the lady entered the cottage, to find Gretchen bending over the now -sleeping child, with the flush of shame crimsoning her cheeks, for she -had heard Elizabeth's coarse reply. But she rose and courtesied to the -lady, and, as she did so, the old broken comb fell from her hair, and a -shower of rich golden curls covered her neck and shoulders. - -Poor little Gretchen! How the accident confused her. She did not -know that she looked very beautiful, and that her modesty was an -inexpressible charm. - -"Sing again, my child," said the lady, kindly. - -And Gretchen sang a little German song, full of pathos and beauty; and -though her voice trembled with agitation, it lost none of its pure -richness. - -Tears came to the lady's eyes, and, as if speaking to herself, she -said:— - -"My little Adela was about her age; these golden curls are like hers, -and she sang sweetly, but not like this child." - -Then the lady drew Gretchen to her, and asked her if she would be her -little girl, and love her. - -She told her how her own little daughter had died, and Gretchen told -her of the dear grandfather; then she threw her little, weary arms -around the fair lady's neck, and they wept together—the _childless -mother_ and the _motherless child_. - -Elizabeth was very angry when she found the lady wanted to adopt -Gretchen. "The miserable Good-for-Nothing," after all the trouble she -had had with her, and just as she was beginning to be able to "earn her -salt." And she was to be the rich lady's child, while her own children -must remain in poverty. 'Twas too much, and she determined to prevent it. - -She went out to meet Karl, and told him her querulous story. - -But Karl loved his child, and when the lady told him she would make -Gretchen as her own child and love her dearly, he kissed his little -daughter, and placing her hand in the good lady's, told her he had -never been able to do for Gretchen as his heart desired, and he blessed -the good Lord that she had at last found a friend who would give her a -mother's care and love. - -So they went away together, the high-born Countess and the beautiful -peasant child. - -The little Good-for-Nothing grew up to be a lovely and accomplished -woman. Her matchless voice became the marvel of the gifted and -high-born, as it had once been of the village peasantry. - -After she had arrived at a proper age she married the countess's -nephew, who had loved her tenderly for years, and lived to see her -children's children noble, prosperous, and happy. - -In her prosperity, Gretchen did not forget her toil-burdened father, -and even Elizabeth and her children shared the favors heaped upon him -by the once despised _little Good-for-Nothing_. - - - - -CHING CHONG CHINAMAN. - - -In the "early days" a gallant ship left the harbor of Hong Kong, in the -land of the Celestials, bound for the port of San Francisco. - -Among the emigrants was a young China boy, of the better class, whose -father and mother had both died suddenly, leaving to their son only the -memory of the happy days of the past, over which a fleeting prosperity -and paternal love had cast the halo of perpetual sunshine. - -His father was a merchant, supposed to be immensely wealthy, but after -the debts of the house were paid Ching Chong found himself alone in the -world, and very destitute. - -One evening as he walked out through the suburbs of the city, he met a -merchant who had been a great friend of his father. The old gentleman -stopped the boy, and kindly inquired what he was doing, and how he had -been getting along since his father's death. - -Ching Chong was feeling very desolate, and at these expressions of -interest the unbidden tears began to flow down his cheeks, till, unable -to restrain himself, he bowed his face upon his hands, and sobbed as if -his heart would break. - -The old man gave him time to recover himself and when the boy dashed -the tears proudly away with the back of his hand, trying to call up the -dawning manhood in his heart, he said: "I will help you, you are the -son of the friend of my youth, you shall be my son." - -He took the young Ching Chong by the hand, kindly, led him home to his -own house, and provided him with the best instruction the city afforded. - -At the age of fifteen, Ching Chong was as handsome and intelligent a -boy as could be found in the city of Hong Kong. - -One day his benefactor called him to him, and told him of the distant -gold land. "There, my son," he said, "you shall go to seek your -fortune. I will provide you with every thing necessary for the journey, -but you must keep a strict account, and at the end of five years -return, and share the gains with me." - -"If you do well in all things, I will reward you doubly, for I love you -as my own son." - -Here the merchant embraced him so tenderly, that the eyes of Ching -Chong were moistened with tears of gratitude. - -Then the merchant gave him much good advice, which the young Ching -Chong promised faithfully to follow. - -As the dusk of evening came on, both grew thoughtful and silent; at -last the old man took the boy's hand in his, saying: "I have been -thinking of a curious legend which our fathers believed." - -Then he told him how years before two Chinamen, a giant and a dwarf, -went out into the great world, far beyond the shining waters, to seek -their fortune together. How, after a weary time and great labor, they -found a cavern full of gold and precious stones, but at the entrance -sat two men guarding the treasure. - -The Chinamen were very cold and hungry, and the two men gave them food -and warm blankets, but they would not allow them to touch even one of -the lustrous gems that sparkled around them. - -At last the Chinamen went away quite rested, and with plenty of food in -their sacks. They had gone only a short distance down the cañon, when -in the darkest shadow the giant stopped. - -"Let us rest here," he said, "and talk over our plans for the future. -There is a great treasure near us, I am strong, you are active, and we -are separated from our wishes by only two men of ordinary strength." - -The dwarf sighed heavily. "They have been kind to us, but for them we -must have died of hunger." - -"Fool," replied the giant, "there is enough for all." - -Then it was they sat talking till the stronger prevailed over the -weaker, and, at the still hour of midnight, they went back to the -cavern of gold. - -The dwarf had begged hard for the lives of the men, but the cruel -giant was obdurate. - -"Let them die," he said, "and the treasure will be ours." - -In the darkness he struck the blow, but instead of falling upon the -men, as he had intended, he struck the stone on which their heads -had rested. A harsh ringing sound resounded through the cavern, and -suddenly a great light flashed up, and almost blinded them, so that -they covered their eyes with their hands. - -When a moment after they glanced fearfully around, they saw not two -common men, but two horrid monsters. Whether immense giants or genii, -they could not tell, but the giant Chinaman before them seemed but a -boy in size. - -The poor Chinamen trembled with fear, and begged the monsters to spare -their lives. - -"I did not wish to kill you," said the dwarf. "Oh, dear! have pity! -have pity! and he clasped his little hands imploringly; while his teeth -chattered with the intensity of his fear. - -"You would have robbed us," replied the monster, "and for this you -shall be punished." - -Then he laid a spell upon them, condemning them to remain far from -their beloved China. Wandering through the gold land, and finding -treasures, but never possessing them. - -To the dwarf he said, "because the good had not all gone out of your -heart, you may be permitted to aid the future gold-seekers, and they -shall be blessed by your guidance. But a curse shall follow the gifts -of the giant, and his bones shall bleach upon the mountains of the -stranger land." - -"Strive by deeds of kindness, poor dwarf," he continued, "to wipe out -the stain of this present great sin of your life, so that at last, when -you die, your body may be wafted to the pleasant shore of the celestial -country." - -Then he drove them out of the cave, and they began their weary -wanderings. The giant filled with angry bitterness, and the heart of -the dwarf subdued and penitent. - -For some time after the merchant had finished his story, Ching Chong -sat in silence. At last he exclaimed, eagerly, "who knows but they are -now in the gold-land to which I am going." - -"I had thought of that," answered the old man. "It may be all a myth, -but as you say 'who knows!' At all events there is no harm in my -saying, _beware of the giant, and look out for the dwarf_." - -Just as the ship was about sailing, the merchant gave to Ching Chong -a curious black wand, saying, "this is a divining-rod, and will help -you to find the treasure. Remember all I have said to you. Especially -_beware of the giant_." - -Again Ching Chong promised, and they embraced with much affection. - -At last the signal was given, the anchor weighed, and the merchant -hastened on shore, to look out upon the waters, till Ching Chong, -leaning over the railing of the deck, faded from his sight. - -Thus Ching Chong became a gold-seeker, and many were the gorgeous -dreams that filled the mind of the youth, as the ship sailed lazily -over the placid waters. - -At last, after the usual amount of winds and calms, storms and fair -weather, the good ship sailed through the Golden Gate, and into the -pleasant harbor of San Francisco. - -Ching Chong disembarked with the other passengers, a stranger in a land -of strangers, where even the language of the country fell upon his ear, -the unmeaning jargon of an unknown tongue. - -Fortunately for him, he was not the only Chinaman in the country, -though at that early day they were few in number. The Queen city of the -Pacific was then a city of many sand hills, and a few poor shanties, -but it was full of energy, perseverance, and hope. - -Ching Chong was a quick, active lad, and soon learned enough of English -to procure a situation, and for some time remained in San Francisco. - -At night, when his work was over, he would take a look at his -divining-rod, and he often noticed it would turn in his hand, till -it pointed to the mountain country, awaking all the wild dreams, and -eager longings that in the leisure hours of the sea-voyage filled his -imagination. - -At last he could resist the impulse no longer, and joined a party of -prospectors for the mining districts. - -For months Ching Chong wandered over the mountains with his comrades, -till his shoes were worn out, and his trousers and blue shirt so -patched with flour-sacks, that it was impossible for the uninitiated to -distinguish the original material. - -Still he found nothing, even the divining-rod seemed to have lost its -power, save when he was alone. - -One night he sat apart from the others, feeling very sad, and wishing -he had never left China. The homesick longing to see his native land -growing continually in his heart, oppressed him greatly. - -The thought of the kind old merchant who had been as a father to -him, pursued him, but deeper down in his heart was cherished the -memory of the merchant's daughter. The gentle Ah Zore maiden with the -almond-shaped eyes, and tiny feet. - -Just as he was yielding himself to tender dreams, his wand rested upon -his bosom, and there he felt his secret talisman, the divining-rod. - -Rising up hastily, he resolved to go off alone, and yield to the -impulse of the wand. Hoping he might be more successful than in the -weary months he had passed with his companions. - -With this resolve, the pressure of the rod became greater, awaking -joyous hopes that had long been strangers to him. - -He thought of the curious legend the merchant had told him, and -whispering softly to himself, he said: "Where the wand leads I will -go—on to fortune, or death; any thing is better than the weariness of -my present life." - -It was a beautiful, balmy night. The silvery moonlight and the stars -brightened even the dim cavern, and flooded the mountains with a -luminous beauty. - -Ching Chong went silently up the mountain path until he came to a ledge -the miners had been prospecting that day. - -Still the divining-rod urged him on, till he had gone miles farther -into the mountains than ever before. - -About twelve o'clock, he began to be hungry and weary, for it was the -early evening when he started, and after a hard day's work. - -Suddenly the divining-rod changed, and pointed downward, and as Ching -Chong looked, he saw what appeared to be the entrance of a cavern, but -a huge stone was rolled against it. - -He perceived a small opening which the stone left uncovered, through -which he might have crept, but the darkness within was so dense that he -dare not enter. - -He threw himself down upon the ground quite overcome with hunger and -fatigue, and taking a piece of hard bread from his pocket, began -eating, and thinking almost hopelessly of the future. - -He was aroused by a harsh voice, and looking up, saw, just before him, -the immense form of a giant Chinaman. - -"What are you doing here, countryman," said the giant, opening his huge -mouth, and glaring with his ugly eyes upon the startled boy. - -"I am thinking of home," replied Ching Chong, sadly, "and fearing I -shall never see that dearest spot again." - -"Thank God, the bodies of all true Chinamen are carried back to repose -in death in the bosom of their mother-land." - -"Do you mean to insult me, minion," cried the giant, while his face -grew livid with rage, and he would have killed Ching Chong with one -blow of his heavy club, but the boy sprang lightly out of his way. - -"Foiled again," he muttered, between his teeth. "Come here, boy," he -added, "I will not hurt you, silly fool." - -"I was only joking, just to see you jump out of the way;" and he gave a -loud laugh that made the mountains echo. - -The rod in his bosom urging him on, Ching Chong drew cautiously near -the giant. - -"Sit down, and tell me of your wanderings," said the monster, with a -rough voice, into which he tried to throw the semblance of kindness. - -Ching Chong told him all, only omitting the merchant's story and his -secret of the wand. - -"Never mind, boy," said the giant, "you shall win the prize, and go -back to China a rich man. See, the morning sun is rising. Now we will -enter the cavern, and you shall have as much gold and precious stones -as you can carry away." - -Ching Chong felt a momentary thrill of joy in his heart, which was -saddened by the memory of the merchant's last words, "beware of the -giant." - -"I have wandered in this cold, stranger land for three long years, and -found nothing until now. - -"Wealth is within my grasp; if I do not seize it, I may never have -another chance! To be poor forever! No! no! I will take the risk." Then -he spoke aloud, in a resolute voice, "Lead on, I will follow." - -The giant gave the great stone a push with his foot, and rolled it away -as though it had been a pebble. - -As they entered he struck a torch, then, before proceeding, rolled back -the stone and closed up the opening. - -When Ching Chong saw himself shut into the cave with the giant, he -trembled with fear, for he saw there was no way of escape. He felt now, -he had only to follow where the monster at will might lead him. - -They went through a long, narrow passage, then down many steps, until -at last they entered a hall, which was lighted by a large lamp, -suspended from the dome of the cavern. - -Ching Chong was almost blinded by the reflection of the luminous -crystals that, with curious prismatic effect, flooded the hall with a -hundred glowing tints. - -Great masses of gold lay scattered about, and huge seams ran through -the rugged sides of the cavern. - -"Is this rich enough for you?" said the giant, laughingly. - -"Help yourself, lad, you remember I told you you should have all you -could carry away." - -The delighted Ching Chong began to gather up the gold and precious -stones into his sack, and when he had secured all he could carry, -throwing the sack over his shoulder, he thanked the giant, and begged -him to let him go out of the cave. - -"Go on!" replied the giant, with a mocking laugh. "You're welcome to -the treasure, but I'm thinking you'll find it hard work to move that -stone from the mouth of the cave." - -Then Ching Chong threw down the treasure at his feet, crying, with -tears in his eyes, "Take back your riches, and let me go out into the -sunshine! the beautiful sunshine! Oh! good giant, take back your gold, -and give me my poverty, and my liberty!" - -"What a pretty actor! go on! go on!" said the delighted giant, and when -Ching Chong threw himself on his knees before him, wringing his hands -in silent despair, he laughed till the mountain cavern rung. - -"Do you think I will let you go? You are my slave now! and the -sunshine! the beautiful sunshine! you shall never see again." - -Ching Chong saw there was no help for him then. - -He spurned the bag of gold and precious stones, pushing it with his -foot, as he followed the giant into the inner cave. - -The giant ordered him to build a fire, and prepare supper, and, after -the master was served, he was permitted to eat and go to sleep upon -the rough but warm skin of a grizzly bear. - -Weeks passed by! Still he was a prisoner in the cavern, serving the -grim old giant, who was very capricious, and hard to please. - -One evening he came home in great good humor, and, while he ate his -supper, he talked and laughed with Ching Chong very pleasantly. - -He told how that day he had given a quantity of gold to some miners. - -"Great luck it will bring them," he added. - -"Already they are quarreling over it," and a malicious grin disfigured -his monstrous face. - -"'Tis such fools as you, boy, who make things lively. Ha! ha! You may -have all the gold you can carry away! - -"Why don't you move the stone? Ah! boy, if you had the famous -divining-rod, you would only have to touch the rock, and it would obey -your wish, but you might as well hope to wake up in your beloved China, -as to obtain it." - -How strangely the words of the giant thrilled the heart of Ching Chong, -and, pressing his hand against his bosom, the famous divining-rod -awakened the hopes that in his heart lay sleeping. - -In the excess of his emotion he was obliged to hide his face from the -giant, lest he should see his secret written there. - -That night after the loud snoring of the giant announced that he was -sleeping soundly, Ching Chong rose carefully, and lighting the torch, -crept softly out of the large cave, and through the narrow passage that -led to the entrance. - -He took nothing with him. "The treasure of the giant is cursed," he -said. - -When he came to the rock he took the divining-rod from his bosom, and, -pressing it lightly against the rock, said: "Giant rock remove quickly -at the spell of the divining-rod." - -Quick as thought the rock moved from its place, and the silver -moonlight poured in at the entrance of the cave, and lighted up the -face of Ching Chong, beaming with the bliss of recovered liberty. - -Once more he touched the rock, saying: "Move back giant rock at the -spell of the the divining-rod, and remain forever so firmly fixed that -even the giant's powerful hand cannot remove you." - -The great stone rolled back, striking the ledge with such force that -the whole mountain shook, and the mighty echo was reverberated from all -the neighboring heights. - -This great commotion aroused the sleeping giant, and he called loudly -for Ching Chong, and, when he received no answer, he was very much -enraged, and searched the whole cavern in every nook and corner. At -last he rushed to the entrance, and pushed his broad shoulder against -the rock, but he could not move it one inch from its place; then he -became so furious that his voice sounded like the roar of a wild beast, -but with all his efforts he could not move the rock. Ching Chong sat -without in the calm moonlight, now and then calling to the giant to -come on, and that he was welcome to all the treasure he could bring -with him. - -After a time the giant became so exhausted that he ceased his efforts -to move the rock, and begged Ching Chong to touch it again with his -magic wand, and let him out, promising him all the treasures of the -cave; but the boy only replied: "Your turn has come now, keep your -treasure, you are welcome to it, and to your underground castle." - -"Good-by, kind master, good-by! Come out when you can, and you may have -all the treasure you can carry." - -With this Ching Chong started for his old cabin, but for miles the deep -howlings of the giant were wafted to his ears. - -He reached the cabin at sunrise, just five weeks after he left it. - -When he entered he found his old companions just eating breakfast. They -were greatly surprised to see him, for they supposed he had been killed -by the grizzly bears with which that district abounded. - -They gave him a hearty greeting, and he sat down to breakfast, telling -them only the last of his marvelous adventures, omitting the secret of -the divining-rod entirely. - -When he had finished, he asked them what luck they had had. - -Nothing very good, they replied. Some placer diggings of a little -promise, but their fortunes were not yet made. - -Ching Chong went out with them, and entered again upon the hard life of -prospecting. Many months passed on in the same old way, and again Ching -Chong began to feel very much disheartened. Four years and a half had -gone, and still he was poor, no nearer the realization of his dreams -than ever. - -The intense longing for home was ever gnawing in his heart. He thought -sadly of the old merchant who awaited his return, and sighed often as -he dreamed of the beautiful Ah Zore. - -Again he resolved to follow the guiding of the divining-rod, hoping for -greater success than in his former expedition. - -Again he started at nightfall, without saying any thing to his -companions. - -He had provided himself with a sack of food, which he carried, with his -pick and shovel, upon his shoulders. - -He was young, healthy, and accustomed to the hardships of a mountain -life. - -For hours he walked on as the divining-rod guided him, until near -morning, when, overcome with fatigue, he threw himself upon the ground -among the thick sage brush, and soon fell asleep. - -A thousand golden imaginings mingled with his dreams, and, when he -awoke with the sunshine pouring its flood of warmth and light upon him, -he rose full of bright hopes, ate his scanty breakfast, and started -upon his way with a happy heart. - -Thus he wandered on for several days, carefully examining every ledge -of rocks that he passed over. - -His stock of food was nearly exhausted. The divining-rod and his -hopeful nature urged him on, but his dread of a lonely death in the -mountains warned him to return. - -One night he struck a fire in a lonely place, and sat down to eat his -supper, just as the twilight gave place to the stars of night. - -He was getting quite disheartened. "I must start for the camp in the -morning," he said to himself, "'Tis no use of trying any longer." - -He fell into a sad train of musing, from which he was aroused by the -soft tinkling of a silver bell, and looking up he saw before him the -dwarf Chinaman. - -He wore the round hat, blue blouse, big pants, and pointed shoes of the -Celestials, and his words fell upon Ching Chong's ear in the language -of his native tongue. His face was wrinkled and sad-looking, yet there -was a kindliness in its expression, and Ching Chong's heart warmed as -he pleasantly asked, "Why so sorrowful to-night, my boy?" - -Then Ching Chong told his story. - -When he had finished the dwarf said: "Be thankful that you did not -attempt to carry away any of the treasure." - -"If you had taken but one ounce of gold the wand would have lost its -power in your hand, and you would have been the slave of the giant as -long as you lived, and after death your bones would have whitened the -floor of the mountain cavern, instead of reposing in the dear native -land." - -"Your industry and perseverance shall now be rewarded. Lie down and -sleep to-night upon this soft turf. In the morning rise and follow the -direction of the divining-rod, and where it points downward strike your -pick." - -"Now good-night, my boy. In the days of your prosperity, sometimes -think kindly of the poor dwarf of the mountains." - -Before Ching Chong could reply, he found himself alone, and though he -looked round carefully, he could not discover where, or how the dwarf -had disappeared. So he lay down, and was soon sleeping soundly. - -In the morning he rose early, and following the direction of his wand, -stopped where it pointed downward, and striking a blow with his pick, -turned up a beautiful pure nugget of gold. - -He marked the spot, and collecting a few specimens, returned to the -camp. - -Again his companions surrounded him to hear his story. - -No one but the poor, toiling miner can understand the excitement and -delight of the weary prospectors, as they listened to him, and examined -his specimens. - -"Now, boys," said Ching Chong, "you have been the sharers of my bad -luck, and you shall share my good fortune." - -"There is gold enough for all." - -Then the happy miners all shook hands with Ching Chong, saying a hearty -"God bless you, boy," while the tears glistened in their eyes, as they -thought of the dear ones in distant lands. - -That night they all dreamed golden dreams, full of love and happiness. - -In the morning they all went together to the newly discovered treasure, -which proved to be a large tract of the richest placer-diggings ever -known. - -In six months they were all rich men, and left the mountains for their -different homes, blessing forever Ching Chong Chinaman. - -About that time a good ship sailed for China, and on the deck sat the -happy Ching Chong, and all his great wealth was on board. - -After a prosperous voyage, he reached his dear, native land, and -was able to give his friend the merchant, an account of himself, so -satisfactory that he rewarded him with the hand of his daughter, the -beautiful Ah Zore, and in all Hong Kong there could not be found a -happier man than Ching Chong Chinaman. - - - - -ZALETTA. - - -Once upon a time there lived in a little cane hut on the borders of a -hacienda, a poor old Mexican woman and her grandchild. - -The parents of the little one were both dead, and the old woman -maintained herself and the child by spinning, sewing, and washing for -the rich Spaniards, to whom all the fine houses and cultivated lands of -the country belonged. - -The mother of the child had been a beautiful señorita of good family. -She foolishly loved and married the poor but light-hearted Mexican, who -would have given his life for her, but could not shield her from the -misfortunes which poverty and sickness brought upon them. - -After the birth of her little daughter, she died, and very soon the -father was lost in a fearful storm at sea; so the child was left -alone in the world, with none to care for her but the silver-haired -grandmother, and no home but the little cane hut. - -For some years every thing went pleasantly with the child; she had -never known luxury, her necessities were supplied, she returned the -fond devotion of the old grandmother, with the ardor of her Southern -nature; and, all day long, her innocent voice, full of childish -happiness, woke cheerful echoes around the little hut. - -One night, when she was about ten years old, the old woman fell sick. -She felt the dim shadows creeping over her spirit, and her strength -growing less; and calling the child to her side, she said, feebly: "I -have nothing but a well-worn distaff and the poor hut to give you. -The Holy Virgin pity and protect you; you have been a good child to -your old grandmother." Then she kissed her, and blessing her, bade her -good-night, adding: "Never forget to say your prayers before you go to -sleep. God bless you, my poor, poor child." - -The grandmother turned her face to the wall, and folded her thin hands -as if in prayer, and Zaletta crept softly into bed beside her, feeling -very sad; but soon her innocent heart was happy, roaming through the -pleasant land of dreams. In the morning, Zaletta slept till the sun -rose above the hills, and cast its glowing warmth down into the shaded -valleys, then woke full of life and joyousness. - -There lay the grandmother just as she had last seen her the night -before. "She sleeps long this morning, the dear old grandmother," -said she to herself, as she moved round quietly, preparing the scanty -breakfast. - -When it was all ready, she became impatient, and laid her little warm -hand upon the old woman's arm. Cold, very cold, the poor child found -her, and motionless. She would never move again. - -Zaletta called her, sobbing and weeping, but there was no reply. The -heart so ready to sympathize with all her childish sorrows was at rest. -The old grandmother had died, praying for the little lonely child, who -had been dearer than all the world to her. - -The next day the people from the hacienda came and buried the old -woman. After the last sod was cast upon the grave, the innkeeper's wife -took the child by the hand, saying: "Poor little thing, she can not -stay here alone, I will take her home with me;" and she smoothed the -tangled hair of the helpless orphan with her hand, and in her harder -heart she thought, "By and by this girl may be made of great service to -me, and even now I'll see that she earns all that she eats and wears." - -She was very careful to take to the inn with her, all the poor little -hut contained. "'Tis but little," she said, "but I'll take it for the -child." All the neighbors said it was kind in the innkeeper's wife, and -the rich señor, to whom the whole hacienda belonged, gave her a shining -gold-piece, saying: "'Tis for your charity." - -The cold-hearted woman went home, leading by the hand a little weeping -child, very desolate and sorrowful. - -The innkeeper was naturally a kind man, but he had become too indolent -and corpulent to resist the strong will of his termagant wife. "When he -saw the sad-eyed little one that she had brought home, he brushed away -a tear with his big brown hand, and determined to save the unfortunate -from all trouble, as much as he could; but when he thought of his -wife's cruel disposition, he earnestly wished her in other hands. - -"Poor little thing! poor little thing!" he said, pityingly, and calling -his own little boy and girl to him, he placed her trembling hands in -theirs, adding: "Here is a sister for you, be kind to her, my children." - -The daughter drew her hand away, and curled her lip in scorn. She was -like her mother, proud and cold in her nature, and, looking at the -coarse clothes of the child, she said: "Ah, no, papa, she is only fit -for a servant. Sister, indeed!" and she shook the skirts of her pretty -muslin dress, and ran away. - -The boy felt the manhood dawning in his heart, as he saw the tears -glistening in the pretty dark eyes of the silent child, and the little -red lips quivered with suppressed emotion. - -"She shall be my sister, papa," said he, softly, as he took her by the -hand, and led her out in the clear sunshine. Children understand each -other best, thought the old man, as he sat watching them, while they -walked up and down the garden together, talking pleasantly. - -Soon the mother's sharp eye detected them, and with a harsh voice she -bade the little girl haste to the kitchen, and see if she could not -help the cook prepare the supper. - -Then she called the young Guilerme to her, saying: "I hope to make a -rich señor of you, my son, though your father is only an innkeeper. We -are making money, and every year increases our gains. There is good -blood in my veins, and I am determined to raise my children above my -present condition. For this I save every thing. Every thing! For we -must have money; but remember, my son, I would not have you notice that -miserable girl I have brought here for a servant; by and by she may do -for your sister's maid; now she is the kitchen scullion." - -Thus began the days of servitude and sorrow for the young Zaletta. - -The inn was a spacious adobe house, with an open court in the center, -and surrounded on all sides by a broad piazza. The kitchen and -store-rooms were upon one side, while the receiving and sleeping rooms -were on the other sides of the square. - -The hacienda was in the southern part of California, where though -the warmth of the days produces many kinds of tropical fruits, the -evenings are often quite chilly, and the excessive heat of the noon-day -renders all very susceptible to cold. In the large receiving-room (with -the bar at one side), on such nights, a cheerful fire always burned, -and there all the guests of the house assembled, and talked over the -news of the day. Sometimes 'twas of the discovery of a rich gold mine, -but often 'twas of a fearful robbery in the wood. - -After all the work was done in the kitchen, Zaletta would steal -silently into the receiving-room, listening to the conversation, and -warming her chilled feet and hands before going to her miserable bed in -the out-house. - -This did not please the señora. It did not look respectable to have the -miserable child about, she would say; but in this the innkeeper was -resolute. "The little one should warm herself before going to bed." So -Zaletta came in at evenings, but very quietly. - -Guilerme was always kind to her; indeed never a day passed but -something nice found its way to the hiding-place in the out-house, so -that the child was never hungry. - -He brought her the ripest bananas, and the sweetest oranges, and when -she would look up to him, with her soft eyes dewy with love and thanks, -he would kiss her brown cheek, and say: "Never mind, little one, you -shall be _señora_ one of these days." Then they would laugh and be -happy, till the mother's sharp voice would ring through the house, -calling the unfortunate to some new task. - -The sister was changeful in her treatment to Zaletta. Sometimes she -would call her pleasantly to come and play with her, but very soon -she would become angry and strike her, calling her "only a pitiful -servant." Then the mother would whip Zaletta for making her little -mistress angry. The father and Guilerme always took her part, making -the mother more displeased than ever. - -One day, when Guilerme was about fourteen years old, and the girls -were twelve, the mother called the boy to her, telling him in two -weeks a vessel would sail from the nearest sea-port for the Atlantic -States, and that, he must be ready to take passage in her, for she -had determined to send him to New York to school. "Your father is now -rich," she said, "and you must be educated like other rich men's sons." - -Poor little Zaletta! What a blow it was to her. Her best friend going -away so far over the waters. When he told her the morning before he -sailed what his mother had said, her pretty dark eyes filled with -tears, and she sobbed bitterly. - -"Listen to me," said the boy, soothingly; "I have something to tell -you, and must be quick, or mamma will call me before I can finish. You -know I am going away to be educated like a gentleman, and shall want -a lady for my wife; so you must study hard to become one, for I am -determined to marry you as soon as I come back. I have taught you to -read, and you will find all my books in the hiding-place, where I have -left them for you, and you must study hard and see how beautiful you -can grow while I am gone, for I shall make you the greatest lady in -the hacienda;" and he took the little eager face between his hands and -kissed it with much affection. Just then the mother called, "Guilerme! -Guilerme!" so he kissed her again, and said, "remember, my little -wife," and was off in a moment. - -That night Zaletta wept herself to sleep, and many succeeding nights; -but she did not forget to study very hard, and though she labored under -great difficulties, her progress was wonderful. She was working for the -approval of the only one that loved her since the dear silver-haired -grandmother died. After Guilerme went away the señora took Zaletta into -the house as maid for her young daughter, who every day was growing -more proud and selfish. - -For some years the innkeeper had been greatly prospered. The family had -used economy in all things until they had amassed considerable wealth. - -"Now," said the señora, "the children are growing up, and we must not -spare the money—they must have position." She engaged a governess to -teach her daughter, and a master to give her lessons on the harp and -guitar. - -Zaletta always sat in the room with the young señorita, and listened -eagerly to every word the teachers uttered, though her hands were busy -with her needle. - -Every day she grew in knowledge and beauty. Her dark eyes were soft as -a fawn's, and her pure olive cheek glowed with a clear rose-tint, while -her form and features were cast in beauty's most exquisite mold. Both -mother and daughter were often cruelly unkind to her, more especially -when they saw that her beauty, and innocent sweetness of manner, -attracted more attention than all the young señorita's fine clothes -and accomplishments. The señorita was pretty and full of airs and -graces, but Zaletta, in her coarse dress, was far more lovely. Every -day increased the envy of the mother and daughter, and new and harder -tasks were invented for the weary little hands to perform. - -One sultry afternoon all three sat upon the piazza of the inner court. -A ship had arrived from New York, with letters from Guilerme, and a -large box, filled with beautiful fabrics for dresses, shawls, and -ornaments, for the mother and daughter; but Zaletta received nothing, -not even a word of kind remembrance. - -All the long night before she had wept. Guilerme, the gentleman, had -forgotten the poor maid; but she, alas! remembered him too well. - -The mother and daughter sat looking over their treasures with great -delight, and for the time she was unnoticed. Stitching away upon a -beautiful organdie muslin, at last overcome by fatigue, loss of sleep, -and the excessive heat, she fell asleep, and in her dreams she called -out in a piteous tone, "Guilerme! Guilerme!" and the tears ran down her -pale cheeks. - -"What is she saying?" said the mother. She rose and looked at her, and -again she called, "Guilerme! Guilerme!" - -"Hear her, mamma," exclaimed the enraged daughter, "I'll give her a -lesson for her impertinence," and she raised her hand to strike the -sleeping girl. - -"Stop, daughter," said the mother, softly, with a malicious smile, "we -can do better. The foolish Guilerme has sent her a letter and presents -of books. The letter I have burned. The books you can do as you like -with, but I have a present for la señorita, she will not like, perhaps." - -She shook the young girl roughly by the arm, saying, "What, sleeping -over your work. Wake, and hear what Guilerme says. He sends you this!" - -The señora held out to the young girl a coarse apron, such as the lower -servants wore. "He hopes his sister will train you to be a good servant -for you must know he is in love with a rich and beautiful señorita, -and though they are both young now, it is thought best for them to be -married before his return, which will be in about two years." - -"Mamma, what is the matter with her? How pale she looks!" cried the -affrighted daughter, as Zaletta with closed eyes sank fainting upon the -floor. - -"She has fainted, the miserable beggar. To try to creep into my family, -and to think that foolish boy should talk of love to her. I'll fix them -both," and in her anger the señora and her daughter left Zaletta lying -cold and pale upon the floor. - -Evening came on, with the calm, silver light of the stars, before -Zaletta recovered. At first she could not remember what had happened, -and then it all rushed upon her, a mighty flood of sorrow. - -"Guilerme has forgotten me! I remember now: this apron for the servant -of his bride. Ah! Guilerme! Guilerme!" Wrapping the apron about her -neck, she rushed out into the night. "I cannot stay in this house -another night. It will kill me!" she said, and she hurried on as though -she could fly from her great sorrow. - -At last she came to a deep wood, and, after wandering about till -her wearied limbs refused to carry her any further, she saw a light -glimmering through the trees, and pressing on she came to a little -cottage. - -Looking in at the window she saw an old woman at her distaff spinning. -The faggots upon the hearth burned brightly, and lighted up the little -room, but especially the face of the old woman shone with the glow -of a kind heart. Timidly she knocked at the door, but there was no -reply. Then she knocked again louder, and the old woman called out in a -cracked voice: "Who knocks at my door so late in the night!" - -"Only a poor maiden, who has no home, no friend on earth. I pray you, -good woman, let me in. The night is cold, and the starlight chills me. -I am so tired! so tired! Good mother, let me in!" - -The old woman opened the door and led her in. She sat down in the -corner, gazing silently into the fire and wondering why the good Lord -in pity did not let her die; and big tears ran down her pale cheeks. - -The old woman baked a fresh tortilla and gave it to her with a cup of -milk. - -"Eat, child," she said gently, "you are hungry," and she laid her hand -on the bowed head, saying again: "There! there! eat, child! and sleep -away the sorrow of youth which is fleeting as the dew of morning." - -Then she turned away and commenced spinning and singing in a low, -monotonous tone, which was strangely soothing, while Zaletta ate -her supper, and soon the sad, weary maiden fell asleep by the warm, -pleasant fireside. - -For some time the old woman went on spinning and singing, till another -knock came at the door, and again she said: "Who knocks at my door so -late in the night?" "'Tis I, mother," replied a thick, rough voice. -She opened the door to a most curious looking dwarf. He was round -shouldered and thick set, with heavy, black hair covering his forehead, -and shaggy brows meeting over his eyes. - -"How fared thee, to-day, son?" - -"I haven't struck the lode yet, mother," said the dwarf, cheerfully, -"but I am sure the mine is rich. See what I have picked up among the -loose rocks!" - -He handed her a small nugget of gold, almost pure, and turned to the -corner to put down his pick and shovel. "But who have we here? A young -girl, and very pretty," he added, looking admiringly upon the sleeping -maiden. - -"Only a poor friendless child, who came to the door a little while ago, -weeping and asking shelter," answered the woman. - -"Treat her kindly, mother; she will be company for you, and by-and-by I -may marry her, but I have no time to think of women now." - -The dwarf sat down to the hot supper the mother had prepared for him, -and ate heartily, for he was very hungry. Then he drew his chair near -the fire, and sat for sometime looking dreamily into its glowing -embers. - -"I must strike the lode soon," he mused. "Oh, my rich gold mine; it -must come at last." Then he rose, saying, kindly, "Good night, mother," -and climbed up into the little loft, where in a few minutes he was -sleeping soundly. - -The old woman woke Zaletta, and they retired for the night, sleeping in -the same bed. - -In the morning Zaletta was awakened by a kind voice calling, "Get up -now, daughter, and help me to prepare my son's breakfast, he has been -at work for an hour, and will soon come in very hungry." - -Zaletta rose quickly and helped to prepare a breakfast of fresh -tortillas nicely browned, fried plantain, and venison, which, with -plenty of ripe fruit and goat's milk, made a repast fit for a prince. - -Soon the dwarf came in, so smiling and cheerful, that though Zaletta -thought him the ugliest looking person she ever saw, she felt sure -his heart was in the right place. "You are welcome, my pretty girl," -he said, "but don't mind me; I've no time to compliment women, though -by-and-by, when I strike a rich lode, I may marry you." - -Zaletta's face flushed a deep crimson, and she looked as though that -would be any thing but desirable; but she made no reply, and in a -moment the dwarf seemed to have forgotten her presence, and she became -more comfortable. - -Two years passed by and Zaletta remained at the cottage, helping the -old mother, who was very fond of her, and reading books with which the -dwarf kept her constantly supplied. All this time he was working hard -in his mine, but could not "strike the rich lode." Sometimes he grew -quite disheartened, then he would be joyous and hopeful, and would say -to Zaletta: "Though I have no time to think of women now, by-and-by, -when I am rich, I will marry you." She soon got used to this, and only -laughed, for he was always very kind to her, and she learned to look -upon him as a brother. - -One dark night in the rainy season she and the mother sat by the fire -waiting for the dwarf to come in to his supper. The old woman was -spinning, and Zaletta reading a pleasant book of travels. - -"My poor boy," sighed the old mother. "How it rains; he will be wet -through. Oh, dear! I fear he will never be able to strike the rich -lode." Just then a loud knock came at the door. "Who knocks at my door -so late in the night," said the old woman. - -A voice, young, strong, and pure, answered, sending all the warm blood -from Zaletta's heart to her face: "A stranger, belated and lost in the -wood, begs for shelter from the storm." - -The old woman opened the door, and Guilerme—dear, handsome Guilerme, -dripping with rain, and very cold, entered. - -Zaletta's book dropped upon the floor, and her tongue refused her heart -utterance, but Guilerme's eyes rested upon the beautiful girl with -delighted surprise. - -"Found at last, my own Zaletta." His arms opened, and the trembling, -lonely heart of the maiden found its true resting-place. - -They sat down side by side, hand clasping hand, and explained all the -past to each other, how Guilerme had written and received no answer, -and at last returned to find her gone, and his heart desolate. - -Zaletta told him all she had suffered, and of the kindness she had -received at the cottage. Then Guilerme took the old woman's hands and -thanked her with a voice trembling with emotion. - -The mother rejoiced with them, but there mingled a sorrow for her son -with the joy. "Poor son," she thought, "He is very fond of the child." - -Soon another knock came, and again the old woman asked, "Who knocks at -my door so late in the night," and the dwarf answered:— - -"Mother! mother! I've struck the lode at last." - -She opened the door, and he threw his arms round her neck and kissed -her, then he came in, and saw Guilerme; and they both told their -stories. - -"So," said the dwarf, when Guilerme had finished: "You have come to -take my pretty maid away? Well, if she loves you, 'tis all right, I -have had no time to think of women; but, somehow, I have grown fond of -her," and he sighed heavily. "I have struck the lode at last. I am a -rich man, but I must find some one to share my good fortune with me, -some pure, good little girl like our Zaletta." - -In the morning, when Guilerme and the dwarf went to the mine together, -they found it even richer than the dwarf had thought it, the night -before. Guilerme offered to furnish the money to build a mill to crush -the ore, for one-half the mine; and so they became partners. - -Soon after this, Guilerme and Zaletta were married at the cottage in -the wood, and in time the good dwarf was united to a pretty Mexican -lass, who made him very happy. - -After a time, Guilerme built a fine house for his wife, and, when they -had two little children, he took his family home to the old hacienda. - -The mother and sister did not recognize their old servant in Guilerme's -brilliant señora, but the old father (God bless him) knew her, when she -placed her little soft hand in his, and kissed him; and very dearly he -learned to love his dutiful daughter. - -So they were all rich and happy, as long as it pleased God to spare -their lives. - - - - -THE STRONG MAN OF SANTA BARBARA. - - -Many years ago, in the old Spanish mission of Santa Barbara, lived an -old Mexican, named Joza Silva, with his wife and child, in a little -adobe house, containing but one room. - -There was a small window, rudely latticed with unplaned laths, and a -door opening upon a pleasant view of the golden-sanded beach and the -restless waves of the ocean. - -At that time, the Spaniards, Mexicans, and Indians were the only -inhabitants of the country. - -Over these people, the padres, who established the mission, had -acquired a most unlimited sway, ruling them more completely than even -the Pope his subjects of the Holy See of Rome. - -The Mexicans are an indolent race. The luxurious climate of Santa -Barbara is not favorable to the development of latent energy in -any people, least of all to the inert Mexicans; yet the padres, -by awakening their superstitious fears, made them work until the -wilderness became a vineyard, and the golden orange glowed amid the -leaves of the fragrant trees. - -Poor Joza disliked any exertion, and, if left to his own inclination, -would have lived on the spontaneous productions of that almost tropical -climate, and been happy after his oyster fashion. - -Often he obeyed very reluctantly, those whom he thought had power, not -only over the body, but could doom his soul to unnumbered years of -suffering, in the fearful fires of purgatory. - -The padres lived in great ease and comfort; though so far from the -elegances of the great world, their own ingenuity and the rapid growth -of the country, furnished them with many luxuries. - -Their quaint adobe houses were very pleasant, built after the Spanish -style, in the form of a square with an open court in the center. - -Beautiful gardens flourished around them, in which grew the fragrant -citron, the lemon, with its shining leaves, and nearly all the rare -fruits and flowers of the tropics. - -For some years, Joza labored in the vineyards and gardens; but the -ambitious padres were planning a greater work. A new church was to be -built, and elaborately ornamented; a convent and college was planned; -extensive grounds to be laid out and cultivated, and all to be -surrounded by the enduring adobe wall of mud and stones. - -One evening, after a weary day in the vineyard, just as Joza was about -starting for home, padre Antonio called him. - -"On the morrow," he said, "we will begin to lay the foundation of the -new church, the Grand San Pedro; you shall be permitted to aid in the -blessed work, by carrying stones and mortar, for which great mercy -thank the holy Mother and all the saints, especially the blessed San -Pedro, who is the patron saint of this great enterprise." - -Then the padre blessed him, and wandered off into the delicious shade -of the garden. - -In the gathering gloom of the twilight, Joza returned to his cottage, -more disheartened than ever, wondering how much more torturing the -fires of purgatory could be, than carrying stones under the burning sun -of Santa Barbara. - -As he approached his cottage, he saw his wife sitting before the door -with a stranger, both smoking, with the greatest apparent enjoyment. - -His son, and a large dog, were rolling about on the soft earth, near -them, raising a cloud of dust, and making a great noise, which seemed -to disturb no one, and to afford them much pleasure. - -When Joza came up, his wife introduced the stranger as his old -playmate, and her brother Schio, who, many years before, had gone away, -and, until that evening, had never been heard from. - -Joza welcomed his old friend in the cordial Spanish way, placing his -house at his disposal. - -For a short time, in pleasant memories of their boyhood, he forgot the -weary present. After they had eaten their frugal supper, and were again -seated in the vine-clad doorway, Joza looked out upon the great ocean, -dusky with the shadows of evening, growing sad and silent. - -"What ails thee, brother," said Schio, in his clear, ringing voice, -that sounded like the strong notes of a clarionet. "You are changed; -you are growing old, but see me, I am as young in heart as your boy, -and strong as a bullock." - -He lifted a great stone that lay near him, and held it at arms' length, -laughing loudly, till the caves of the ocean sent back a hundred echoes. - -With many sighs, Joza told the story of his troubles; how, for years, -till his back had grown old and stiff, he had worked in the vineyard of -the padre, but the purple harvest had brought no blessing to him. - -How a harder task was to be laid upon him. He was to hew and carry the -heavy foundation-stones of the Grand San Pedro, and even at the thought -of so great labor, the beaded sweat rolled down his forehead. - -His sympathizing wife sobbed aloud, but the brother only laughed, till -again he woke the mysterious voices of the ocean caves. - -Half angry, Joza turned to Schio, saying: "'Tis all very well for you, -Schio, to laugh; you who roam at will in the cool of the evening, and -rest in the delightful shade, while the scorching sunshine is burning -my life out." - -Poor Joza buried his face in his hands and sighed wearily. - -"Cheer up, brother," said Schio, pleasantly. "Listen to me. Go in the -morning, to padre Antonio, and tell him you are getting old and feeble, -and cannot work through the heat of the day, but if he will appoint -your task, you will accomplish it after the burning sun has gone down. - -"Tell him if you carry those large stones in the day, your life will -be consumed like the burning candles before the altar; but that in the -cool of the evening, your strength returns as in the days of youth." - -"And what, then?" said Joza, wearily. - -"I will see that the morning finds your task accomplished," replied -Schio. - -That night Joza dreamed that his tasks were ended, and that all day -long he luxuriated in most delicious ease, under the shade of olive -trees, and, when he woke, his heart grew sad, that it was only a dream. - -He rose in haste to go to his task, for he had overslept himself; then -he thought of Schio's advice. "I will do as he told me, though I fear -'twill do no good," thought he. "I can but fail, and who knows what -may come. - -"Schio is such a strange fellow; when he's talking, it seems as though -a hundred voices rung changes on his words. God grant he's not in -league with the devil." - -Joza crossed himself, and muttered prayers most devoutly until he -reached the house of the padre Antonio. - -After he had told the padre all Schio had directed, his task was -appointed, and he returned home, all day long resting in the shade of -his favorite lime-tree, smoking his cigarettés, and was happy as only -a careless, indolent Mexican could be, enjoying the luxury of complete -repose. - -Toward evening he began to be a little uneasy, but with the dewy -twilight, came Schio, waking the mysterious echoes, with his ringing -laughter, and, as the darkness deepened, he placed a lantern in Joza's -hand, saying: "Now, brother, we will go to the task you complain of so -bitterly." - -Silently they pursued their way, until they arrived at the huge pile, -upon which the padre had appointed Joza to begin his work. - -Many days would have passed before he could have hewn the rock as the -padre desired, but, with one blow of an immense drill, in Schio's -powerful hand, the rock was cleft in twain. As he reduced it to its -proper size and shape, Joza stood by, trembling with fear; then pointed -out the chosen spot, and, in silence and darkness, the first stone of -the Grand San Pedro was laid. - -When the full moon arose, clear and bright, shedding its floods of -golden light over the mission of Santa Barbara, and the blue waves -that washed its sanded shore, the laborers had gone—Joza, to sleep -peacefully in his little cottage, and Schio, down to the echoing -caverns by the sounding sea. - -Morning came, gorgeous with sunshine and beauty, and the padre walked -out to inspect the site of his ambitious dreams. - -He was an avaricious and unscrupulous man. - -In building this new church, he hoped to erect a tower of strength and -greatness for himself, more than an edifice in which to worship the -blessed Christ, the immaculate Virgin, and the holy saints. - -When he saw the huge foundation-stone that Schio had laid, he was -greatly amazed. - -Even the hewing of it, he knew to be the work of days, and there it -was, cleanly cleft, and in its proper place. - -"There is a mystery here," he said; "the people will believe it a -miracle; be it as it will, I must make the most of it." - -He called Joza, who came to him smiling and happy. - -"You have done well for the beginning," said the padre, "but to-night, -you must lay two stones like this." - -"Holy San Pedro, help me!" exclaimed Joza. "It is impossible!" and he -turned away, very sorrowful. - -At night he told Schio what the padre had said. Schio frowned, and -answered, "The padre should not ask too much; but this shall be as he -desires." - -Again they went out in the twilight, and before the rising of the -golden moon, two more foundation-stones were laid. - -At daybreak the padre arose, and hastened to see if the task had been -accomplished, and before his wondering eyes, lay the three immense -foundation-stones, smooth, and in their proper places. - -"Holy Virgin! I will give him enough to-night," exclaimed the amazed -padre, and again the task was doubled. - -Thus it went on, night after night, and week after week, till the Grand -San Pedro began to rise up like Aladdin's wonderful palace, but, Schio, -the man of iron, grew very angry, as the full moon arose upon him, -bending over his unfinished task. - -"Joza," said he, "the padre may go too far for even Schio to bear; bid -him beware! - -"If the morning sun finds me here, I will not answer for the result; -too much pressure will burst open the hidden recesses of earth, and -cause the caverns of ocean to resound with fearful echoes of mystery. - -"Can he think San Pedro will bless avarice and oppression, even in the -padre Antonio?" - -In the morning Joza went to the padre, and entreated him to lessen the -task, but he only laughed, and said: "You are getting fat and lazy. I -will not double your work to-night, but you shall do four times as much -as ever, and I will be there to see it accomplished." - -Joza departed with a heavy heart, dreading to meet Schio; and when he -told him in the evening, he made no reply, but a black frown covered -his whole face, and his eyes shot fire. - -That night the padre Antonio went out to watch Joza, and when he saw -Schio cleaving the huge stones with one blow of his wonderful drill, he -thought he had not imposed task enough, and resolved he would command -him to finish the Grand San Pedro in one night. - -Just after midnight the moon arose, and the startled Joza heard, at -every blow of the drill, a hundred echoes ring out from the ocean -caverns. But Schio worked steadily on. - -"Schio," said Joza, suddenly, "what is it makes these mournings from -the sea caves?" But Schio only answered by a heavier blow from his -hammer, and under their feet the ground shook violently, then opened, -and, where the Grand San Pedro should have stood, yawned a great -gulf, that closed upon the labor of many nights; and with the great -foundation-stones went down the ambitious padre. - -The morning sun rose on a scene of great desolation, but only Joza was -there, with trembling voice, to tell the tale of the padre Antonio and -the Grand San Pedro. - -When others spoke of the great earth quake, he said: "'Twas all Schio's -doings. - -"The padre would never be satisfied, and the man of iron grew so angry, -that he struck the great stone from the heart of the mountain, and -then the earth shook, opened, and swallowed up the padre Antonio and -the Grand San Pedro." - -Schio was never afterward seen at the mission of Santa Barbara, but -often, at evening, his ringing voice was wafted along the shore, from -the cave of echoes, down by the sea. - - - - -JUNG-FRAU MALEEN. - - -In a small village upon the shore of the German Ocean lived a man whose -wife had golden tresses so long and heavy that when they were unbound -they covered her like a cloak of sunbeams, and reached to her feet. Her -complexion was so fair, and her eyes so beautiful, that her equal was -not to be found in all the Fatherland. - -At last she fell sick and died, leaving her husband all alone in the -world, except one wee baby, who lay sleeping in the cradle. At first -the father was heart-broken, and noticed nothing, but after a time -all his love turned to the helpless infant, who every day grew more -lovely, and at last became as fair as her mother, with the same wealth -of golden hair and soft violet eyes, and all the Fatherland, from far -and near, was filled with the story of her great beauty. - -When she was only a little maid, she would go down to the sea-shore -and dance upon the sand, until her light straw hat would drop from her -head, and her waving tresses fall about her like a shower of pure gold, -and her violet eyes beam with the brightness of stars, while the flush -upon her cheeks rivaled the soft, fresh bloom of the peach. - -The maiden was called the fair Jung-frau Maleen, as she grew older -and every day added to her charms, till half the young men in the -country were ready to lay down their life for her; but though her ways -were winning, and she had a pleasant smile for all, no one could be -familiar with her. In her guileless innocence and beauty she seemed -a great way out of their reach, yet she danced with them, talked and -laughed with them, till her clear, sweet voice rang out upon the air -like the soft notes of a silver bell, but when she turned away, they -felt that she had gone from them forever. - -Among her lovers was a bashful student named Handsel, who worshiped the -Jung-frau Maleen with all the devotion of his great noble heart, but -ever at a distance. - -He seldom spoke to her. - -Even the rustle of her dress as she passed along would set his heart to -beating wildly, and the sound of her voice, or one glance of her violet -eye would send the hot blood rushing through his veins, dyeing his face -and neck a deep crimson. Poor Handsel! - -He would say to his heart, "Down, fool, the star of heaven is not for -you, look for some lovely flower of earth," but in all the Fatherland -he knew there was not another maiden who could satisfy the hunger of -his heart. - -At all the village festivals he looked on in the distance, and saw -others worship at the shrine he dared not approach. "I have nothing -worth offering her," he would say, and so he was silent. - -He was handsome and manly, and Maleen always looked for him in the -crowd, and when she saw him standing far apart with his large dark eyes -fixed upon her, she was more content than in his absence. If she had -questioned her heart for the reason of this she would have blushed with -confusion, for Jung-frau Maleen was not one who would willingly yield -her heart unsought. - -Maleen always loved the bright, sparkling sea, and often she would go -out alone in her little boat, and sail for hours over the blue waters, -gathering the pretty sea-weed, and indulging in the day-dreams that -German maidens love. - -One morning as Handsel was going to the college, he saw the Jung-frau -step into her boat and push away from the shore. - -He took off his hat and bowed. - -She looked at him with that rare, sweet smile that always made him -happy for days. - -He stopped and looked back after her as the boat glided from the -shore, and it seemed as though the sunshine of heaven and its bright -reflection upon the waters were united, and was poured out in one rich -flood of glory over her golden hair. - -Handsel passed on out of the light into the quiet seclusion of the -college, and bending over his book did not notice the rising of a -thick, black cloud that from a tiny speck soon swept over the whole -sky, then burst into wind and rain. - -He was living over the heroic ages of the olden time, when the darkness -fell across his book, and looking out the window he saw the fierce -storm gathering, and heard the wailing winds crying out, Maleen! -Maleen! 'Twas but the work of a moment to rush out into the storm and -down to the lashed sea-shore and there, he saw a crowd of anxious faces -all turned hopelessly out upon the pitiless breakers. - -He looked, and there tossed wildly upon the white-capped waves, rose -and fell the frail boat, and pale and hopeless sat the pride of the -Fatherland, the beautiful Jung-frau Maleen, her matchless golden hair -hanging like a damp shroud about her. - -There were the hosts of her admirers standing upon the shore wringing -their hands and weeping, they saw only death in an attempt to save -her, and no one was so mad as to venture out upon the storm-lashed sea. - -Even her father stood paralyzed in the hopelessness of his agony. - -A strong, manly voice burst in upon the echoes of the storm. "A boat! a -boat!" cried Handsel, with a stout-hearted determination in his voice -to brave the danger of the breakers, and save the maiden he loved from -the angry waters. - -A long rope was tied about his body, and in a moment more the life-boat -was tossing upon the crested waves, with the brave student at the prow, -and the poor helpless Maleen rose up and held out her white arms toward -him. - -On over the cruel waves, the boats were nearing each other. The agony -of suspense that filled the breathless crowd! Great God! if they -should meet and crash together! - -Down they went into the great sea gulf; Maleen with outstretched arms, -and Handsel with his great heart beating like a signal-drum in his -bosom, pale but unfaltering. - -Down! down they went! - -Now up came the billow, but only one boat, and Handsel at the prow was -struggling for the shore. - -"Oh, Maleen! Maleen!" burst from the father's white lips, then a tress -of rich golden hair hanging over the side of the boat met his sight, -and he knew that Maleen was in the boat with Handsel. - -On it came to the shore, like a charmed boat it escaped the perilous -breakers, till at last, no one could tell how, only through God's great -mercy, they were saved, and Handsel stood upon the shore with Maleen in -his arms. - -He gave the maiden to her weeping father, then sank away, and no one -thought of him, all were gathered around Maleen, who had fainted. - -Soon she opened her violet eyes, and looked around searchingly through -the crowd with a strange fear. "Where, where, is Handsel?" she cried, -in wild excitement. - -Then they all wondered how they could have forgotten him, and looking -round they saw him sitting alone, with his head bowed down upon his -hands. He did not want their thanks. - -'Twas joy enough to him, that he had saved Maleen, and, brave man as he -was, he sat there weeping like a child. - -Maleen rose up, and walked feebly to him, and kneeling down upon the -sand, she put her hand upon his shoulder, and whispered "Handsel!" - -Handsel raised his head, and saw what he had never dared hope for, in -the soft violet eyes upturned to his. - -He answered only, "Maleen!" and, throwing his arms around her, pressed -her fair golden-crowned head to his bosom. - -Thus it was, that in the presence of God, the storm, and all the -people—there by the the wild sea-shore, Handsel was betrothed to the -most beautiful maiden in all the dear Fatherland,—The Jung-frau -Maleen. - - - - -JUANETTA; - -OR, - -THE TREASURE OF THE LAKE OF THE TULIES - - -A great many years ago, before the discovery of the wonderful gold -mines of California, there lived in Los Angelos an old Spanish family -of pure Castilian blood. - -Don Carlos De Strada was very rich. Far as the eye could reach his -broad acres were spread out to his admiring view, and his flocks and -herds almost literally fed upon a thousand hills. - -His house was large and commodious, built after the Spanish fashion—an -adobe house—surrounded on all sides by a wide piazza, and in the -center an open courtyard. The windows were guarded by latticed bars of -iron, and all the gates and doors were opened by massive keys. Bolts -and bars belong as much to a Spanish house, as light elegancies to the -hotel of a Parisian. - -When Don Carlos left the banks of the Guadalquivir for the wild Lake of -the Tulies, he brought with him a beautiful young wife, who loved him -with all the passionate ardor of a Spanish woman. - -It was a great change for the dainty lady, from the stately halls of -castellated Spain to the wilderness of Los Angelos, although it was a -wilderness of sweets, and the most enchanting climate in the world. -Though the Don was a thorough-bred aristocrat, he was a shrewd business -man, and so intent was he on becoming a great lord of the soil in the -new country, that he did not notice the roses fading from the olive -cheeks of his wife, and the soft mellow light of the woman's eye giving -place to the more ethereal brightness of spiritual fire. - -Spanish women seldom work, but in their hours of apparent listlessness -they indulge in wild and ardent imaginings; and thus she would sit on -the vine-clad piazza of the inner court, looking up to the clear sky, -unrivaled even in Italy, until she would almost fancy, from the heavens -above, she heard the rippling of the blue waters of the Guadalquivir. - -There was one great hunger of her heart the Don seldom satisfied. -She was his wife, and beautiful; as such, he loved her; but he never -lavished the thousand little endearments upon her that is the natural -food of woman's heart. - -As the evening drew near, she would go to the barred window and look -out upon the luxurious landscape, thinking only of the coming of her -lord; and when she saw him, she would go timidly out to meet him, and -hold her beautiful oval face up for a kiss, longing for him to throw -his arms around her, and, if only for a moment, hold her to his heart. - -He would kiss her lightly, saying, coldly: "There, that will do; be a -woman now, not a baby." Then she would call up a quiet dignity, until -she could steal for a few moments away, unobserved, and press her hands -tightly upon her heart, saying: "If he would only love me! If he would -only love me, I could live away from home, away from Spain, from every -thing, for him! I must learn to be a woman, and then, at least he'll -respect me. - -"Oh, dear! I wish he didn't think it so foolish in me to want to be -loved! But I must go to him. I'll try and talk like a woman, but I -don't know any thing about the business that occupies his thoughts and -time. He never tells me any thing because he thinks I'm such a baby. If -he'd only love me, and let me be a baby sometimes, I think I'd be more -of a woman." - -Then the young wife would try to call up from her weakness new -strength, and wiping away the traces of her emotion, would go out to -be what pleased her lord, only a little paler, but with heart-strings -quivering like an Æolian harp in a cold north wind. - -One year passed in the strange, new country, and a beautiful babe was -born to the ancient house of De Strada, but the mother died, and was -buried by the clear Lake of the Tulies. - -Don Carlos wept for his beautiful young wife, whose heart had been a -sealed book, "Love, the Secret of Happiness," written for him in an -unknown tongue. - -His days of mourning were few. The rain fell upon the new-made grave as -he gave the infant in charge of an Indian nurse who had just lost her -own little baby. The savage mother took the child to her bosom, while -the polished father turned away and looked out upon the green hills -rich in verdure, counting the probable increase of his flocks and herds -in the coming year, and, in the pleasant prospect, forgot his sorrow. - -The little Juanetta grew to be a beautiful, healthy child, under the -care of her indulgent nurse. - -She knew where all the wild flowers grew, could shoot an arrow very -well, or climb a tree, and, in many of the curious arts of the tribe, -was quite skillful. - -She was well versed in all the Indian traditions, and believed them -with childish credulity. She seemed to have drawn the wildness, of the -Indian nature from the dusky bosom of her nurse, and with her little -bow and arrow would roam the woods for whole days. - -At times her father would ask the nurse, "How is Juanetta?" and, at -the reply, "The child is well," he would forget that every day she was -growing less and less an infant, and needed more and more a mother's -care. - -Thus things went on until she was eleven years old. She was very -tall of her age, with her long black hair hanging over her graceful -shoulders, her rich olive complexion deepened by the glowing sun, and -her dark eyes, fawn-like in their softness and timidity, she looked -like a beautiful child of the wild wood. - -Her father would look at her, and say: "The girl is a perfect savage; -she must be placed at a convent; the Sisters would soon make a lady of -her, for the De Strada blood is rich in her veins;" and then he would -smile proudly at her rare beauty. - -The summer following brought a change to Don Carlos. Till then he had -been prosperous; but there had been no rain, and the grass withered and -dried up until the famished cattle died by thousands, and the hills, -once covered with animal life, were left bare and desolate. Don Carlos, -who lost heavily, became more than ever absorbed in business cares, and -again the child was forgotten. - -Juanetta saw that her father was greatly troubled, and she thought if -she could only find some of the treasures hidden so many years ago -by the great Chief of the Tulies, she could make him rich again, and -he would smile upon her as he sometimes used to before the cattle -died—since then, his dark frowning face had frightened her. - -She had often listened to her old nurse, sitting by the clear lake, as -she told her how, years ago, a great ship came to Los Angelos filled -with fair men, with long flowing beards, golden in the sunshine, and -eyes like the blue summer sky, and how there was one among them, taller -and nobler than all the rest, who was their Chief. - -For days they rode about the country, making their camp by the Lake of -the Tulies, and tradition said they brought beautiful shining stones, -that glistened like the stars of night, and great sacks of yellow gold -to the lake, and buried them there at midnight; then went away in the -great ship over the water. - -They were seen by an old Indian woman, who was gathering magic herbs, -but from that moment it seemed as though a fearful spell had fallen -upon her, for when she tried to tell the story, just as she was about -to speak of the place where the treasure was hidden, her tongue would -cleave to the roof of her mouth, and she could not utter a word; and -when she attempted to go to the spot where it was buried, her feet -would fasten themselves to the ground, and she could not move. From -that night she seemed bewitched, and she soon died, taking the secret -of the buried treasure with her to the unknown spirit land. - -Juanetta had nothing to do but listen to the wild Indian lore, and roam -through the woods and down by the Lake of the Tulies; and it was not -strange that with her poetic temperament, she reveled in the marvelous, -till it seemed to her the natural and the real. - -She longed for the magic talisman to point her to the hidden treasure, -and show her the wonders of the deep, until she felt sure that one day -she should discover it. She told all these fancies to her nurse, who -was almost her only companion, and who encouraged her, believing her, -in her fond love, to be one of the Great Spirit's chosen children. - -The winter came on with rare beauty. The rain, so long withheld, fell -copiously, until the hills were covered with luxurious verdure and -gorgeous flowers. Don Carlos's heart grew lighter; he might hope to -recover his losses in time. The orange orchard was laden with fruit, -and the lemons fell to the ground from the bending trees. Juanetta -loved the green grass, the fragrant flowers, and the golden fruit, and -her wild nature expanded into the poetry of the year. - -One morning she rose with the crimson dawning, and, stealing away while -her old nurse slept, she ran softly to the Lake of the Tulies, and -bathed her face in the clear water till the brightness of youth and -morning seemed united in her radiant beauty. - -Suddenly Juanetta stopped, her tiny hand dripping with water, half -raised to her glowing face, and her soft, dark eyes sparkling with -strange excitement. Upon the brow of the distant hill, still covered -with the mist of the morning, she saw the Chief of the Lake of the -Tulies. She knew it was him by the soft, purple light that gathered -around him; by the glow of perpetual youth that enveloped him, and by -the crimson clouds that dropped their fleece so near, and yet could not -conceal his noble bearing. - -To her eye, there seemed a shining glory about his bronze beard, and -his brow and cheeks glowing in the early sunlight, were fairer than -any she had ever seen among the dusky Indian tribes or olive Spaniards. - -Down the hill he came, a light straw hat in his hand, and the air -playing with the light waves of his abundant hair. On he came to the -lake, and to the spot where the little maiden sat, full of wonder and -admiration. - -He, too, seemed a little surprised when he saw her, but in the soft -Spanish tongue, bade her "Good morning," and asked whose little girl -she was, and what had brought her so early to the charmed lake. - -"I am Don Carlos's daughter, Juanetta," said the child, "and you, the -Chief of the Lake of the Tulies?" - -A smile gathered around the lips of the Chief, and filled his blue -eyes, with a light so pleasant that the child drew near him, and placed -her little brown hand confidingly in his. He drew her to him, saying, -kindly:— - -"You know me, then? I am the Chief of the Lake of the Tulies, and what -can I do for the little Juanetta?" - -"Tell me," said the child, "of all the wonderful treasures hidden by -the lake, and of the palaces of the sea, and the coral groves under the -great waters!" - -The Chief led her to a rock that overhung the lake, and told her to -look over into the waters, and she saw them clear and sparkling in the -morning sun, and it seemed as though the light of a thousand brilliants -was stealing through the shining waves. - -He told her of glittering diamonds beneath the sea, richer far than all -the hills and valleys of Los Angelos, covered with flocks and herds; -and how the coral trees outshone the trees of earth, in beauty, and of -the crystal palaces of the deep, and of the maidens of the sea, whose, -purple hair like sea-weed, sometimes floated above the waves. - -Juanetta told him she had often found locks of their silken hair upon -the beach, and how beautiful it was. He told her of the sounding -shells, and ocean harps breathing their rich, deep-toned melody, -and the thousand mysteries of the wild sea lore, till the delighted -Juanetta begged him to take her with him down, down to the crystal -caves, and let her become a sea-maiden, and gather pearls under the -blue waters of the deep. - -But he replied: "You are a child of the woods, not of the wave; you may -become an immortal spirit in the sky, but never in the deep, deep sea." - -Tears gathered in her eyes, and she said: "You are cruel to Juanetta, -Chief of the Lake of the Tulies. You of all your wealth of beauty, -will grant Juanetta nothing. Juanetta must live alone, in the woods and -fields, with only the old nurse and the father who always forgets her." - -He soothed the little maiden gently, and told her he would grant her -greater treasures than those of the deep, if she would obey him; and -she kissed his hand and promised. - -Then he took from his bosom, a talisman, and gave it to her, saying: -"Juanetta, this cross will guard you from evil spirits. When you are -troubled or angry, take it from your bosom, and ask the great Father -above to bless you and help you. Do this earnestly five minutes, and -the evil spirits will leave you." And Juanetta kissed the cross and -promised. - -"I have yet another talisman" he continued, "and very powerful. It -opens a new world of delight and beauty, to those who are willing to -give their time, care, and diligent attention to the study of it. Would -you like it, Juanetta? You could no longer wander all day through the -woods, hunting wild-flowers, or dream away your life by the Lake of the -Tulies. Could you give up the wild pleasures of your present life, for -the gifts of the talisman I have promised?" - -Juanetta's face was glowing with wonder and delight; she longed to -enter the unknown promised land: - -"I will do any thing, I will give up any thing you tell me, she cried, -with enthusiasm." - -She was enchanted with the unseen gifts that left so much to her fervid -imagination to picture, and she was delighted with the giver, the -handsome young Chief of the Lake of the Tulies, whose pleasant smile, -and pleasing words, made morning's golden sunshine in her heart. - -"But won't you show me where the treasure of the Lake of the Tulies -lies hidden?" she said, blushingly. "All those rare gems, crimson, -purple, golden, and diamonds sparkling like the morning dew. What can -be more beautiful than these?" - -All her life, Juanetta had heard of the matchless luster of these -hidden jewels, and now to be so near them, with the Chief of the Lake -of the Tulies by her side, she felt that her day dreams of beauty -might, with one word of his, or a touch of his magic wand, be realized. - -"Do not ask for too much in one morning, Juanetta," he replied, -laughing. "Now for talisman number two," and he took a book from his -pocket, and until the sun had risen high in the heavens, they sat -bending over it together with mutual pleasure. - -Then the Chief of the Lake of the Tulies arose, taking her little -bronzed hand in his, saying: "I must go, my little Juanetta. Keep the -talisman, and study it well. The new morning is dawning for you now; -what a queen of light 'twill make you?" And he passed his hand over the -thick waves of tangled hair that fell in long masses over the shoulders -of the beautiful child. - -Tears gathered in the dark eyes of the maiden. "Are you going now, -Chief of the Lake of the Tulies?" said she, sadly: "Going to the -crystal palaces of the sea? And shall you take the treasure of the lake -with you? Take the talisman, I can do nothing without you! Here alone! -Only the old nurse, and the father who never thinks, never thinks of -Juanetta! And you, too, will forget Juanetta!" - -"No! no, Juanetta, I will not forget you, but will come again -to-morrow. I will not go to the sea, since you cannot go, but will stay -and teach you the use of the talisman, and the treasure of the lake -shall rest till we can find it together! So now good-by to-day." - -And then they parted, and Juanetta was very happy in the light of the -new dawning. - -All day long she studied, and many successive days, and the Chief of -the Lake of the Tulies always came, either at morning or at evening, to -hear her lesson. - -Sometimes she would ask him about the hidden treasure, as they walked -by the lake; he would smile and say, "I have found a treasure by the -Lake of the Tulies richer than all the gems of the ocean," and when -Juanetta begged him to show it to her, he would tell, her to look into -the water; but she could see only the reflection of her own sweet -face, full of wondering happiness. - -Then he would laugh again, and say, he could not tell her now of his -treasure by the Lake of the Tulies, but he would describe the rich gold -mine he had discovered in the cañon, and tell her there was gold enough -in it almost to fill up the lake. - -Thus weeks and months passed by. Juanetta was twelve years old. She -had improved rapidly in her studies, and had learned to call her -young teacher by another name, not so long or high sounding, but very -pleasant to them both, and often they would laugh at their first -strange meeting by the charmed Lake of the Tulies. - -At last her father was aroused to the sense of her increasing beauty. -He saw, that the years of childhood were fast passing away, and that -she stood upon the threshold of dawning womanhood. - -He was greatly surprised, and delighted to find her proficient in -studies of which he supposed she knew nothing, and he made all possible -haste to have her placed at a convent, where she could enjoy every -advantage of culture and refinement. - -The young stranger who had been her teacher, became a great favorite -with Don Carlos. He was engaged in developing a mine, in the San -Francisco cañon, in which he succeeded in amassing great wealth, though -in after years the mine failed to yield its store of golden treasure. - -Four years passed away, and Juanetta returned to her father's house, an -accomplished, and beautiful lady. Again by the Lake of the Tulies, she -met the Chief of her childhood's dreams, and there together, they found -the treasure greater than all the wealth of land or sea, the pure and -earnest love of their youthful hearts. - -They were married, and Don Carlos's heart swelled proudly, as he -thought of the great wealth their union had brought into his family, -while they blessed God for the lifelong treasure He had given them, by -the charmed Lake of the Tulies. - - - - -EMPEROR NORTON. - - -Once upon a time there lived near a small village on the shore of the -Atlantic, an honest farmer named Norton, who had three sons. - -The two elder were smart, active lads, but the youngest was quiet, -and so much given to dreaming that his brothers ridiculed and often -slighted him. - -"He is so stupid," they would say, "he will be a disgrace to the -family;" but what annoyed him most, they gave him the unpleasant -_sobriquet_ of Dumpy, on account of his fat, rosy cheeks. - -As the boys grew up, the eldest took the farm, and was to take care -of the father and mother, the second became clerk to a merchant in a -neighboring city, but poor Dumpy, in the indolence of his disposition, -did nothing. He was always hoping some impossible thing would "turn -up," but he had no rich relations, indeed no one seemed to take much -interest in him but the mother, who would always say, "Poor Dumpy, he -is a good-hearted boy," then she would sigh heavily, as though there -was nothing more to be said. - -At last the father became quite out of patience, and calling the boy -to him one day, he said: "You are now twenty years old, and never -have earned so much as your salt, and it is quite time for you to do -something for yourself. Your brother, who has taken the farm, complains -that he is obliged to support you in idleness, which certainly is not -right." - -"For the farm he will take care of your mother and me, but you and -your other brother must look out for yourselves." - -"Give me," answered Dumpy, "what money you can spare, I ask nothing -more, I will go and seek my fortune, and you shall hear of me when I -become a rich man." - -The father gave him what money he could, and he went away, no one at -home knew whither, leaving only the mother to weep for him. - -When Dumpy left the farm-house he walked on to the village, feeling -that he was going into the great world full of promise, but he never -dreamed of disappointment. - -When he arrived at the village inn the stage was standing at the door. -"I will go," he said, "where fortune leads me." So he took his seat in -the stage, and paid his fare to the end of the route, which happened to -be the great city of New York. - -All day long he was very happy looking out of the windows upon the -changing landscape, and indulging in day-dreams. Sometimes he would -come to a pretty village nestling among the hills. "I would like," he -would think, "of all things to stop here, 'tis so very pleasant, but I -have paid my money, and I must go on." - -It was night when the stage entered the city, its heavy wheels rumbling -over the paved streets, and crowding along past carts, omnibuses, and -carriages, till poor Dumpy, who had never been in the city before, -began to feel very much bewildered and confused. - -"Where shall I go," said Dumpy to the driver, when the stage stopped. -"'Tis so noisy I can't hear myself think. Oh, dear! I don't know what -to do," and he looked so pitiably helpless that the driver was sorry -for him, though he could not help laughing. "Come with me, my boy," he -said, so he went with the driver to the cheap lodging-house, where he -stopped when in town. - -To enumerate all poor Dumpy's adventures while in New York would be -impossible. Enough to say it was not long before his money was gone, -and he shipped before the mast in a merchant vessel for California. - -Poor Dumpy! Now came woful experiences, for a time he was wretchedly -seasick, and he soon found that to go before the mast was no joke, but -in his way he was quite a philosopher, and after a few weeks became a -very good sailor. - -As he was pleasant and obliging he became a favorite with all on board, -but he loved most of all when off duty, to sit by himself in the soft -starlit evenings as the good ship sailed over the tropic seas, and -dream of the land of gold to which he was going. - -He possessed a vivid imagination, and his visions of the wealth of the -new Eldorado were most glowing. - -He would picture to himself how like a prince he would luxuriate in -riches, how great and generous he would be, even to the brothers who -had despised him. It is a happiness to be able to revel in dreams as he -did, for the pleasures of anticipation are but too often greater than -the reality. - -He loved his mother, she at least had always been kind and gentle to -him. - -"My dear mother," he would say to himself, with a bright tear in his -eye, "she shall yet live in a palace. God bless her, dear mother." - -Then he would sigh till a bright thought drove away the sad one. "Oh, -'tis so delightful to be rich," he would say. - -Then he would rub his hands as complacently as though the wealth of the -Indies lay at his feet. - -"I shall give the father every thing he wishes of course," he would -continue, "and I will make the brothers rich men, for to be generous -and forgive is the attribute of true greatness, and for myself I will -marry the prettiest woman in the world, and I will give her every thing -she can possibly desire." - -Often the sharp quick bell, for change of watch, would call him to -duty, and scatter his gorgeous dreams, leaving only the dull, hard -present in his mind and heart. - -At length the good ship arrived in San Francisco, and there again Dumpy -found all the wild bustle and confusion of the early days. - -Gold was plenty in dust and bars. - -When a man bought any thing he would take out of his bag of gold dust -as much dust as he was to pay for the article, and he would be off. - -The highest price was paid for labor, and Dumpy soon engaged to drive -a cart for two hundred and fifty dollars per month, but he determined -to make this arrangement only for a short time, till he could get money -enough to go out prospecting in the mining districts. - -This he soon accomplished, but he found a life in the mines even harder -than before the mast, but the golden future was before him, and he -persevered. - -He and another young adventurer built a cabin together by a little -spring of clear, bubbling water. - -They worked early and late, with the wearisome pick and shovel for -the precious gold that was to pave the pathway of their lives with -happiness, but often night found them disappointed and weary, and they -would return to their lonely cabins, cook and eat their coarse supper, -and lie down upon the hard floor, wrap their blankets around them, -with heavy and hopeless hearts. But thank God, sunshine and the fresh -morning brings renewed life and hope to young hearts. - -One morning when Dumpy awoke he found his companion had risen and gone -out before him, so he went out alone, thinking, "who knows what will -turn up before night, I may become a millionaire. I'll try my luck -alone to-day;" so he did not go to the ledge they had been prospecting -the day before, but started off in a new direction. - -All day long he worked diligently, but the sunset found him as poor as -the dawning, and quite worn out, he threw himself down upon the ledge -to rest a little before going home. "Ah, me!" thought he, sadly, "how -long the poor mother will have to wait for her palace." - -As the sunset deepened into twilight, he rose, and shouldering his pick -and shovel, started for the cabin. "I can not call it home," he said to -himself, "there is no mother there." - -He had not gone far, before a little shrill voice arrested him, and -looking down, he saw a little old man, sitting among the loose stones, -rubbing his foot and ankle, and groaning piteously. - -He was very quaintly dressed, in a little red jacket, and wore a -Spanish hat with little gold bells around it, and his long gray beard -swept the ground, as he sat dismally among the rocks. - -"Oh, dear! I cannot move," said the little man; "I have sprained my -foot, will not you help me home? Oh dear! oh dear!" and he moaned so -piteously that Dumpy, who was kind-hearted, was very sorry for him; so -he took the old man up in his arms as tenderly as if he had been an -infant. - -The old man pointed out the way, and Dumpy trudged wearily on, for -though he was no bigger than a child of eight years old, he seemed -quite heavy to Dumpy. After working all day with the pick and shovel, -and finding nothing, his heart was heavy with hope deferred. "If I had -found gold to-day," thought he, "a light heart would have made a light -burden; but thank God I am well, and this poor man suffers fearfully." - -Poor Dumpy! He went on, down the cañon, then up the mountain, it seemed -to him for miles; at last the little man pointed to a crevice in the -rock, through which Dumpy managed with some difficulty to creep; but -as he went on it widened, and suddenly opened into a large cavern. - -"Go on," said the old man, sharply, as Dumpy stopped and gazed around -with astonishment. So he went on till they came to a large hall -sparkling with crystal, and glowing with precious stones. - -A large chandelier hung from the roof, and cast a flood of softened -light through the whole cavern, and Dumpy could see in the stone floor -large masses of pure yellow gold. - -He saw in the huge irregular pillars that rose to the dome of the -cavern, great veins of the precious ore, and everywhere it was -scattered about with the most lavish profusion. - -Curious golden figures, carved with strange devices, stood in the -niches, and there were couches with golden frames, and tables of gold, -so that the light, reflected from the clear crystal dome, glittering -with shining pendants, by the softening yellow tinge, was mellow and -pleasant. - -Poor Dumpy had been so long in the twilight and darkness, that he was -dazzled by the brilliant scene, and for a few moments was obliged to -close his eyes, and when he opened them, he saw that he was surrounded -by a large crowd of the little people, who were full of anxious fears -about the old man he held in his arms, but he assured them he was -suffering only from a sprain, which, though very painful, was not -dangerous. They gathered anxiously around the little man as he laid him -upon a couch. - -He soon discovered that the man he had assisted was king over the -little people who guard the mountain treasures, covering the rich -places with unpromising stones and earth, and often misleading the -honest miner by scattering grains of the precious metal in waste -places; thus it is we hear so often of disappointed hopes, and -abandoned mines. - -After they had in some measure relieved the suffering of their chief, -they turned to Dumpy, who stood in the most profound astonishment, -drinking in all he saw or heard. - -"You have done me a great kindness," said the chief; "and, though it -is our business to mislead miners, we can be grateful, and you may now -claim any reward you desire." - -"I have saved your ruler," said Dumpy, looking at the crowd of little -people, and trying to think of something great to ask as a reward. - -"Our chief! our king!" cried all the little people, together. "Ask what -you will and it shall be granted." - -"I would be great as well as rich," thought Dumpy, so he said aloud: -"Make me emperor of all the mines, and let all the miners pay tribute -to me." - -"It shall be so," said the king. Then he called one of his servants -to bring the golden crown and scepter, and bidding Dumpy kneel before -him, he placed the scepter in his hand and the crown upon his head, and -striking him a sharp blow upon his shoulder, he said, "Arise, Emperor -Norton. - -"As long as you preserve this crown and scepter from moth or rust, dew -or fog, you shall be the true emperor of all the mines in California -and Nevada, and all the miners shall pay you yearly tribute, but if you -lose either crown or scepter, or moth, rust, midnight dews and damps -fall upon them, they will fade away, and you will be emperor in name -only, and the miners shall pay you no yearly tribute." - -"So let it be," said the newly-made emperor; and they all sat down to -a table spread with every delicacy, and feasted till the noon of the -following day. - -When the emperor bade the knights of the mountain adieu, the little -gray king said: "Beware of the dews and damps of the night," and he -started for his cabin. - -"I will first visit my old comrade," he said, "though he is now one of -my subjects, I will not be proud and haughty." - -One of the little men ran before him, and led the way out of the cave -into the sunlight, which was so bright that the emperor shaded his -eyes with his hand, and when he had removed it the little man had -disappeared. - -The emperor looked around, but could see no trace of him; even the -crevice through which he had passed, was nowhere to be seen. - -"It is a wonderful dream," said he; but no! there was the golden crown -upon his head, and the scepter in his hand. - -"I will find that cave," thought he; so he began to look for it very -eagerly, till the lengthening shadows told of the coming of evening, -and he thought of the gray king's warning, "Beware of the dews and -damps of night." - -"Oh dear! if I should lose the tribute money," he said, in great -distress; "I should be emperor but could build no palace for the -mother, nor could I marry the prettiest woman in the world, and supply -her innumerable wants;" so he started in great haste for the camp, -always keeping fast hold of the crown and scepter. - -On he rushed till the shades of twilight filled the deep cañon, through -which he was obliged to pass, then he broke into a run, crying, "Oh -me! if I should be too late! too late! now that my hopes are crowned -with success. Too late! too late!" - -"Haste makes waste," and so the emperor found it. He lost the path and -became entangled in brush and rocks, until he became almost wild with -despair. - -The night came on with a heavy mist that near morning deepened into -rain. - -With the gray twilight of the dawning, weary and worn, he reached his -cabin door, but the golden crown and scepter had passed away into the -mists of night. - -The poor emperor told of his wanderings to his comrades, and mourned -over the night in which his crown and scepter had departed from him, -but they only laughed, saying, "You have been dreaming again, Emperor -Norton." - -He never took the pick and shovel again. "Shall an emperor work," he -would say, "while thousands of his subjects roll in luxury?" - -An emperor, he thought, should reside in the chief city of his realm, -so he left the mines and came to San Francisco. - -Here for years he has lived, always wearing a well-worn suit of blue, -with epaulettes upon the shoulders, which, perhaps, might have been an -unmentioned gift of the gray king of the mountains. - -At the table of all restaurants and hotels he is a free and welcome -guest, and all places of amusement are open to him; in fact, wherever -you go in San Francisco, you are almost sure to meet the Emperor -Norton. - - - - -DEATH'S VALLEY; - -OR, - -THE GOLDEN BOULDER. - - -Years ago, even before what Californians understand to be the "early -days," Dick Fielding was promoted to a captaincy in the United States -Army. - -Merry days were those, while he was stationed near the metropolitan -city. Good pay, little work, brilliant parties to attend, and beautiful -women to make love to. Love making seemed the natural element of -the gay young captain, and thanks to his handsome face and shining -epaulettes, he was very successful. - -In this world our dear delights are but fleeting as the smiles of -an April day—so thought poor Dick as he sat one morning about -eleven o'clock at his luxurious breakfast, reading a dispatch from -head-quarters that doomed him to the wilderness of Fort Tejon, far -below the quaint old Spanish town of Los Angelos. - -'Twas a sad day for the gallant young captain, but all his sighs -and regrets were unavailing. There was no reprieve—orders must be -obeyed. Fortunately Dick was of an elastic temperament, and the love -of adventure and the charm of novelty which the new country possessed -for him soon returned to him that zest for life which youth and health -seldom entirely lose. - -Southern California has a most generous climate, producing in the -valleys the luxurious vegetation of the tropics, and on the hills and -mountains the hardier products of the temperate zone. - -Dick was a favorite among the officers, social and joyous in his -disposition, he became the life of the garrison. He was a fine -horseman, and often he would join a party of the Mexican rangers in -their excursions, and ride for days over the beautiful country round -Fort Tejon. - -He could shoot an arrow very handsomely, and by his easy good nature he -was soon on friendly terms with the Indians, who in that part of the -country are so mixed with the native Californians or Mexicans that it -is difficult to distinguish the races. - -He became an expert in all the athletic sports of the country, but -with all he could do, the monotony of a life at Fort Tejon was very -wearisome to him; so when he found a beautiful young girl among the -Indians, he plunged recklessly into his old habit, of love making; and -in a few weeks he was domesticated in a little adobe house near the -fort with his pretty Indian bride, who amused him for the time like any -other novelty of the country. - -She, poor simple child of the wild-wood, worshiped her handsome, -blue-eyed husband, and thought his hair and beard had stolen their -golden beauty from the glowing sunshine. - -After a time a little one came to the cottage, and the young Indian -mother was very happy in loving the father and child who made the -wilderness a heaven for her. - -Weeks, months, and years passed by, and Captain Fielding longed -intensely to visit the gay world again. He had grown weary of his -Indian wife, and his son in his eyes was only a young papoose, of whom -he was very much ashamed. - -At length the order came for his reprieve. He was summoned to return -to the Atlantic States; but of this he said nothing to his wife. One -bright spring morning he left her looking out after him from the door -of the little adobe, holding her three-year old boy in her arms, -smiling and telling him in her own soft language that dear papa would -come back at evening. - -The burning fingers of remorse pressed heavily upon the father's -heart as he looked upon the pretty picture—but only for a moment. He -turned away, saying with a sigh of relief: "She'll soon forget me, for -some Indian Chief, perhaps," and was gone from her sight out into the -distance, on toward the great busy world. - -Night came on with its damps and darkness, wrapping the heart of the -young wife in its shroud of shadows, never to be lifted till the -brightness of the spirit land made glad morning shine about her. - -Day by day she watched the shadows lengthen, hoping when the sun went -down in the crimson west he would return; but the golden moonlight -found her watching in vain, swaying her sleeping boy too and fro in her -arms, and drearily singing the song of her heart, in a voice from which -the gladness of hope was fast dying out. - -She called him Dick, for his father, and with a perseverance which only -deep love could give her, talked his father's language to him in her -pretty, imperfect way. - -The little one grew to be a strong, handsome boy, with a dark Spanish -face, and eyes full of fire, or love as his mood moved them. In some -things he was like his father; gay, dashing, and attractive in his -disposition, he became a great favorite with the officers at Fort -Tejon, who taught him to read and write and many other things, much to -the delight of his mother, who would say with tears in her dark eyes: -"If his father lives to return he will thank you better than I can." - -In the spring she would say: "Before the orange-flowers ripen to golden -fruit he will return," and in the autumn, "before the fair buds gladden -the green hillsides he will be here!" - -But springs and autumns passed, till the broken spirit, hopeless and -weary with waiting, passed into the unknown future, and they buried her -where the first rays of the morning sun fell upon the graveyard flowers. - -Dick loved his mother fondly, and after she died he grew more wild and -daring than ever, but with the undercurrent of his nature flowed all -the subtle instinct of the Indian. - -Often at Fort Tejon he heard of the great world far beyond the -wilderness, and he learned that gold was the talisman that opened the -gates of earthly paradise. So he said in his heart, "I will have gold!" - -Young as he was and wild in his nature, he saw a witching paradise in -the soft blue eyes and sunny curls of the Colonel's young daughter -Madeline, but no one knew that he worshiped her, no one but God and his -own heart. - -Among the Indian and Spanish boys Dick was chief. To the lowliest he -was gentle, to the proudest, superior, and by a wonderful magnetic -power in one so young he bowed them all to his will. No one among -them thought to question his bidding; he was the ruler, and without a -thought they obeyed him. He could ride fearlessly the wildest horse, -send the truest arrow from the bow, and laughed carelessly at danger as -though he bore a charmed life. - -One evening he lay upon the green grass before an Indian encampment, -looking dreamily up at the great golden moon as it sailed along through -the clear summer sky, surrounded by the paler light of the modest stars, -and thinking how Madeline was like the moon, queen of all maidens. - -The rest were beautiful, but in comparison with the sweet Madeline were -but attendant lights. Then he thought of the great world where one day -Madeline would shine fairest of the fair, and that before he could -enter the charmed circle he must win the talisman that would give him -every thing, but best of all, sweet Madeline. - -Near him the Indian youths and maidens had gathered round an old man of -their tribe, who was telling them the legend of the "Golden Boulder." - -"Yes," said the old man, "white men would risk their lives for it, if -they could only find the valley, but even the Indians except one tribe -who make war upon all others, have lost trace of it; but there in the -center rises a great round boulder, yellow as the full moon, all gold, -pure gold!" - -"Where?" cried Dick, springing with one bound into the circle. Then for -the first time he listened to the old tradition of the Golden Boulder -in Death's Valley. - -"Far to the south," said the old Indian, "lies a country rich in gold -and precious stones. The tribe who inhabits that region makes war with -all who dare to cross the boundaries of their hunting-grounds. In some -way they have become possessed of guns from which they shoot golden -bullets with unerring precision. - -"The country is shut in by mountains, and the great Colorado pours its -waters through it. Far into the interior, deep down in the shadows, -lies Death's Valley, and in its center rises the great Golden -Boulder, and round it are scattered innumerable precious stones, whose -brightness pierces the dusky shadows with their shining light." - -The tradition came from an old man of the hostile tribe who many years -ago was taken prisoner. Many adventurous Mexicans and Spaniards had -sought Death's Valley, but none had ever returned from its shroud of -shadows. - -Dick listened to the story with deep attention. For days the thought of -it pursued him, and at night when he closed his eyes the great round -boulder of gold rose before him, and the glittering stones made the -night shining as the day. - -He could learn nothing more from the Indians than the old tradition, -but every day he became more resolved, at any hazard, to win the great -talisman, gold, which alone could open the door of happiness and -greatness for him; even if he were obliged to seek it among the shadows -in Death's Valley, he would win it. - -It was the early days of February, which in Lower California is the -spring time of the year. Golden oranges still hung upon the trees amid -the shining leaves and snow-white flowers, the buds of promise for the -coming year, while everywhere gorgeous flowers brightened the fragrant -hillsides and dewy valleys. - -Without a word of farewell to any one, Dick started out into the -trackless wilderness alone, with only his rifle and a small hatchet to -blaze the trees now and then. Guided by the Indian's unerring instinct, -he reached the Colorado, strong and vigorous as when he left the -neighborhood of Fort Tejon. - -He had wanted for nothing; his trusty gun had supplied him with -game, and the fruits of the wild-wood had furnished him dessert. Thus -alone in the luxuriance of that sunny clime he wandered for days, but -still no trace of the valley, or the Golden Boulder; but he was not -disheartened. - -Day and night, the gorgeous imagery that decked the future, gathered -round him. As the reward of all this toil and lonely wanderings, he -saw his golden hopes fulfilled, and the sunny curls of the Colonel's -daughter resting upon his bosom. For this hope more than all others he -labored on. - -It was the close of an excessively hot day. The dewy coolness of -evening was delightful to the weary gold-seeker, and he threw himself -down upon his couch of leaves, under the shadow of the forest trees, -thinking the way was long and weary, and feeling the desolation of the -solitary wilderness, casting its long shadows upon his heart. - -But toil, is the mother of forgetfulness, and sleep was casting its -drowsy mantle over his saddened musings, when his quick ear, detected a -sound like a light, but rapid, footstep among the dried leaves. Nearer -and nearer it came, snapping the brittle twigs that covered the ground. - -He hastily concealed himself, and waited in almost breathless stillness -the approach of wild beasts, or wilder Indians. - -A moment more, and a young Indian girl appeared, bearing upon her head -a birchen bucket. Light and graceful, with the freedom of the woods, -she walked along until she came to a clear spring, and bending over, -she filled her bucket with the pure fresh water. - -Just then, a rare cluster of flowers attracted her eye, and with a -maiden's love of the beautiful, she stopped to gather it, then poising -her bucket upon her head, she would have started for the encampment, -but she was fastened spell-bound to the spot, by an unconquerable -terror. - -Just opposite, and crouched ready to spring upon her, she saw a huge -panther, his large eyes, like great balls of fire, glaring out from the -intense shadow, already devoured her. She was paralyzed by an intense -terror. The fearful eyes fascinated and bewildered her. In them she saw -the frail bridge, that separated her from the spirit land. - -She could not move, or utter a sound. The panther crouched lower among -the tangled grass. A moment more, and he would spring upon her. The -stream was drawing nearer, the bridge was shorter, from those fearful -eyes, she could see the gleaming of the lights of spirit land, then -a flash! a sharp report of the rifle, and the panther sprang into the -air, and fell at the feet of the affrighted maiden! - -She lived! but the waters of the spring were glowing red and warm -with the lifeblood of the terrible beast. His glowing eyes grew dim -and sightless, in the river of death, and in its place, to her sight -appeared the handsome young gold-seeker. - -With all her intense emotion, she was calm, as only an Indian maiden -could be, but a deep glowing flush burned through the darkness of her -cheek, as with timid grace, she gave her hand to her deliverer, and -through the dusk of evening led him to the encampment, and to the -chieftain, her father. - -There was great excitement in the encampment when they saw the young -girl returning with a stranger. Fiercely the Indians of the hostile -tribe gathered round them, for the girl clung tremblingly to his hand, -and by the fitful firelight he saw the dark scowls of passion gathering -upon their faces, yet a thrill of joy filled his heart, he now knew he -was by the camp-fire of the wild tribe of whom nothing was known, save -their uncompromising cruelty, and that with them rested the secret of -Death's Valley, the great Golden Boulder, and the glittering stones. - -He had saved their chieftain's daughter, and they would not harm him, -for well he knew the power of gratitude upon the savage heart. Calm and -resolute he stood among them, without the shadow of a fear darkening -his face, until he saw the fierce fires of cruelty that shot from their -wild eyes soften into the kindly light of gratitude and friendship, as -the young girl told her story with all the pathos and ardor which the -almost miraculous escape, had awakened in her heart. - -The old chief loved his daughter with a savage intensity. She was all -the Great Spirit had left him, of many sons and daughters, and he felt -that he would be ready to battle with death itself, but he could not -give up his only child. - -There was a mist over his fierce eyes, and a trembling about his cruel -heart, as he bade the stranger a kindly welcome, who but for his good -fortune in saving the girl, would have been condemned to a torturing -death, unheard of. - -So it was at last by this unforeseen accident, that the young -gold-seeker slept peacefully by the smouldering camp-fire of the most -cruel, relentless, tribe of the Colorado, and dreamed of his blue-eyed -darling, far away over the desert waste, safely sheltered in Fort -Tejon. - -The morning dawned rich with the glowing warmth of a Southern climate, -and though our young hero woke early, he was wearied from long travel, -and lay for some time with half-closed eyes, lazily watching the -Indians as they busied themselves about the encampment. - -He was thinking how he should turn the advantage he had gained to the -furtherance of his plans, when suddenly he felt, more than saw, that -dark, jealous eyes were upon him. He feigned to be sleeping, while by a -stolen glance he understood every thing. - -The tall, stalwart, young Indian, who bent over him with dark, knitted -brows and flashing eyes, loved the girl whom he had saved, and was -already his enemy, and one not to be scorned, as his proud bearing, and -the deference shown him by others attested. That he was in danger, -Dick realized; yet he rose with a free and careless manner, greeting -the young men with a smile, which was returned. - -"Worse than I supposed," he said to himself; "treachery! but they shall -not find me unprepared!" - -The old chief and his daughter treated him with marked kindness, and -he, by his modesty and pleasantry, tried to make friends among the -young men. - -After breakfast preparations were made for a hunt, and Dick was -furnished with a fresh horse, and invited to join the company. - -The day was warm and sultry, and, toward evening, the hunters, in -starting for the camp, became scattered, and, on entering the shadows -of a deep ravine, Dick found himself surrounded by five of the -strongest young men, and, prominent among them, his enemy. - -In an instant of time his hands were pinioned, and he was ordered to -prepare for death. Looking calmly upon the dark, scowling faces around -him, he said: "I am ready, only I would make one request of Tolume (his -enemy), 'tis this; that if in his wanderings he should ever reach Fort -Tejon, he would bear a message for me to the woman I love." - -The face of Tolume brightened, and he ordered the prisoner unbound, and -leading him to a mossy stone, listened to the story of his love for the -fair, blue-eyed maiden, of Fort Tejon, and of all his hopes and plans, -till the sun went down and the silver moon looked into the ravine. - -Tolume was jealous no longer; so they became friends, and after -listening to the story of Death's Valley and the great Golden Boulder, -he promised to go with Dick in search of it. - -Nothing was said on their return to the camp of the closing event of -the day's hunt, but Dick saw with great satisfaction, that his new -friend and the dark-eyed girl he had saved from death, were again -mutually happy. - -Indians generally care but little for gold, but this tribe had mingled -enough with the Spaniards to know something of its value; so the young -Indian was very ready to accompany Dick in his adventures, and to -accede to all his proposals, for he soon learned to look upon our hero -as a superior being. - -"To-night," whispered Dick, as he passed carelessly by the young -Indian, "when the moon rises above the mountain-tops, we will start." - -The Indian bowed assent, and looked fondly upon the young girl he must -leave, and whom he loved with all the fierceness of his wild nature. - -During the afternoon he told her he was going away for a short -time, but would return bringing her beautiful feathers, embroidered -moccasins, strings of shining beads, and all that the heart of a pretty -Indian girl could desire. Then they parted, as all lovers part, with -mingled hopes and fears. - -When the moon rose clear and bright, casting its soft, mellow light -over the glowing landscape, the young men met silently upon the brow of -the hill, and started upon their journey. - -They were well equipped with guns and ammunition. Each had a good -horse, and as much food as they could carry; the only thing they had to -fear was lack of water and hostile Indians. - -For two days they traveled on without encountering any difficulty; -but on the third they entered a dry, waste tract of country entirely -destitute of vegetation. - -The ground was covered with a formation of salt and soda, and when the -wind blew it nearly suffocated them. - -"This must be Death's Valley," said Dick, as they rode on, talking -cheerfully, looking carefully for any signs of gold. By noon they began -to feel very thirsty, but there was no water, no cooling spring in all -the vast desert spread out before them. - -The burning rays of the noontide sun seemed to dry up their blood, and -their tongues were parched and feverish, but there was no shelter; -no water. Heat, thirst, and travel began to tell upon their horses, -so they dismounted, and led them by the bridle, till night came on, -finding them weary and faint, and, above all, perishing with thirst. -Their fevered tongues began to swell, and it seemed as though the salt -dust permeated their whole bodies; but they dare not stop, even for a -moment, they were dying of thirst, and there was no water. - -At last the clear, full moon rose over the desert waste of Death's -Valley and over the wayworn prospectors. They thought no more of gold, -only of water—clear, cool, bubbling water. - -It seemed to Dick as though he could hear the murmuring of the brook -that rippled by the cottage of his childhood home, near Fort Tejon. - -He walked along, every moment growing more hopeless, when suddenly he -saw something bright and shining on the ground. It was a curious bow -and quiver ornamented with little bells of silver and gold. - -"Some one has been here, and only a short time ago, or the wind would -have swept away the track," said Dick, as he bent down and examined a -footprint upon the ground. "'Tis too small for a man," he said. "'Tis -very strange." - -Then he gave a loud shout, and they both listened eagerly, till they -heard a low faint voice in reply, and, looking around, they saw by the -clear moonlight an odd little figure trying in vain to rise from the -ground. The young men hastened to his assistance, and found a queer, -little dwarf, with a long grey beard reaching nearly to his feet. - -"Give me water!" said the man. "My horse has thrown me, and all day -long I have lain here in the burning sun, too weak to move, for I am -dying of thirst! Oh give me water, only a drop of water!" - -"No water! No water!" cried Dick, in despair. "We, too, are famishing -for want of it! We must on, we have not a moment to lose, or we shall -die here in the desert." - -"Do not leave me," cried the little man. "I can show you water, but I -cannot move!" So they placed him upon one of the horses, and he pointed -out the way. - -Dick would have thrown aside the bow and quiver, but as he looked at -the curious little being beside him, quaint old Indian traditions came -to his mind. - -"This bow may serve me yet," he said, as he secured it to his leather -belt. "Who knows but it belongs to one of the dwarf treasure-guard of -the valley." - -All night they traveled on and till nearly noon the next day, when a -little green spot in the desert's sand met their sight. The horses -snuffed the refreshing smell of water, and horses and men, faint, -weary, and famishing, exerting all their strength started on the full -run for the blessed Eden before them, and soon sank down upon the soft -green grass by the side of a clear, bubbling spring. - -"Now I will leave you," said the little man. "Give me my bow and -quiver. We are even, I showed you the water, and you brought me to it." - -"Not quite so fast, my little friend," said Dick. "Before I give you -the bow and quiver, or permit you to leave us, you must lead us to the -treasure of the valley, then furnish us with a guide, two good mules, -and as much of the treasure as we can carry away." - -"I accede to your proposition on one condition! Never attempt to point -out the treasure to any one, or to return to it yourself. If you do, -death will swiftly follow, and the treasure you shall carry away will -be lost to you and your family for ever." - -So they gave the promise he required, and as they were very tired they -concluded to wait till morning and made their frugal supper under the -trees, drinking plentifully of the clear, delicious water; and slept -peacefully till morning. - -The little gray man woke them early. "Come," he said. "The sun is -rising, we must away." So they arose, and taking a drink of water and -eating a tortilla, started. - -For some hours they traveled on in the pleasant morning air, and just -as the sun was beginning to be scorching in its heat they entered a -deep ravine, and there they saw the wonderful Golden Boulder, and -countless precious stones, and nuggets of bright yellow gold scattered -round it upon the shining sand. - -Dick and his companions, were bewildered by the glittering spectacle, -and a thousand glowing visions filled their minds. The little gray man -blew a shrill whistle. Another little gray man appeared, and bowing -low, said humbly:— - -"What is the will of the master?" - -"Food and drink!" answered the master. - -The slave prepared a more comfortable meal than the young men had -enjoyed since they left the encampment, and they ate heartily while the -slave served them. - -When they had eaten, the chief ordered the slave to lade the mules with -treasure and conduct the young men to the confines of the valley. - -Then Dick returned the bow and quiver to the gray chief, and bid him -good-by. - -"Never forget your promise, or beware!" said the gray man, as they -turned away, and looking back they saw in the distance the last of the -little man with up-raised fingers. - -"He is saying again beware!" said Dick, laughing. How they went, -neither of the young men could tell, but in a wonderfully short time -they were out of Death's Valley. The Indian returned to his tribe, but -Dick, with a happy heart, started for Fort Tejon, and after a speedy -and safe journey he reached his early home. - -It soon became rumored about, that he was the richest young man in -the whole country. In a short time, poor Dick, the half-breed, was -forgotten, but every one courted Don Richard Fielding, the rich and -elegant Spanish gentleman. - -There was a great feast made at the fort, when Don Richard was united -in the "holy bonds of matrimony" with the Colonel's lovely daughter, -and never was man more happy than he, when he led his golden-haired -bride through the halls of his pleasant mansion. - -"We will travel by-and-by, love," he whispered. "But first we will rest -and be happy in our own dear home!" - - - - -Transcriber's Note - - - Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations - in hyphenation have been standardized but all other spelling and - punctuation remains unchanged. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Fairy Tales from Gold Lands, by May Wentworth - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES FROM GOLD LANDS *** - -***** This file should be named 56155-0.txt or 56155-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/6/1/5/56155/ - -Produced by Larry B. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Fairy Tales from Gold Lands - -Author: May Wentworth - -Release Date: December 10, 2017 [EBook #56155] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES FROM GOLD LANDS *** - - - - -Produced by Larry B. Harrison, MFR and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - -<div class="figcenter newpage hideepub"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover" /> -</div> - - - - -<hr /> - -<div class="figcenter newpage"> - <img src="images/i_frontis.jpg" alt="Frontispiece" /> - <div class="caption"> - <span class="small"><i>The Moorish Pearls.</i>  <i>p.</i> <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</span> - </div> -</div> - - - - -<hr /> - -<div class="figcenter newpage"> - <img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="Title_Page" /> -</div> - - - - -<hr /> - -<h1>FAIRY TALES<br /> -<span class="xsmall">FROM</span><br /> -<span class="small">GOLD LANDS.</span></h1> - -<p class="center bold in0"><span class="xsmall">BY MAY WENTWORTH.</span></p> - -<div class="center"> -<div class="poem"> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="i0 bold">List to these legends quaint and old,</div> -<div class="i0 bold">Tales of the marvelous land of gold,</div> -<div class="i0 bold">Rich in its mines of shining ore,</div> -<div class="i0 bold">Rich in romance and mystic lore;</div> -<div class="i0 bold">List to these tales, they come onto thee,</div> -<div class="i0 bold">From over the waters—the boundless sea.</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="center bold in0"><span class="large">NEW YORK:</span><br /> -<span class="xlarge">A. ROMAN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS.</span><br /> -<span class="large">SAN FRANCISCO:</span><br /> -417 & 419 MONTGOMERY STREET.<br /> -1868.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - -<p class="center newpage bold in0">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867,<br /> -BY A. ROMAN & COMPANY,<br /> -In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States<br /> -for the Southern District of New York.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>DEDICATION.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center bold in0">TO<br /> -CHILDREN EVERYWHERE,<br /> -<span class="xxlarge">A Merry Christmas</span><br /> -TO YOU ALL,<br /> -WITH MUCH LOVE, I DEDICATE THESE STORIES,<br /> -ESPECIALLY TO MY<br /> -LITTLE NIECE AND NEPHEW,<br /> -Mamie and Wentworth.<br /> -<span class="vspace"> </span><br /> -    MAY WENTWORTH.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">v</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>PREFACE</h2> -</div> - -<p>As a child, I was fond of stories, and well remember -the dearth of the intermediate season, when -"Jack the Giant Killer," had ceased to please, and -I was yet unprepared to enjoy works written for -older and more cultivated minds. Children require -stories ingeniously written, with a pleasant tinge of -romance about them to fix their attention, and a -touch of pathos that goes to the heart, to make -them good and happy.</p> - -<p>In writing these Christmas Tales, I have earnestly -hoped they may serve to while away many a weary -hour, which finds its place even in the sunny days -of childhood.</p> - -<p>The scenes of most of these Tales, will be laid in -California, a land full of romance and beauty.</p> - -<p>It is not strange to hear from the miners of "the -early days," tales as marvelous as those of the -"Arabian Nights."</p> - -<p>Of these "early days" I shall write, and of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">vi</a></span> -Spaniards, and Mexicans who inhabited the country -before the coming of the gold-seekers.</p> - -<p>Now as I send away the first volume of the series, -I think of the children who will read it, of their -sweet, innocent faces, and guileless hearts.</p> - -<p>May the blessed Christ, who smiles upon them in -this holy Christmas season, never leave them, but -dwell in their hearts making them pure and happy -forever.</p> - -<p class="sigright"><span class="smcap">May Wentworth.</span></p> - -<p class="sigleft in0"><i>San Francisco, 1867.</i></p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">vii</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - <td class="tdl"> </td> - <td class="tdr"><span class="xsmall">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Santa Claus and the Christ-Child</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Moorish Pearls</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Two Good-for-Nothings</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Ching Chong Chinaman</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Zaletta</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Strong Man of Santa Barbara</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Jung-Frau Maleen</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Juanetta</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Emperor Norton</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Death's Valley</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span></p> - -<p class="center newpage bold in0 p3b"><span class="xxlarge">FAIRY TALES.</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/i_decor.jpg" alt="Decoration" /> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">SANTA CLAUS AND THE CHRIST-CHILD.</h2> -</div> - -<p>It had been raining all day, and the -mist hung so heavily over the bay that the -vailed waters tossed their troubled billows -in unseen restlessness, like the swelling of -an aching heart that the mantle of a fair -face covers.</p> - -<p>Down Pine Street a hundred rills were -rushing, as though each had its special and -important mission to perform in advancing -the prosperity of the queen city of the -Pacific. Men passed along fearlessly, cased -in the invulnerable armor of India-rubber<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> -coats and glazed caps, and now and then a -woman dared to trust her dainty little feet -to the mercy of mud and water.</p> - -<p>Minnie Bell had been very uneasy all -day, for she had been promised the pleasure -of a walk on Montgomery Street, and she -intended to choose a few rare gifts from all -the Christmas treasures that brightened -the gay shop-windows.</p> - -<p>Minnie had not yet learned the woman's -lesson, to smile when the heart aches, and -be gentle in disappointment, so tears filled -her large blue eyes, and the rosy lips pouted -with vexation, as she looked out on the -pouring rain. Her mamma was a fair, dashing -woman, who loved Montgomery Street -as well as Minnie herself; doated upon the -theatre, opera, and every thing gay, but, of -all things in the world, disliked to be -annoyed by the petulance and nonsense of -children. She lay all day upon a luxurious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> -couch, reading "Les Miserables," leaving -Minnie, poor little <i>miserable</i> of the -household, to take care of herself, and thus -I found her alone in the hall, picking in -pieces the flowers of a pretty worsted -lamp-mat, the very spirit of discontent and -mischief. It takes so little to make a child -happy, that I am always sorry to see a -shadow upon their young faces at the time -when this life should be all sunshine, so I -called the little one to me, and taking her -upon my lap, told her the story of Santa -Claus and the Christ-child.</p> - -<p>More than eighteen hundred years ago, -one fair bright night, when the moon was -casting her floods of silver light upon the -mountains and valleys of Judea, it seemed -to pause in worshipful wonder over the little -village of Bethlehem.</p> - -<p>Diamonds sparkled in the dew-drops, -and emeralds in the green grass of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> -meadows, where the shepherds fed their -flocks by night. The shepherds were -amazed, as the holy light shed its soft brilliancy -around them, and even the grazing -flocks forgot the dewy grass, as a sweet, -unknown voice, from the viewless air, told -them how that night the fair Christ-child -was born at Bethlehem, and lay cradled in -a manger, with horned oxen feeding near -him. A thousand angel voices joined in -the rich deep melody of praise and gladness, -and the first Christmas carol echoed -and re-echoed through the mountains and -valleys of Judea.</p> - -<p>Wise men from the East, brought -golden treasure, jewels, and rare perfumes, -as offerings to the pure Christ-child. There -he lay in the arms of his fair virgin -mother, Mary, with all the native beauty -of infancy brightening every feature of his -lovely face, and that rare halo of divinity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> -about him that even the inspiration of -Raphael and Murillo has but half portrayed. -These immortal artists had only -the colors of earth to paint the brightness -of heaven. The wise men bowed in adoration -before the Christ-child and worshiped -him as their temporal king, and -for their rich gifts received blessings, and -went away well pleased to their luxurious -homes. Then came an old man, trembling -with timid humility. He was but a poor -keeper of the flocks upon the mountains, -and brought only the few pale flowers of -winter, as tokens of his devoted homage.</p> - -<p>"Sweet mother," said he, kneeling, "I -have nothing but these poor flowers and -the unchanging love of a devoted heart to -lay at the feet of the dear Christ-child; -but, thrice-blessed mother, do not turn -away from this humble offering. I bring -thee all I have." Smiles, like the golden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> -light of morning, shone upon the face of -the fair Christ-child, and he took the flowers -more pleased than with all the rich -treasures of the East, that lay unnoticed -around him.</p> - -<p>The holy mother blessed the poor man, -and with a voice teeming with maternal -love and divine richness, she said: "Thy -pure, loving heart is an offering dearer to -the Christ-child than all the riches of the -world, and these flowers are a fitting token -of thy love. Thou shalt not die as other -men do, but thou shalt sleep, to awaken -each Christmas eve, and gladden young -hearts through all time, and in all lands, -with thy welcome Christmas gifts, and the -blessing of the Christ-child shall rest upon -the spirits of childhood through the holy -Christmas season."</p> - -<p>And thus it is that in all countries we -hear of the good Santa Claus, who brings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> -such beautiful presents on Christmas eve. -In the cold north countries he wraps himself -in furs, and rides swiftly over the -crusted snow in a sleigh drawn by reindeers, -his long beard shining with the frost -of winter. In the sunny South he rides in -a light car decked with flowers.</p> - -<p>"But, May," said the now happy Minnie, -smiling; "when Santa Claus comes to -San Francisco he'd better bring his India-rubber -coat and overshoes."</p> - -<p>"I've no doubt he will, darling," said I, -kissing the little face beaming with earnestness -and beauty; "and perhaps he'll -bring his umbrella, too, but 'twill make -him no Paul Pry—I'm sure he won't -intrude."</p> - -<p>"No, indeed," said Minnie, "I want to -see him too much for that. Do you think, -May, if I sit up till ten o'clock, I shall see -dear old Santa Claus?"</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span></p> - -<p>"I think, little one, if you go to bed at -eight and sleep sweetly, he may come to -you in your dreams. He generally manages -to come when children are sleeping."</p> - -<p>Thus it was that little Minnie forgot all -her sorrows and disappointments in the -anticipated vision of the good Santa Claus. -The rain fell heavily, but in the sunny -heart of childhood all was happiness.</p> - -<p>Now, a "Merry Christmas" to you all—young -and old! May the blessing of the -pure Christ-child attend you, and Santa -Claus be munificent in his beautiful Christmas -gifts!</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>THE MOORISH PEARLS.</h2> -</div> - -<p>Many years ago, near the Mission of -Santa Barbara, there lived a wealthy Spaniard -and his wife, who had been married a -great many years, and were still childless.</p> - -<p>It was the cause of great regret to both, -especially to the mother, who loved little -ones dearly.</p> - -<p>Every day she made an offering to the -blessed Virgin, and prayed her to have -compassion on her loneliness, and give her -a dear little child to take care of, and love.</p> - -<p>At last her prayers were answered.</p> - -<p>One Christmas eve, when gifts in memory -of the blessed Christ-child, were making -so many young hearts happy, a beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> -little daughter was given to her, making -her the happiest, most thankful woman, in -all Santa Barbara.</p> - -<p>As the parents were very rich, all the -great Spanish families in the county were -present at the christening; and all the -priests from the Mission of Santa Barbara -were invited.</p> - -<p>There was a great feast, and every one -was delighted; but, above all, the father -and mother blessed God for his precious -gift, which they prized more than all their -great riches.</p> - -<p>The little girl grew finely, and was very -beautiful, not like the lovely children of -the North, fair and golden haired, but -her complexion was a rich olive, with the -pure crimson blood of health tinging her -cheeks, and her lips were red as ripe -cherries. Her hair, in the sunshine, had a -soft purple hue; in the shadow, it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> -black as a raven's wing, and her dark -eyes were as soft as a young gazelle's.</p> - -<p>She possessed in a wonderful degree, the -symmetry and grace of the Spanish women, -and her hands and feet were so small and -exquisitely formed, that they were the -marvel of the whole country.</p> - -<p>In the family there was an old duenna, -who had taken charge of the mother when -she was young, and, to her superintending -care, the little one was intrusted.</p> - -<p>Years before, the old duenna came from -Spain with the mother's family, and her -love for the beautiful lady whom she had -nursed in infancy, almost amounted to a -passion; but for the proud Don Carlos, the -husband, she had a jealous hatred, though -he was always kind to her, and made her -life in the "wilds of the strange country," -(thus she always spoke of California,) as -pleasant as possible.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span></p> - -<p>Though she called herself a Christian, the -wild blood of the Moors flowing through -her veins, tinged her life with the mysticism -and fire of that fated race.</p> - -<p>Sometimes she would give herself over -to strange devices and superstitions, which -were very displeasing to her devout mistress, -but the old woman covered these -distasteful habits with so much art and -affection, that she enjoyed the confidence -and love of the good lady, and generally -every thing moved on very smoothly and -pleasantly, at the Buenna Vineyard.</p> - -<p>The house was large and commodious, -built, like most Spanish houses in California, -in the form of a square, with an open -court in the center, and broad piazzas on -all sides. It was very cool and pleasant, -with its latticed windows, and vine-covered -porches.</p> - -<p>In the rear was a beautiful garden, surrounded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> -with a high, strong wall, and massive -gates with bolts and bars.</p> - -<p>There, in a grape-vine covered arbor, the -purple fruit hanging within reach, the old -duenna loved to sit, spinning lazily with -her distaff, now and then stopping to see -that no harm came to the little Lenore in -her play, and often calling her to her side, -to listen to some quaint old Moorish -legend.</p> - -<p>The father and mother were very fond -of their little daughter, and gave her every -thing that heart could wish. One day, -when the little girl was about ten years -old, the father called her to him, and said: -"Papa is going away, far across the waters -to the fair castellated land, which has been -your childhood's dream, to dear, beautiful -Spain, and what shall I bring back for my -little daughter?"</p> - -<p>Lenore's eyes grew large and liquid.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> -"Beautiful Spain! beautiful Spain!" she -exclaimed, clasping her hands in ecstasy.</p> - -<p>"Every thing there is so lovely, how -can I tell what to ask, dear papa; but wait -one moment," and she ran to the garden -arbor, and told the duenna all, and said, -"What shall I ask?" The old woman -frowned till her brows met, then she -laughed strangely, and said, "You shall ask -for a string of pearls, as pure and white as -snow, and as large and clear as the dew-drops."</p> - -<p>Lenore ran into the house, and throwing -her arms around the father's neck, ran her -pretty fingers through his hair, and said, -"I would like, papa, a string of pearls for -my hair, as pure and white as snow, and as -large and clear as dew-drops in the first -flush of the dawning."</p> - -<p>The father looked at the little lady with -a heart full of love and pride, and he kissed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> -fondly the little, pure, oval face that was -lifted to his, and said, "My little daughter -shall have her wish, let it cost what it -may."</p> - -<p>The little girl clapped her hands, dancing -about the room, full of happiness, saying, -"The dear papa! the dear papa will -bring me the most beautiful pearls in the -world."</p> - -<p>Her childish joy was subdued when she -looked at the mother, who had a smile of -love on her lips, but a tear of sorrow in her -eyes.</p> - -<p>Then the father said, "What shall I -bring mamma?"</p> - -<p>The mother answered, laying her head -upon his shoulder, "Only yourself, dear -husband, and your precious love." A -tear came to his eye, but he brushed it -hastily away, and whispered, "I shall soon -return, dear wife, to my dearest treasures;"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> -then he kissed them both, tenderly, and -went away, leaving Lenore and the mother -weeping bitterly.</p> - -<p>Lenore soon sobbed herself to sleep, -with the tears resting upon her eyelashes -and cheeks. The sunlight stealing in, and -shining full upon her innocent face, made a -tiny rainbow over her head.</p> - -<p>The sad mother saw it, and thanked -God that the bow of promise overbends its -beautiful arch over all childish griefs, and -she wiped away her own tears, saying, "He -will return again, my dear husband, why -should I distrust kind Heaven."</p> - -<p>When Lenore awoke, her pretty face was -wreathed with smiles, and, kissing her -mamma, she ran out into the garden to -seek the old duenna.</p> - -<p>She found her in her favorite arbor, spinning, -but when she saw Lenore she laid -aside her distaff, and drew the child to her,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> -with a mischievous smile upon her dark -face.</p> - -<p>Her treatment of Lenore had always -been marked by a strange commingling of -the love she bore the mother, and aversion -she felt for the father, but through -it all, she wove a web of fascination, that -gave her great power over the susceptible -heart of the young girl. Lenore sat down -by her side, and for a while she talked of -Spain, smoothing the child's hair caressingly -with her wrinkled hand, then she told -her a curious legend; of how Boabdil, the -Moorish king, had once a string of pearls -like those she had asked the father for, and -how, after the Spaniards had overcome the -Moors in a great battle, he intrusted these -lustrous gems, with much other treasure, to -one of his servants to be hidden upon a -distant island, but, by some strange misfortune,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> -as they neared the landing, the Moor -dropped the pearls into the sea.</p> - -<p>Now this Moor was an enchanter, and, -because he could not recover the lost treasure, -he cast a spell upon it, that would -bring death to the first, who should touch -the pearls, perpetual servitude to the second, -and riches, honor, beauty, and love -to the third, who should retain them in the -family forever.</p> - -<p>"No matter how many years should -elapse, this would surely come to pass," and -again the old duenna laughed that strange, -unpleasant laugh. Lenore, trembling with -fright, sobbed convulsively, "Oh! the dear -papa! the dear papa! he will die! I will -call mamma, she will send a messenger for -him, he shall not touch the horrid pearls," -and she started up to go, but the duenna -caught her. "Silly child," she said, "I -will tell you no more pretty stories, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> -was only a legend, and the pearls were not -real and true, but only dream pearls, just -to please my pretty child." She soothed -Lenore and laughed again, till her tears -were dried, and she joined to the shrill -voice of the weird duenna, the merry, -childish laugh of trusting innocence. The -days of absence passed by in dreamy -quietude at the Buenna Vineyard.</p> - -<p>The wife was very lonely, for no one -could supply the place of the loved husband -in her heart. The pretty, dark-eyed -Lenore missed the dear papa sadly, but her -time was much occupied by the master -who taught her music, French, and English. -Spanish she learned from the duenna, who -in this language was quite a scholar.</p> - -<p>Everywhere she followed the young -Lenore, and, in her varied moods, treated -her with a curious combination of love and -selfishness, tenderness and severity, but,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> -through all, maintaining her unbounded -influence over her charge.</p> - -<p>Full of wonderful legends of the Moors -of old, she fostered a love of the marvelous -in the mind of the maiden, till often she -would waken in the darkness of the midnight, -from fearful dreams trembling of superstitious -dread. One morning early, she -ran into her mother's chamber and woke -her kissing her eyes and cheek.</p> - -<p>"Oh mamma" she said, "do wake up, I -have had such a beautiful dream about -Boabdil's pearls, pure and white as snow, -and large and glistening as the dew-drops. -Some one from Spain brought them to -me, so noble and handsome, mamma, that I -could not help loving him dearly, and I -was so happy." "But, Lenore," said the -mother, "where was the dear papa." "Oh, -mamma," said Lenore, "I did not see him, -he was not there."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span></p> - -<p>A strange terror filled her heart, and -looked out from her startled eyes, and she -buried her head in the pillow and wept -piteously.</p> - -<p>"'Twas only a dream, my daughter," said -the mother, tenderly, but still Lenore sobbed. -"How could I forget the dear papa, -for a stranger and a string of pearls." -Then the mother kissed her, and soothed -her till she was comforted. Soon after a -ship arrived, bringing letters from the -father. "I am now in Spain," he wrote, my -dear, native land. Bright Castile! the -world has nothing like thee! No mountains -like the snow-capped Sierras, no valleys -like Granadas, and no river like the -blue Guadalquivir, but, "where the treasure -is, there will the heart be also," and -my greatest earthly treasures, wife and -child, are in California, and, though far -away in castellated Spain, my heart wings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> -its way homeward, and every delight is -treasured, to be renewed again, with you. -"I shall soon return to you, dear wife, the -husband you love, but little daughter, -the pearls, 'pure and white as snow, and -large and clear as the dew-drops,' I have -not found in Spain, but have heard of them, -and if possible you shall have them at -any price."</p> - -<p>He wrote a long letter, glowing with -hope and affection, promising a speedy return, -and the mother took heart again, and -was happy, while Lenore thought with delight, -how beautifully the rare, Moorish -pearls would glisten in her purple hair.</p> - -<p>She seemed to have forgotten the dream, -and the legend that frightened her so -much. Even the name of pearls chained -her listening ear, and the duenna often -talked of them, their great beauty, and -how pure and lustrous they shone among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> -the crown jewels of the Moorish king, till -the imagination of Lenore was spell-bound, -by the magic beauty of the wondrous -pearls. Often she would say, "Mamma, -show me your pearls."</p> - -<p>Then she would take them in her hands -and count them, or twine them round the -bands of her purple hair.</p> - -<p>"Beautiful," she would say, as the sunlight -kissed them, "but not clear and large -enough. 'Pure and white as snow;' and -large and clear as the dew-drops, these are -not so, but the dear papa will bring them." -Lenore's great gift was music.</p> - -<p>She would often sit in the twilight, and -improvise rare snatches of melody, and -when the mother would say, "What is that -Lenore?" she would answer, "My string of -pearls, mamma," and go on playing as -though the genius of music thrilled her -dainty fingers. One day the duenna called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> -her to an old lumber-room, to see a picture. -The picture was really a good one, but -had been cast aside because the frame was -broken. 'Twas of a fair young girl, standing -upon a rocky shore, looking eagerly out -upon the waters, at the white sails of a -ship the wind was wafting toward her.</p> - -<p>"What does the picture represent, -Lenore?" said the duenna. "'Tis a maiden -watching on the shore, for the ship that -brings her dear papa and the Moorish -pearls, clear and white as snow, and large -and glistening as the dew-drops." The old -duenna smiled, as Lenore took the picture -to her room, and hung it over her bed -where she could see it on waking.</p> - -<p>Every day they went to the sea-shore -and looked out upon the waters, for the -white sails of the ship that was to bring -the father, till at last one evening, when all -the west was gorgeous with the radiance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> -of golden sunset clouds, the ship seemed to -rise out of the waters, and there, on the -sanded sea-shore of Santa Barbara, was the -living picture of the lumber-room.</p> - -<p>The duenna had called Lenore from the -garden early, saying, "At sunset the ship -will be here; come pretty child, let us -hasten to the shore," so Lenore ran and -kissed the mother saying, "Mamma! mamma! -the ship, with its white sails -spread like the wings of a bird, is flying to -us, and I must go. Oh! my snow-white -pearls! my beautiful pearls!"</p> - -<p>"Lenore! Lenore!" called the duenna, -and the maiden ran away dancing, and -clapping her hands, as she always did, -when very happy. On came the ship till it -was moored in the harbor, and with one -great rush the passengers came ashore.</p> - -<p>Lenore's eyes dilated with delight, but -by-and-by an anxious suspense filled them.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span></p> - -<p>"No more! no more!" she cried, "all -landed; where is the dear papa?"</p> - -<p>The snow-white pearls were forgotten -only the father filled her heart.</p> - -<p>The duenna cast her eyes around. Don -Carlos was not there, and who better than -she knew that he could never return.</p> - -<p>There was a handsome young stranger -in the crowd, and, from his lordly bearing, -she knew he must be a hidalgo of the old -dominion, so she approached him and -asked him for her master, Don Carlos.</p> - -<p>"He is not here," said the stranger, "but I -bring a rare and beautiful gift for his -daughter—the famous Moorish pearls."</p> - -<p>Lenore gave one glance at the stranger, -she had seen him before in her dreams; -and she trembled so that she could not -move or speak.</p> - -<p>"He is dead," said the duenna.</p> - -<p>"He is dead," said the hidalgo, in a low<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> -tone, fixing his piercing eyes upon the -sharp, eager face of the duenna.</p> - -<p>Low as the words were spoken, they -reached the strained ear of Lenore, and -with a wild, broken wail, she fell insensible -upon the ground.</p> - -<p>The stranger handed the box which contained -the pearls to the duenna, and taking -the young girl tenderly in his arms, carried -her home to the mother.</p> - -<p>Poor, heart-broken wife! The pearls -had come, but not her treasure. Lost! -lost! God, pity all such!</p> - -<p>The mother's love was all that saved her -from madness; for her child, her beautiful -Lenore, she bore the burden of life.</p> - -<p>The stranger was kind and gentle.</p> - -<p>He told the bitter story as soothingly as -possible.</p> - -<p>When they arrived at the island, Don -Carlos was suddenly taken ill, and just as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> -the ship was about sailing, he breathed his -last, first sending his undying love to his -devoted wife, and the Moorish pearls to -Lenore.</p> - -<p>"Tell them," he said, "my last words -were to bless them."</p> - -<p>In the confusion of the first moments of -their grief, the duenna stole from the room, -her sallow face flushed with feverish eagerness.</p> - -<p>"The pearls," she said, "Don Carlos -was the first to touch them, he is dead! -This brave hidalgo was the second, and I -will be the third to hold this wonderful -talisman in my hands."</p> - -<p>"Rich, fair, and beloved!</p> - -<p>"Can I be fair, so old as I am?</p> - -<p>"We shall see!"</p> - -<p>She pressed the secret spring, and pure -and white as snow, large and glistening as -the morning dew-drops, lay the Moorish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> -pearls in their golden casket. She took -them in her hand, and held them to the -light, and it seemed as though they -absorbed whole floods of sunshine. "How -beautiful," she exclaimed, then suddenly -she dropped them upon her lap, and -pressed her hand to her heart.</p> - -<p>What a strange, agonizing pain.</p> - -<p>It seemed as though chains were riveted -about her vitals.</p> - -<p>"Can I be the second to touch the -pearls, and forever a slave? No! no! It -cannot be!</p> - -<p>"Don Carlos the first, the hidalgo the -second, I am the third.</p> - -<p>"Rich, fair, and beloved! But this pain," -and again she pressed her hands upon her -heart. Slowly she replaced the pearls in -the casket, and the pain passed away.</p> - -<p>When Lenore recovered she would not -look at the pearls.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p> - -<p>"Take them away, do not mention the -hated gems to me," she said, with a shudder. -So the duenna kept them.</p> - -<p>Day by day Lenore sat by the dear, sad -mother, who only smiled when she looked -upon the beautiful face of her child, who -grew more lovely with every rising sun, at -least so thought the young hidalgo. In -their sorrow he never left them.</p> - -<p>All that a devoted son could be, he was -to the mother, and to Lenore he was every -thing.</p> - -<p>Very often the duenna sat alone in the -garden-arbor, plying her distaff, for Lenore -seldom came to her. Often she would -steal a glance at the beautiful pearls, saying: -"I am surely the third, why am I -not rich and fair?"</p> - -<p>"Don Carlos is dead, the hidalgo was -the second, I must be the third.</p> - -<p>"I have the pearls, the rest will follow;"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> -then the distaff would fall from her hands, -and she would dream curious day-dreams, -and build castles of her own in air.</p> - -<p>One evening, just one year after their -deep grief fell upon them, the young -hidalgo and Lenore persuaded the mother -to walk with them on the beach.</p> - -<p>The time had been very long and lonely -to her since the sorrow-freighted ship came -in, and as she sat upon a moss-covered -stone, and saw the white sails of a gallant -ship, winging its way to the shore, the tears -filled her eyes, and, that her sorrow might -not sadden the hopeful young hearts of her -children (as she loved to call them), she -bowed her head upon her hands, that they -might not notice the grief she could not -restrain, when suddenly a joyous shout -from Lenore sent a warm thrill through -her heart, and the blood danced through -her veins with renewed life.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span></p> - -<p>"The dear papa," cried Lenore, and -sure enough, the proud form of Don Carlos -was before them.</p> - -<p>One moment and the happy wife was -folded to the warm, true heart of her -returned husband, and Lenore clung to his -arm, weeping for joy.</p> - -<p>Once more light and happiness dawned -upon the Buenna Vineyard, with the return -of the loved husband and father. How -beautiful home looked to the wanderer, as -he sank into his own chair, upon the vine-covered -piazza. His grateful wife sat -beside him, and Lenore stood leaning -upon his chair.</p> - -<p>"How tall you have grown, my daughter," -he said, looking proudly upon the -young maiden, just blooming into womanhood; -"but where are the pearls, my darling?"</p> - -<p>"I have never seen them," said Lenore,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> -"how could I think of pearls and you; -dear papa, gone!" And again and again -she kissed his bronzed cheek.</p> - -<p>"Call the duenna," said the mother, -smiling, "we must see the pearls." So -Lenore called the duenna from her dreaming -in the garden.</p> - -<p>"Don Carlos returned! Not dead!" -exclaimed the old woman, while her heart -stood still with fear, as she entered the -room pale as death, and trembling with an -unknown dread.</p> - -<p>"The pearls," said Don Carlos, after a -kind greeting, to which her palsied tongue -refused a response.</p> - -<p>She gave them to him with a trembling -hand, and, as he pressed the secret spring, -the golden casket opened, and there lay -the wonderful Moorish pearls, pure and -white as snow, and large and shining as -the dew-drops in the flush of morning.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span></p> - -<p>"Take them, Lenore, daughter," said -the happy father, fondly, and the fair -taper fingers of the maiden clasped the -luminous treasure.</p> - -<p>The duenna's eyes were fixed upon her.</p> - -<p>How beautiful she grew with pleasure. -Her dark eyes soft as a gazelles, were radiant -with light, her red lips parted with -smiles, and the Moorish pearls adding a -new luster to her purple hair.</p> - -<p>"Can she be the third?" thought the -duenna, and in a voice husky with emotion -she gasped: "Don Carlos, those pearls! -How came you by them? What hand has -touched them?"</p> - -<p>"Tell us all, dear papa," said Lenore, not -noticing the duenna's agitation, in her own -delight.</p> - -<p>"In all Spain," said the father, "I could -not find the pearls, but I heard of them -from an old Moor.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span></p> - -<p>"He said they were lost near the shore -of a distant island, and he promised to procure -them for me for a large reward, which -I agreed to give him; so we sailed for the -island, but I became so ill at sea that when -we arrived I was confined to my bed.</p> - -<p>"At length the old Moor brought me this -beautiful casket, and pressing the spring -I saw the pearls, radiant with all their -snowy whiteness, but I was so ill I did not -take them out, and when I handed them -back to the old Moor to place in my cabinet, -the pearls fell out into his hands, and -flooded the whole room with light. Great -Allah! exclaimed the old man, in terror, -and, as he replaced them and closed the -casket, he fell down and expired instantly.</p> - -<p>"The physician said he died of heart disease. -I grew much worse, and fearing I -should die, confided the pearls to the care -of our friend, who brought them to you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> -and soon after I fell into a swoon so like -death that all thought me dead, and the -ship sailed without me.</p> - -<p>"The white sails were not hidden from -sight when I began to recover, but a long, -lingering illness detained me from home, -but thank God I am with you at last, darlings, -well and happy."</p> - -<p>"And now that my dear papa is home -again, I can enjoy the pearls, the beautiful -pearls," said Lenore, still toying with the -luminous gems.</p> - -<p>"More beautiful in your hair than in the -golden casket," said the admiring hidalgo.</p> - -<p>"The señorita was the second to touch -them," he continued, "since Boabdil's minion -consigned them to their hiding-place."</p> - -<p>"No, I was the second, shrieked the -duenna, clasping her hands to her heart, -where the chains of servitude were riveted.</p> - -<p>"Always a slave," she moaned, as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> -bore her from the room, flushed with the -delirium of fever.</p> - -<p>For many days she lay prostrate upon a -bed of sickness, but when at last she recovered -the evil spirit had passed from her -forever.</p> - -<p>She was kind and gentle, ready to serve -any one, but especially the master.</p> - -<p>"I am but the servant of servants," she -would say. "I will do my duty in the station -whereunto I am called. God have -mercy upon my soul."</p> - -<p>Don Carlos and the mother lived to see -Lenore wife of the handsome hidalgo, and -the mother of a maiden beautiful as herself, -whose purple hair often glowed in the -luminous rays of the wonderful Moorish -pearls.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>"THE TWO GOOD-FOR-NOTHINGS."</h2> -</div> - -<p>A long time ago, in a little village on -the banks of the Rhine, lived the young -boy Karl, in the low, rude cottage of his -father, Hans Heidermann, the carpenter.</p> - -<p>Karl was the second son in a family of -ten children, all boys but the baby in the -cradle—the little, blue-eyed Ethel, the pet -and darling of the household.</p> - -<p>The good Lord had sent to the cottage -plenty of children, "the poor man's blessing;" -and in their youthful days, when -Hans and his good wife were strong and -full of hope, the little ones were greeted -with smiles of love.</p> - -<p>Later in life, when the mother found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> -that, with all her patient labor, the tiny -feet must go unclad, and eat little as she -possibly could, the supper was not only -poor but very scanty, the boy Julian and -baby Ethel were wept over at their -coming, yet with tears so full of compassionate -tenderness that the mother's love -shone through them more sweetly than -through the sunshine of smiles that -dawned upon their first baby.</p> - -<p>The youthful days of Karl were passed -in toil, and though the natural joyousness -of childhood would sometimes bubble up -and overflow, the mantle of care fell upon -him very early.</p> - -<p>When he was only sixteen, he was quite -a man in his ways, and able to contribute -not a little to the comfort and support of -the family, and he, more than all the rest, -was ever ready to lighten the burden of -the mother's weariness and cares.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span></p> - -<p>When Karl was eighteen years old, he -was guilty of a great piece of folly for a -poor boy, though I am sure he was not -to blame. It was the pretty, violet eyes -and sweet voice of the young maiden Chimlein -that made him so much in love with -her.</p> - -<p>Poor, foolish Karl! with nothing but his -handsome boyish face and honest German -heart to give her, even his strong willing -hands still belonged to the father and -mother.</p> - -<p>Poor, foolish Karl, to be in love! But he -was very hopeful! The brothers were -growing strong, and even now all but the -little Julian, could add something to the -family store. What brightness, wealth, -and happiness might not two years bring -them all.</p> - -<p>One evening, about this time, Karl received -from the merchant, his employer, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> -a successful month's work, quite a present -over his usual pay, as a reward for his -faithful industry.</p> - -<p>He was very happy as he started homeward, -and, looked smilingly upon his -patched clothes, thinking "Now I shall be -able to buy the new suit I need so much, -and I can take Chimlein the beautiful, to -hear the rare music that she loves so well, -and she will store it away in her bird-like -throat, and some day it will gush forth in -loving songs in our own cottage home." -Then he sung gay snatches of his favorite -opera—for even the peasantry of Germany -are born musicians—and, looking at the -sunshine as it danced upon the bright -waters of the Rhine, he blessed the good -Lord for the brightness, beauty, and happiness -of life.</p> - -<p>Soon the shadow of the cottage fell upon -him, and he entered to find tears dimming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> -the eyes of the mother as she went silently -about her work. She wiped them hastily -away, but Karl had seen them, and all his -bright dreams melted at the sight of the -dear, pale face, shadowed by age and -sorrow.</p> - -<p>Throwing his strong arm round her, he -softly said, "What ails thee, mother?"</p> - -<p>Then she told him how an old debt of -the father's became due on the morrow, -and how she feared, she knew not what, -because there was no money to pay it.</p> - -<p>So Karl put his hand into his bosom and -drew forth the treasure that was to bring -him so much happiness, and placing it in -his mother's hand, said: "Take it, mother, -dear;" and before she could reply, he had -gone out into the soft, summer air, down to -the banks of the dear Rhine River.</p> - -<p>The sun had sunk in clouds of crimson -and gold, and the gray twilight cast its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> -cold shadows upon the waters, and Karl's -heart had grown very heavy as he thought -of the sweet-voiced Chimlein, and her disappointment. -"But 'twas for mother," he -said. "Poor mother, how pale she looked, -her eyes wet with tears."</p> - -<p>He walked on, silently, looking with -dreamy eyes out of the dim present into -the untried future.</p> - -<p>One year after, he stood by the mother's -new made grave, and, while his heart -swelled with sorrow, he blessed God that -he had been to his care-burdened mother a -loving and dutiful son. And then came -the thought of the old clothes that, for her -sake, he had worn so long, and he could -have kissed the dear old clothes, grown so -patched and threadbare, for her sake, the -<i>dear, dead mother</i>.</p> - -<p>After the mother's death, the family was -broken up.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span></p> - -<p>The little Ethel and Julian went away -to another part of the country, to live with -a good aunt, who was very kind to them, -and the younger brothers went to trades, -and only Karl and the father remained at -the cottage. Then it was that Karl -brought home the sweet-voiced Chimlein to -be the angel of his house.</p> - -<p>"The dear father is lonely," she would -say, as with her quiet words, and small, -white hands she smoothed his pathway -down the rugged vale of dim old age.</p> - -<p>The good God only lends us the presence -of his angels for a short time, and in -the spring-time he called Chimlein from her -home by the blue Rhine River, to her home -in heaven, the golden, and from the heart of -Karl, her husband, to the bosom of the -blessed Mother.</p> - -<p>The cottage was very dark and lonely -after Chimlein went to heaven. Karl went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> -out to his work with a sad heart, and returned -in silence to sit by his desolate -hearth-stone, till the fire went out in the -midnight darkness.</p> - -<p>The father (now an old man with locks -white as the driven snow) sat during the -long, summer days by the little willow cradle, -and sang in the shrill treble of broken -and sorrowful old age, to Chimlein's little -one; or, when the babe was full of playful -innocent life, he would take it down to the -banks of the clear Rhine, to revel in the -sunshine and listen to the voice of the -waters.</p> - -<p>To the old man's desolate heart, that -child was a priceless blessing, and in his -eyes she was the most beautiful of all the -good Lord's fair creation.</p> - -<p>When she was three months old, he -dressed her in snowy white, and bore her -to the baptismal font, where she received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> -the name of Gretchen, though to the grandfather -she was always "mein schönes kind" -(my beautiful child).</p> - -<p>A circle of golden curls played around -her baby face, and the violet eyes of her -mother shone clearly in the fair light of -the morning, as she looked steadily into -the face of the priest who took her in his -arms and blessed her with the baptismal -water which consecrated her "a child of -God and an heir of heaven."</p> - -<p>The old grandfather gazed wonderingly -at the child, as in the softened light of the -sunshine stealing through the cathedral -windows she looked so like the rare picture -of the divine Christ-child.</p> - -<p>"She is even now a bird of Paradise," -whispered tremblingly the old man, as he -received the little one from the priest's -hands. "The angel soul is looking out -from her violet eyes, and heaven's blessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> -light falls like a halo of glory upon her -golden curls."</p> - -<p>With a shudder, the old man sunk away -into the shadow until the sunshine had -faded from her hair, and rocking her to -and fro, while a master's hand sent rare, -glorious music from the grand cathedral -organ, he watched the violet eyes till they -closed, and the rich brown lashes rested upon -her fair baby cheeks. One little soft hand -was tangled in the old man's beard, and -the tone of her gentle breathing told him -that his darling slept the pure, refreshing -sleep of healthful infancy, and once more -his heart was calm and happy.</p> - -<p>Karl loved the beautiful child; but -when he looked at her, and saw her -mother's eyes reflected in the dewy light -of hers, a deep sadness filled his heart, and -often he turned quickly away to hide the -glistening of his eyes, and drew his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> -rough hand over his face to drive back the -unshed tears.</p> - -<p>"Poor little motherless thing," he would -say: "If it was only a boy!" "Poor -little daughter, ever too much you will -need a mother's care." Then he would -snatch up his hat and go out to the banks -of the blue Rhine, where the body of the angel -Chimlein rested. To the man, nothing is -so dear as the pure, true woman of his heart.</p> - -<p>Two summers had passed over the head -of the little Gretchen, making her more -charming than ever, with all the winsome -ways of her innocent childhood.</p> - -<p>The grandfather was becoming every -day more infirm in body, and every day -brought his mind nearer to the innocent -child who was the darling of his heart. -Nearer and nearer to heaven, the golden, -he walked with faltering steps through the -darkened vale of second childhood.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span></p> - -<p>When at home, Karl would watch sorrowfully -over these two children, the old -man and the beautiful child; but when he -was away at his work, they were a constant -care upon his mind.</p> - -<p>In passing his neighbor's door, Karl -often noticed Elizabeth, the thrifty daughter -of the house. He saw that her restless -hands were always busy; not one speck of -dust escaped her sharp, black, eye.</p> - -<p>Though her voice was loud and shrill -(Karl knew too well he could never find -another sweet-voiced Chimlein) he hoped -her heart was kind, and he thought she -might take better care of the father and -the little Gretchen than he could. So he -asked her to be his child's mother, his -father's daughter, and the mistress of his -cottage.</p> - -<p>Elizabeth felt keenly that he was no -ardent lover; but he was her first, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> -might be her last; so with no more intense -feeling than a desire to secure a home for -herself and a provider for her wants, she -consented to be his wife, and become mistress -of the cottage.</p> - -<p>Elizabeth was full of energy, and after -she went to the cottage there was a great -change in its appearance. Every nook -and corner was made thoroughly clean, the -rents in the curtains were neatly mended, -the bits of carpet were all washed and -spread down upon the sanded floor, and -there was always a clean shirt for Karl -when he came from his work, and a button, -was never known to be missing.</p> - -<p>Altogether there was not a more notable -housewife in all the burg than Elizabeth. -But her shrill voice grated sharply upon -the sensitive ear, and, worse than all, it -seems as though the old grandfather and -the little Gretchen were always in her way.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span></p> - -<p>From morning till night the old grandfather -had a vile pipe in his mouth, and -the smoke made every thing black and -dirty. She then would look at her clean -curtains and whitewashed walls, and frown. -He was continually dropping the ashes -about, and sometimes would even spit upon -the floor, which was too much for mortal -woman to bear; and then there was no -end to the trouble the little Gretchen -made her in a thousand ways.</p> - -<p>To think that she, who always disliked -children, should be obliged to take care of -another woman's child!</p> - -<p>At first she would bite her lips and -choke down the angry words that strove -for utterance, but in her heart she called -them "<span class="smcap">The Two Good-for-Nothing's</span>," -and would cast such angry looks upon -them that in their shrinking sensitiveness -they would steal away to the banks of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> -blue Rhine and try to forget Elizabeth -and their trouble. But alas! poor unfortunates! -too often they would return with -torn or soiled clothes, and then the mistress -would be more angry than ever.</p> - -<p>It was only for a short time that Elizabeth -confined her anger to black looks. -Before she had been in the cottage two -months, her sharp voice would ring its -angry changes upon the <i>Two Good-for-Nothings</i>, -as she now loudly called them, -and both the grandfather and little Gretchen -went about silent and trembling, like -two culprits who feared detection and punishment.</p> - -<p>She would have them to go to bed -before Karl returned in the evening, for -she was very careful to conceal her unkind -treatment of them from him. He was -obliged to go very early in the morning to -his work, and saw but little of them, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> -as the cottage looked clean and cheerful -when he returned, he thought they were -well cared for.</p> - -<p>Sometimes, for whole days the old grandfather -and the little one would wander on -the banks of the beautiful Rhine River, -and in her sweet infantile voice she would -rival the songs of the birds.</p> - -<p>So wonderful a development of voice in -the child was a marvel to all who heard -her, and the fond old man's heart swelled -with pride as the neighbors gathered round -to hear her sing. Every one loved them -but the mistress, and they were always -sure of a welcome at the noon-day meal -from any of the neighbors. The silver-haired -old man was "grandfather" to them -all, and the little child "mein schonest -liebes."</p> - -<p>The mistress did not object to their long -strolls from home. "The Good-for-Nothings"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> -were only in the way; it did her -good to have them out of her sight a -few minutes; while they, poor innocents, -escaped many a rough scolding, and the -little child many a blow from the hard -hand of the mistress.</p> - -<p>How they enjoyed those days together.</p> - -<p>As Gretchen grew older, and the grandfather -more feeble, she would lead him by -the hand and run to the neighbor's for a -coal to light his pipe, saying: "The dear -grandfather must smoke." Then they -would sit down on the green bank, and -with the smoke-wreaths curling above his -head the grandfather would tell old -legends and fairy tales to half the children -in the village, and "little Golden Hair," as -the children called her, would sing to -them.</p> - -<p>One day, when Gretchen was about five -years old, they returned from their accustomed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> -stroll to find a new inmate at the -cottage, and Karl called them to look at -the little sister baby. The old grandfather -looked sad, for he could not love the -mistress's child as he did Chimlein's, and -he feared it would bring yet greater trouble -to his little Gretchen. But the unsuspecting -child opened her large violet eyes -full of wonder and delight, thinking, as all -little girls do, there is nothing in the world -so pretty as a baby.</p> - -<p>But that baby was her destiny.</p> - -<p>No more days by the dear Rhine River. -No more songs with the village children, -or fairy tales told under the waving trees -with the fresh air blowing round them. -But the little, golden-haired child became a -fixture by the cradle. The baby would -not go to sleep unless soothed by Gretchen's -voice, which now was oftener full of -subdued pathos than childish joyousness.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span></p> - -<p>The grandfather, too, had his hours of -care and watching. But day by day he -was drawing nearer the dark river that -rolled between him and heaven the golden. -His earthly love seemed all centered in -Gretchen. Karl he seldom saw except on -Sundays, and then, in his rough manhood, -though he was always kind to his father, -he seemed a great way off with the harsh -Elizabeth for his wife.</p> - -<p>Only Golden Hair, knew and shared the -old man's cares and sorrows. At night -she slept in his bosom and always rested -in his heart.</p> - -<p>The two "Good-for-Nothings!"</p> - -<p>Alike sufferers from the mistress's harshness, -how they loved each other, though -they dared not show it when the mistress -was near. She was angry at such nonsense, -as she termed their holy affection.</p> - -<p>The winter after Gretchen was six years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> -old, was very cold and stormy. The blue -waters of the Rhine had grown black and -sullen. In the cottage times were not -improved. The baby was teething. The -mistress was not well, and visited her accumulating -ills upon the poor Good-for-Nothings.</p> - -<p>She would not have allowed Gretchen -to sing at all, but for the baby, of whom -the little girl now had nearly the whole -charge. And very thin and pale she -looked, with the rich flush of her golden -curls falling upon her white forehead, and -her violet eyes large and languid; but her -little hands were red and hard, poor little -hands that had so much to do.</p> - -<p>Child as she was, the woman was growing -in her heart, and with tenderest care -she watched the grandfather who had no -one but her who understood his sensitive -feebleness, and loved to care for him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> -Many times in the day, when the mistress -was out of the room, she would put her -little hand in his, and kiss him. Only the -sick and sorrowful know how sweet was -the pressure of that loving hand.</p> - -<p>One day, in that miserable winter, the -baby had been more troublesome than -usual, the mistress more unkind and exacting, -and the Two Good-for-Nothings -more silent and depressed. Gretchen had -been whipped because she did not sing; -but how could she, when the grandfather's -chair had been moved to be out of the way, -into a corner far from the fire, and he was -trembling with cold; and, more than this, -Gretchen saw by his heavy eyes and pale -face that he was ill—how much, poor child, -she did not know.</p> - -<p>After a time the baby slept, and the -mistress left the room. Then Gretchen -stole to the old man's side, and threw her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> -arms round his neck, and begged him to -draw near the fire.</p> - -<p>"Never mind, Golden Hair," said the -old man, "grandfather is going where -he will never be sick or cold any more. -But, oh, mein kleines kind (my little -child), 'tis thou that break'st my heart. -To leave thee alone! mein liebes, mein -schonest."</p> - -<p>Tears gathered in the dim eyes of the -old man, and the cold, withered hand -stroked lovingly the golden hair of the -little maiden, who looked wonderingly at -him with her large, violet eyes glistening, -and the big tears rolling down her pale -face.</p> - -<p>"Mein kleines Gretchen, she'll whip -you, and call you <i>Good-for-Nothing</i> when -your old grandfather's gone; but sing, -mein liebes, sing all you can; the good -Lord will hear the voice of his own.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> -Oh! to leave you, kleina, 'tis so hard! so -hard!" And the old man rocked himself -to and fro, weeping and trembling with -cold and sickness.</p> - -<p>The little Gretchen threw her arms -around his neck, kissing his tears, and, half -choking with sobs, she whispered: "You'll -smoke, grandfather, darling; your little -Golden Hair'll get your pipe." Little child! -she could think of nothing else, and she -must do something for the dear grandfather; -and often before, the pipe had been -a great solace to him, when the mistress -had been unkind; so the little nimble feet -ran for it, and brought it to him filled, and -with the red coal glowing in the bowl.</p> - -<p>Just then the baby cried out, and Elizabeth -entered in time for her sharp, black -eyes to take in the whole scene.</p> - -<p>Snatching the pipe angrily from the little -child's hand, she threw it against the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> -chimney, breaking it into many pieces. -"I'll teach you to leave the baby to be -playing with fire. Take that, Good-for-Nothing." -And she gave Gretchen a sharp -blow upon the little golden-crowned head, -and pushed her toward the cradle, adding, -"see if you can sing now!"</p> - -<p>And Gretchen tried hard to obey, but -'twas a wail, broken with sobs, that rose -from the bursting heart of the child, -through the winter cold air of the Rhine -land, to the feet of the good Lord who -took little children in his arms and blessed -them.</p> - -<p>That night when little Gretchen was -sleeping, her weary head resting on the -grandfather's bosom, his troubled spirit -passed alone and silently through the dim -portals of the dusky way, and, entering the -pearly gates, found perfect rest in heaven -the golden.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span></p> - -<p>In the early morning, Karl was awakened -by a wild, piteous cry.</p> - -<p>'Twas little Gretchen. The grandfather -was cold, icy cold, and she could not warm -him, though she had rubbed him till her -own little hands were like ice, and had -pressed her soft, warm cheek to his.</p> - -<p>She could not warm him! He could not -speak to her—not one word from the dear -grandfather for the poor, little, motherless -child, now the lone "Good-for-Nothing."</p> - -<p>When Karl found that the grandfather -was really dead, with the big tears rolling -down his cheek, he took the little Gretchen -in his arms, and wrapping a blanket round -her, walked to and fro, trying to soothe her.</p> - -<p>He loved the old father and the little -daughter. But the poor man's lot leaves -little time for endearing cares. He must -work early and late to procure even coarse -food and clothes for his family.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span></p> - -<p>Little Gretchen's bitter, but uncomplaining -grief brought tears to the eyes of the -kind neighbors, as they looked upon her -sad, pale face, and large eyes, so filled with -the shrinking loneliness of her sensitive -nature. Even the mistress's heart was -touched by the hopeless agony of the little -one, and while the grandfather lay dead in -the house, she was more gentle and kind to -her than she had been before.</p> - -<p>In a few days they buried him under the -trees, by the blue Rhine River. By Chimlein's -grave, where he had so often listened -to the sweet voice of his little Golden Hair, -the poor old "<i>Good-for-Nothing</i>" sleeps -his last, cold sleep.</p> - -<p>Very wearily rolled now the years for -Gretchen.</p> - -<p>As she grew older, the household drudgery -fell upon her. The mistress seldom -gave her a pleasant look or word, and no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> -matter what went wrong with the house or -children, the burden of all fell upon the -poor "Good-for-Nothing."</p> - -<p>The mistress had now four children, of -whom Gretchen had almost the entire -charge; and, at the age of fourteen, in the -frail form of a delicate child, she bore the -heart of a subdued and sorrowful woman.</p> - -<p>She had had no opportunities for improvement, -always at work in the cottage; -yet her voice, a marvel in infancy, increased -wonderfully in strength and clearness. It -was a God's gift, and she sung with matchless -sweetness and taste, heaven taught.</p> - -<p>One day, as Gretchen sat rocking the -youngest child in her arms, and singing as -only she could, there came a knocking at -the door. The mistress opened it, and saw -a tall, sweet-faced lady dressed in deep -mourning.</p> - -<p>There was a fine carriage at the gate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> -and she knew by the lordly coat-of-arms, -her visitor was no ordinary person, -so she dropped a low courtesy and -waited.</p> - -<p>"Was it you, my good woman, I heard -singing just now?" said the lady.</p> - -<p>"Ah, no, madam, 'twas only Gretchen, -the Good-for-Nothing, putting the baby to -sleep."</p> - -<p>"But the Good-for-Nothing can sing -beautifully, and I would hear her again."</p> - -<p>So the lady entered the cottage, to find -Gretchen bending over the now sleeping -child, with the flush of shame crimsoning -her cheeks, for she had heard Elizabeth's -coarse reply. But she rose and courtesied -to the lady, and, as she did so, the old broken -comb fell from her hair, and a shower -of rich golden curls covered her neck and -shoulders.</p> - -<p>Poor little Gretchen! How the accident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> -confused her. She did not know that she -looked very beautiful, and that her modesty -was an inexpressible charm.</p> - -<p>"Sing again, my child," said the lady, -kindly.</p> - -<p>And Gretchen sang a little German song, -full of pathos and beauty; and though her -voice trembled with agitation, it lost none -of its pure richness.</p> - -<p>Tears came to the lady's eyes, and, as if -speaking to herself, she said:—</p> - -<p>"My little Adela was about her age; -these golden curls are like hers, and she -sang sweetly, but not like this child."</p> - -<p>Then the lady drew Gretchen to her, -and asked her if she would be her little -girl, and love her.</p> - -<p>She told her how her own little daughter -had died, and Gretchen told her of the -dear grandfather; then she threw her little, -weary arms around the fair lady's neck,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> -and they wept together—the <i>childless -mother</i> and the <i>motherless child</i>.</p> - -<p>Elizabeth was very angry when she -found the lady wanted to adopt Gretchen. -"The miserable Good-for-Nothing," after -all the trouble she had had with her, -and just as she was beginning to be -able to "earn her salt." And she was -to be the rich lady's child, while her -own children must remain in poverty. -'Twas too much, and she determined to -prevent it.</p> - -<p>She went out to meet Karl, and told -him her querulous story.</p> - -<p>But Karl loved his child, and when the -lady told him she would make Gretchen -as her own child and love her dearly, he -kissed his little daughter, and placing her -hand in the good lady's, told her he had -never been able to do for Gretchen as his -heart desired, and he blessed the good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> -Lord that she had at last found a friend -who would give her a mother's care and -love.</p> - -<p>So they went away together, the high-born -Countess and the beautiful peasant -child.</p> - -<p>The little Good-for-Nothing grew up to -be a lovely and accomplished woman. -Her matchless voice became the marvel of -the gifted and high-born, as it had once -been of the village peasantry.</p> - -<p>After she had arrived at a proper age -she married the countess's nephew, who had -loved her tenderly for years, and lived to -see her children's children noble, prosperous, -and happy.</p> - -<p>In her prosperity, Gretchen did not forget -her toil-burdened father, and even -Elizabeth and her children shared the -favors heaped upon him by the once despised -<i>little Good-for-Nothing</i>.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>CHING CHONG CHINAMAN.</h2> -</div> - -<p>In the "early days" a gallant ship left -the harbor of Hong Kong, in the land of -the Celestials, bound for the port of San -Francisco.</p> - -<p>Among the emigrants was a young -China boy, of the better class, whose father -and mother had both died suddenly, leaving -to their son only the memory of the -happy days of the past, over which a fleeting -prosperity and paternal love had cast -the halo of perpetual sunshine.</p> - -<p>His father was a merchant, supposed to be -immensely wealthy, but after the debts of -the house were paid Ching Chong found himself -alone in the world, and very destitute.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span></p> - -<p>One evening as he walked out through -the suburbs of the city, he met a merchant -who had been a great friend of his father. -The old gentleman stopped the boy, and -kindly inquired what he was doing, and -how he had been getting along since his -father's death.</p> - -<p>Ching Chong was feeling very desolate, -and at these expressions of interest -the unbidden tears began to flow -down his cheeks, till, unable to restrain -himself, he bowed his face upon his -hands, and sobbed as if his heart would -break.</p> - -<p>The old man gave him time to recover -himself and when the boy dashed the tears -proudly away with the back of his hand, -trying to call up the dawning manhood in -his heart, he said: "I will help you, you -are the son of the friend of my youth, you -shall be my son."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span></p> - -<p>He took the young Ching Chong by the -hand, kindly, led him home to his own -house, and provided him with the best -instruction the city afforded.</p> - -<p>At the age of fifteen, Ching Chong was -as handsome and intelligent a boy as could -be found in the city of Hong Kong.</p> - -<p>One day his benefactor called him to -him, and told him of the distant gold land. -"There, my son," he said, "you shall go to -seek your fortune. I will provide you with -every thing necessary for the journey, but -you must keep a strict account, and at the -end of five years return, and share the -gains with me."</p> - -<p>"If you do well in all things, I will -reward you doubly, for I love you as my -own son."</p> - -<p>Here the merchant embraced him so -tenderly, that the eyes of Ching Chong -were moistened with tears of gratitude.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span></p> - -<p>Then the merchant gave him much good -advice, which the young Ching Chong -promised faithfully to follow.</p> - -<p>As the dusk of evening came on, both -grew thoughtful and silent; at last the -old man took the boy's hand in his, saying: -"I have been thinking of a curious -legend which our fathers believed."</p> - -<p>Then he told him how years before two -Chinamen, a giant and a dwarf, went out -into the great world, far beyond the shining -waters, to seek their fortune together. -How, after a weary time and great labor, -they found a cavern full of gold and precious -stones, but at the entrance sat two -men guarding the treasure.</p> - -<p>The Chinamen were very cold and hungry, -and the two men gave them food and -warm blankets, but they would not allow -them to touch even one of the lustrous -gems that sparkled around them.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span></p> - -<p>At last the Chinamen went away quite -rested, and with plenty of food in their -sacks. They had gone only a short distance -down the cañon, when in the darkest -shadow the giant stopped.</p> - -<p>"Let us rest here," he said, "and talk -over our plans for the future. There is -a great treasure near us, I am strong, you -are active, and we are separated from our -wishes by only two men of ordinary -strength."</p> - -<p>The dwarf sighed heavily. "They have -been kind to us, but for them we must -have died of hunger."</p> - -<p>"Fool," replied the giant, "there is -enough for all."</p> - -<p>Then it was they sat talking till the -stronger prevailed over the weaker, and, at -the still hour of midnight, they went back -to the cavern of gold.</p> - -<p>The dwarf had begged hard for the lives<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> -of the men, but the cruel giant was obdurate.</p> - -<p>"Let them die," he said, "and the treasure -will be ours."</p> - -<p>In the darkness he struck the blow, but -instead of falling upon the men, as he had -intended, he struck the stone on which -their heads had rested. A harsh ringing -sound resounded through the cavern, and -suddenly a great light flashed up, and -almost blinded them, so that they covered -their eyes with their hands.</p> - -<p>When a moment after they glanced fearfully -around, they saw not two common -men, but two horrid monsters. Whether -immense giants or genii, they could not -tell, but the giant Chinaman before them -seemed but a boy in size.</p> - -<p>The poor Chinamen trembled with fear, -and begged the monsters to spare their -lives.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span></p> - -<p>"I did not wish to kill you," said the -dwarf. "Oh, dear! have pity! have pity! -and he clasped his little hands imploringly; -while his teeth chattered with the intensity -of his fear.</p> - -<p>"You would have robbed us," replied -the monster, "and for this you shall be -punished."</p> - -<p>Then he laid a spell upon them, condemning -them to remain far from their -beloved China. Wandering through the -gold land, and finding treasures, but never -possessing them.</p> - -<p>To the dwarf he said, "because the good -had not all gone out of your heart, you -may be permitted to aid the future gold-seekers, -and they shall be blessed by your -guidance. But a curse shall follow the -gifts of the giant, and his bones shall -bleach upon the mountains of the stranger -land."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span></p> - -<p>"Strive by deeds of kindness, poor -dwarf," he continued, "to wipe out the -stain of this present great sin of your life, -so that at last, when you die, your body -may be wafted to the pleasant shore of the -celestial country."</p> - -<p>Then he drove them out of the cave, -and they began their weary wanderings. -The giant filled with angry bitterness, -and the heart of the dwarf subdued and -penitent.</p> - -<p>For some time after the merchant had -finished his story, Ching Chong sat in -silence. At last he exclaimed, eagerly, -"who knows but they are now in the gold-land -to which I am going."</p> - -<p>"I had thought of that," answered the -old man. "It may be all a myth, but as -you say 'who knows!' At all events there -is no harm in my saying, <i>beware of the -giant, and look out for the dwarf</i>."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span></p> - -<p>Just as the ship was about sailing, the -merchant gave to Ching Chong a curious -black wand, saying, "this is a divining-rod, -and will help you to find the treasure. -Remember all I have said to you. Especially -<i>beware of the giant</i>."</p> - -<p>Again Ching Chong promised, and they -embraced with much affection.</p> - -<p>At last the signal was given, the anchor -weighed, and the merchant hastened on -shore, to look out upon the waters, till -Ching Chong, leaning over the railing of -the deck, faded from his sight.</p> - -<p>Thus Ching Chong became a gold-seeker, -and many were the gorgeous -dreams that filled the mind of the youth, -as the ship sailed lazily over the placid -waters.</p> - -<p>At last, after the usual amount of winds -and calms, storms and fair weather, the -good ship sailed through the Golden Gate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> -and into the pleasant harbor of San Francisco.</p> - -<p>Ching Chong disembarked with the -other passengers, a stranger in a land of -strangers, where even the language of -the country fell upon his ear, the unmeaning -jargon of an unknown tongue.</p> - -<p>Fortunately for him, he was not the only -Chinaman in the country, though at that -early day they were few in number. The -Queen city of the Pacific was then a city -of many sand hills, and a few poor shanties, -but it was full of energy, perseverance, -and hope.</p> - -<p>Ching Chong was a quick, active lad, -and soon learned enough of English to -procure a situation, and for some time -remained in San Francisco.</p> - -<p>At night, when his work was over, he -would take a look at his divining-rod, and -he often noticed it would turn in his hand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> -till it pointed to the mountain country, -awaking all the wild dreams, and eager -longings that in the leisure hours of the -sea-voyage filled his imagination.</p> - -<p>At last he could resist the impulse no -longer, and joined a party of prospectors -for the mining districts.</p> - -<p>For months Ching Chong wandered -over the mountains with his comrades, till -his shoes were worn out, and his trousers -and blue shirt so patched with flour-sacks, -that it was impossible for the uninitiated -to distinguish the original material.</p> - -<p>Still he found nothing, even the divining-rod -seemed to have lost its power, -save when he was alone.</p> - -<p>One night he sat apart from the others, -feeling very sad, and wishing he had never -left China. The homesick longing to see -his native land growing continually in his -heart, oppressed him greatly.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span></p> - -<p>The thought of the kind old merchant -who had been as a father to him, pursued -him, but deeper down in his heart was -cherished the memory of the merchant's -daughter. The gentle Ah Zore maiden -with the almond-shaped eyes, and tiny -feet.</p> - -<p>Just as he was yielding himself to tender -dreams, his wand rested upon his -bosom, and there he felt his secret talisman, -the divining-rod.</p> - -<p>Rising up hastily, he resolved to go -off alone, and yield to the impulse of the -wand. Hoping he might be more successful -than in the weary months he had -passed with his companions.</p> - -<p>With this resolve, the pressure of the -rod became greater, awaking joyous hopes -that had long been strangers to him.</p> - -<p>He thought of the curious legend the -merchant had told him, and whispering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> -softly to himself, he said: "Where the -wand leads I will go—on to fortune, or -death; any thing is better than the weariness -of my present life."</p> - -<p>It was a beautiful, balmy night. The -silvery moonlight and the stars brightened -even the dim cavern, and flooded -the mountains with a luminous beauty.</p> - -<p>Ching Chong went silently up the mountain -path until he came to a ledge the -miners had been prospecting that day.</p> - -<p>Still the divining-rod urged him on, till -he had gone miles farther into the mountains -than ever before.</p> - -<p>About twelve o'clock, he began to be -hungry and weary, for it was the early -evening when he started, and after a hard -day's work.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the divining-rod changed, and -pointed downward, and as Ching Chong -looked, he saw what appeared to be the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> -entrance of a cavern, but a huge stone was -rolled against it.</p> - -<p>He perceived a small opening which the -stone left uncovered, through which he -might have crept, but the darkness within -was so dense that he dare not enter.</p> - -<p>He threw himself down upon the ground -quite overcome with hunger and fatigue, -and taking a piece of hard bread from his -pocket, began eating, and thinking almost -hopelessly of the future.</p> - -<p>He was aroused by a harsh voice, and -looking up, saw, just before him, the immense -form of a giant Chinaman.</p> - -<p>"What are you doing here, countryman," -said the giant, opening his huge -mouth, and glaring with his ugly eyes upon -the startled boy.</p> - -<p>"I am thinking of home," replied Ching -Chong, sadly, "and fearing I shall never -see that dearest spot again."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span></p> - -<p>"Thank God, the bodies of all true -Chinamen are carried back to repose in -death in the bosom of their mother-land."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to insult me, minion," -cried the giant, while his face grew livid -with rage, and he would have killed Ching -Chong with one blow of his heavy club, -but the boy sprang lightly out of his way.</p> - -<p>"Foiled again," he muttered, between his -teeth. "Come here, boy," he added, "I -will not hurt you, silly fool."</p> - -<p>"I was only joking, just to see you jump -out of the way;" and he gave a loud laugh -that made the mountains echo.</p> - -<p>The rod in his bosom urging him on, -Ching Chong drew cautiously near the -giant.</p> - -<p>"Sit down, and tell me of your wanderings," -said the monster, with a rough voice, -into which he tried to throw the semblance -of kindness.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span></p> - -<p>Ching Chong told him all, only omitting -the merchant's story and his secret of the -wand.</p> - -<p>"Never mind, boy," said the giant, "you -shall win the prize, and go back to China a -rich man. See, the morning sun is rising. -Now we will enter the cavern, and you -shall have as much gold and precious -stones as you can carry away."</p> - -<p>Ching Chong felt a momentary thrill of -joy in his heart, which was saddened by -the memory of the merchant's last words, -"beware of the giant."</p> - -<p>"I have wandered in this cold, stranger -land for three long years, and found nothing -until now.</p> - -<p>"Wealth is within my grasp; if I do not -seize it, I may never have another chance! -To be poor forever! No! no! I will take -the risk." Then he spoke aloud, in a resolute -voice, "Lead on, I will follow."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span></p> - -<p>The giant gave the great stone a push -with his foot, and rolled it away as though -it had been a pebble.</p> - -<p>As they entered he struck a torch, then, -before proceeding, rolled back the stone -and closed up the opening.</p> - -<p>When Ching Chong saw himself shut -into the cave with the giant, he trembled -with fear, for he saw there was no way of -escape. He felt now, he had only to follow -where the monster at will might lead him.</p> - -<p>They went through a long, narrow passage, -then down many steps, until at last -they entered a hall, which was lighted -by a large lamp, suspended from the dome -of the cavern.</p> - -<p>Ching Chong was almost blinded by the -reflection of the luminous crystals that, with -curious prismatic effect, flooded the hall -with a hundred glowing tints.</p> - -<p>Great masses of gold lay scattered about,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> -and huge seams ran through the rugged -sides of the cavern.</p> - -<p>"Is this rich enough for you?" said the -giant, laughingly.</p> - -<p>"Help yourself, lad, you remember I told -you you should have all you could carry -away."</p> - -<p>The delighted Ching Chong began to gather -up the gold and precious stones into his -sack, and when he had secured all he could -carry, throwing the sack over his shoulder, -he thanked the giant, and begged him to -let him go out of the cave.</p> - -<p>"Go on!" replied the giant, with a mocking -laugh. "You're welcome to the treasure, -but I'm thinking you'll find it hard -work to move that stone from the mouth of -the cave."</p> - -<p>Then Ching Chong threw down the treasure -at his feet, crying, with tears in his -eyes, "Take back your riches, and let me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> -go out into the sunshine! the beautiful -sunshine! Oh! good giant, take back -your gold, and give me my poverty, and -my liberty!"</p> - -<p>"What a pretty actor! go on! go on!" -said the delighted giant, and when Ching -Chong threw himself on his knees before -him, wringing his hands in silent despair, -he laughed till the mountain cavern rung.</p> - -<p>"Do you think I will let you go? You -are my slave now! and the sunshine! the -beautiful sunshine! you shall never see -again."</p> - -<p>Ching Chong saw there was no help for -him then.</p> - -<p>He spurned the bag of gold and precious -stones, pushing it with his foot, as he followed -the giant into the inner cave.</p> - -<p>The giant ordered him to build a fire, -and prepare supper, and, after the master -was served, he was permitted to eat and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> -go to sleep upon the rough but warm skin -of a grizzly bear.</p> - -<p>Weeks passed by! Still he was a prisoner -in the cavern, serving the grim old -giant, who was very capricious, and hard -to please.</p> - -<p>One evening he came home in great good -humor, and, while he ate his supper, he -talked and laughed with Ching Chong very -pleasantly.</p> - -<p>He told how that day he had given a -quantity of gold to some miners.</p> - -<p>"Great luck it will bring them," he -added.</p> - -<p>"Already they are quarreling over it," -and a malicious grin disfigured his monstrous -face.</p> - -<p>"'Tis such fools as you, boy, who make -things lively. Ha! ha! You may have -all the gold you can carry away!</p> - -<p>"Why don't you move the stone? Ah!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> -boy, if you had the famous divining-rod, -you would only have to touch the rock, and -it would obey your wish, but you might as -well hope to wake up in your beloved -China, as to obtain it."</p> - -<p>How strangely the words of the giant -thrilled the heart of Ching Chong, and, -pressing his hand against his bosom, the -famous divining-rod awakened the hopes -that in his heart lay sleeping.</p> - -<p>In the excess of his emotion he was -obliged to hide his face from the giant, lest -he should see his secret written there.</p> - -<p>That night after the loud snoring of the -giant announced that he was sleeping -soundly, Ching Chong rose carefully, and -lighting the torch, crept softly out of the -large cave, and through the narrow passage -that led to the entrance.</p> - -<p>He took nothing with him. "The treasure -of the giant is cursed," he said.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span></p> - -<p>When he came to the rock he took the -divining-rod from his bosom, and, pressing -it lightly against the rock, said: "Giant -rock remove quickly at the spell of the -divining-rod."</p> - -<p>Quick as thought the rock moved from -its place, and the silver moonlight poured -in at the entrance of the cave, and lighted -up the face of Ching Chong, beaming with -the bliss of recovered liberty.</p> - -<p>Once more he touched the rock, saying: -"Move back giant rock at the spell of the -the divining-rod, and remain forever so -firmly fixed that even the giant's powerful -hand cannot remove you."</p> - -<p>The great stone rolled back, striking the -ledge with such force that the whole mountain -shook, and the mighty echo was reverberated -from all the neighboring heights.</p> - -<p>This great commotion aroused the sleeping -giant, and he called loudly for Ching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> -Chong, and, when he received no answer, -he was very much enraged, and searched -the whole cavern in every nook and corner. -At last he rushed to the entrance, -and pushed his broad shoulder against the -rock, but he could not move it one inch -from its place; then he became so furious -that his voice sounded like the roar of a -wild beast, but with all his efforts he could -not move the rock. Ching Chong sat -without in the calm moonlight, now and -then calling to the giant to come on, and -that he was welcome to all the treasure he -could bring with him.</p> - -<p>After a time the giant became so -exhausted that he ceased his efforts to -move the rock, and begged Ching Chong -to touch it again with his magic wand, and -let him out, promising him all the treasures -of the cave; but the boy only replied: -"Your turn has come now, keep your treasure,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> -you are welcome to it, and to your -underground castle."</p> - -<p>"Good-by, kind master, good-by! Come -out when you can, and you may have all -the treasure you can carry."</p> - -<p>With this Ching Chong started for his -old cabin, but for miles the deep howlings -of the giant were wafted to his ears.</p> - -<p>He reached the cabin at sunrise, just five -weeks after he left it.</p> - -<p>When he entered he found his old companions -just eating breakfast. They were -greatly surprised to see him, for they supposed -he had been killed by the grizzly -bears with which that district abounded.</p> - -<p>They gave him a hearty greeting, and he -sat down to breakfast, telling them only -the last of his marvelous adventures, omitting -the secret of the divining-rod entirely.</p> - -<p>When he had finished, he asked them -what luck they had had.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span></p> - -<p>Nothing very good, they replied. Some -placer diggings of a little promise, but -their fortunes were not yet made.</p> - -<p>Ching Chong went out with them, and -entered again upon the hard life of prospecting. -Many months passed on in the -same old way, and again Ching Chong -began to feel very much disheartened. -Four years and a half had gone, and still -he was poor, no nearer the realization of -his dreams than ever.</p> - -<p>The intense longing for home was ever -gnawing in his heart. He thought sadly -of the old merchant who awaited his -return, and sighed often as he dreamed of -the beautiful Ah Zore.</p> - -<p>Again he resolved to follow the guiding -of the divining-rod, hoping for greater success -than in his former expedition.</p> - -<p>Again he started at nightfall, without -saying any thing to his companions.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span></p> - -<p>He had provided himself with a sack -of food, which he carried, with his pick and -shovel, upon his shoulders.</p> - -<p>He was young, healthy, and accustomed -to the hardships of a mountain life.</p> - -<p>For hours he walked on as the divining-rod -guided him, until near morning, when, -overcome with fatigue, he threw himself -upon the ground among the thick sage -brush, and soon fell asleep.</p> - -<p>A thousand golden imaginings mingled -with his dreams, and, when he awoke with -the sunshine pouring its flood of warmth -and light upon him, he rose full of bright -hopes, ate his scanty breakfast, and started -upon his way with a happy heart.</p> - -<p>Thus he wandered on for several days, -carefully examining every ledge of rocks -that he passed over.</p> - -<p>His stock of food was nearly exhausted. -The divining-rod and his hopeful nature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> -urged him on, but his dread of a lonely -death in the mountains warned him to -return.</p> - -<p>One night he struck a fire in a lonely -place, and sat down to eat his supper, just -as the twilight gave place to the stars of -night.</p> - -<p>He was getting quite disheartened. "I -must start for the camp in the morning," -he said to himself, "'Tis no use of trying -any longer."</p> - -<p>He fell into a sad train of musing, from -which he was aroused by the soft tinkling -of a silver bell, and looking up he saw -before him the dwarf Chinaman.</p> - -<p>He wore the round hat, blue blouse, big -pants, and pointed shoes of the Celestials, -and his words fell upon Ching Chong's ear -in the language of his native tongue. His -face was wrinkled and sad-looking, yet -there was a kindliness in its expression,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> -and Ching Chong's heart warmed as he -pleasantly asked, "Why so sorrowful to-night, -my boy?"</p> - -<p>Then Ching Chong told his story.</p> - -<p>When he had finished the dwarf said: -"Be thankful that you did not attempt to -carry away any of the treasure."</p> - -<p>"If you had taken but one ounce of gold -the wand would have lost its power in -your hand, and you would have been the -slave of the giant as long as you lived, and -after death your bones would have whitened -the floor of the mountain cavern, -instead of reposing in the dear native -land."</p> - -<p>"Your industry and perseverance shall -now be rewarded. Lie down and sleep -to-night upon this soft turf. In the morning -rise and follow the direction of the -divining-rod, and where it points downward -strike your pick."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span></p> - -<p>"Now good-night, my boy. In the days -of your prosperity, sometimes think kindly -of the poor dwarf of the mountains."</p> - -<p>Before Ching Chong could reply, he found -himself alone, and though he looked round -carefully, he could not discover where, or -how the dwarf had disappeared. So he -lay down, and was soon sleeping soundly.</p> - -<p>In the morning he rose early, and following -the direction of his wand, stopped -where it pointed downward, and striking -a blow with his pick, turned up a beautiful -pure nugget of gold.</p> - -<p>He marked the spot, and collecting a -few specimens, returned to the camp.</p> - -<p>Again his companions surrounded him -to hear his story.</p> - -<p>No one but the poor, toiling miner can -understand the excitement and delight of -the weary prospectors, as they listened to -him, and examined his specimens.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span></p> - -<p>"Now, boys," said Ching Chong, "you -have been the sharers of my bad luck, and -you shall share my good fortune."</p> - -<p>"There is gold enough for all."</p> - -<p>Then the happy miners all shook hands -with Ching Chong, saying a hearty "God -bless you, boy," while the tears glistened -in their eyes, as they thought of the dear -ones in distant lands.</p> - -<p>That night they all dreamed golden -dreams, full of love and happiness.</p> - -<p>In the morning they all went together -to the newly discovered treasure, which -proved to be a large tract of the richest -placer-diggings ever known.</p> - -<p>In six months they were all rich men, -and left the mountains for their different -homes, blessing forever Ching Chong -Chinaman.</p> - -<p>About that time a good ship sailed -for China, and on the deck sat the happy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> -Ching Chong, and all his great wealth -was on board.</p> - -<p>After a prosperous voyage, he reached -his dear, native land, and was able to give -his friend the merchant, an account of himself, -so satisfactory that he rewarded him -with the hand of his daughter, the beautiful -Ah Zore, and in all Hong Kong there -could not be found a happier man than -Ching Chong Chinaman.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>ZALETTA.</h2> -</div> - -<p>Once upon a time there lived in a little -cane hut on the borders of a hacienda, a -poor old Mexican woman and her grandchild.</p> - -<p>The parents of the little one were both -dead, and the old woman maintained herself -and the child by spinning, sewing, and -washing for the rich Spaniards, to whom -all the fine houses and cultivated lands of -the country belonged.</p> - -<p>The mother of the child had been a -beautiful señorita of good family. She -foolishly loved and married the poor but -light-hearted Mexican, who would have -given his life for her, but could not shield<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> -her from the misfortunes which poverty and -sickness brought upon them.</p> - -<p>After the birth of her little daughter, -she died, and very soon the father was lost -in a fearful storm at sea; so the child was -left alone in the world, with none to care -for her but the silver-haired grandmother, -and no home but the little cane hut.</p> - -<p>For some years every thing went pleasantly -with the child; she had never known -luxury, her necessities were supplied, she -returned the fond devotion of the old -grandmother, with the ardor of her Southern -nature; and, all day long, her innocent -voice, full of childish happiness, woke -cheerful echoes around the little hut.</p> - -<p>One night, when she was about ten years -old, the old woman fell sick. She felt the -dim shadows creeping over her spirit, and -her strength growing less; and calling the -child to her side, she said, feebly: "I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> -nothing but a well-worn distaff and the -poor hut to give you. The Holy Virgin -pity and protect you; you have been a -good child to your old grandmother." Then -she kissed her, and blessing her, bade her -good-night, adding: "Never forget to say -your prayers before you go to sleep. God -bless you, my poor, poor child."</p> - -<p>The grandmother turned her face to the -wall, and folded her thin hands as if in -prayer, and Zaletta crept softly into bed -beside her, feeling very sad; but soon her -innocent heart was happy, roaming through -the pleasant land of dreams. In the morning, -Zaletta slept till the sun rose above -the hills, and cast its glowing warmth down -into the shaded valleys, then woke full of -life and joyousness.</p> - -<p>There lay the grandmother just as she -had last seen her the night before. "She -sleeps long this morning, the dear old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> -grandmother," said she to herself, as she -moved round quietly, preparing the scanty -breakfast.</p> - -<p>When it was all ready, she became impatient, -and laid her little warm hand upon -the old woman's arm. Cold, very cold, the -poor child found her, and motionless. She -would never move again.</p> - -<p>Zaletta called her, sobbing and weeping, -but there was no reply. The heart so -ready to sympathize with all her childish -sorrows was at rest. The old grandmother -had died, praying for the little lonely child, -who had been dearer than all the world to -her.</p> - -<p>The next day the people from the hacienda -came and buried the old woman. -After the last sod was cast upon the grave, -the innkeeper's wife took the child by the -hand, saying: "Poor little thing, she can -not stay here alone, I will take her home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> -with me;" and she smoothed the tangled -hair of the helpless orphan with her hand, -and in her harder heart she thought, "By -and by this girl may be made of great service -to me, and even now I'll see that she -earns all that she eats and wears."</p> - -<p>She was very careful to take to the inn -with her, all the poor little hut contained. -"'Tis but little," she said, "but I'll take it -for the child." All the neighbors said it -was kind in the innkeeper's wife, and the -rich señor, to whom the whole hacienda belonged, -gave her a shining gold-piece, saying: -"'Tis for your charity."</p> - -<p>The cold-hearted woman went home, -leading by the hand a little weeping child, -very desolate and sorrowful.</p> - -<p>The innkeeper was naturally a kind -man, but he had become too indolent and -corpulent to resist the strong will of his -termagant wife. "When he saw the sad-eyed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> -little one that she had brought home, -he brushed away a tear with his big brown -hand, and determined to save the unfortunate -from all trouble, as much as he could; -but when he thought of his wife's cruel -disposition, he earnestly wished her in -other hands.</p> - -<p>"Poor little thing! poor little thing!" -he said, pityingly, and calling his own little -boy and girl to him, he placed her trembling -hands in theirs, adding: "Here is a -sister for you, be kind to her, my children."</p> - -<p>The daughter drew her hand away, and -curled her lip in scorn. She was like her -mother, proud and cold in her nature, and, -looking at the coarse clothes of the child, -she said: "Ah, no, papa, she is only fit -for a servant. Sister, indeed!" and she -shook the skirts of her pretty muslin dress, -and ran away.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span></p> - -<p>The boy felt the manhood dawning in his -heart, as he saw the tears glistening in the -pretty dark eyes of the silent child, and -the little red lips quivered with suppressed -emotion.</p> - -<p>"She shall be my sister, papa," said he, -softly, as he took her by the hand, and led -her out in the clear sunshine. Children -understand each other best, thought the old -man, as he sat watching them, while they -walked up and down the garden together, -talking pleasantly.</p> - -<p>Soon the mother's sharp eye detected -them, and with a harsh voice she bade the -little girl haste to the kitchen, and see if -she could not help the cook prepare the -supper.</p> - -<p>Then she called the young Guilerme to -her, saying: "I hope to make a rich señor -of you, my son, though your father is only -an innkeeper. We are making money, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> -every year increases our gains. There is -good blood in my veins, and I am determined -to raise my children above my present -condition. For this I save every thing. -Every thing! For we must have money; -but remember, my son, I would not have -you notice that miserable girl I have -brought here for a servant; by and by she -may do for your sister's maid; now she is -the kitchen scullion."</p> - -<p>Thus began the days of servitude and -sorrow for the young Zaletta.</p> - -<p>The inn was a spacious adobe house, with -an open court in the center, and surrounded -on all sides by a broad piazza. The -kitchen and store-rooms were upon one -side, while the receiving and sleeping rooms -were on the other sides of the square.</p> - -<p>The hacienda was in the southern part -of California, where though the warmth of -the days produces many kinds of tropical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> -fruits, the evenings are often quite chilly, -and the excessive heat of the noon-day -renders all very susceptible to cold. In -the large receiving-room (with the bar at -one side), on such nights, a cheerful fire -always burned, and there all the guests -of the house assembled, and talked over -the news of the day. Sometimes 'twas of -the discovery of a rich gold mine, but -often 'twas of a fearful robbery in the -wood.</p> - -<p>After all the work was done in the -kitchen, Zaletta would steal silently into -the receiving-room, listening to the conversation, -and warming her chilled feet and -hands before going to her miserable bed in -the out-house.</p> - -<p>This did not please the señora. It did -not look respectable to have the miserable -child about, she would say; but in this the -innkeeper was resolute. "The little one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> -should warm herself before going to bed." -So Zaletta came in at evenings, but very -quietly.</p> - -<p>Guilerme was always kind to her; indeed -never a day passed but something nice -found its way to the hiding-place in the -out-house, so that the child was never -hungry.</p> - -<p>He brought her the ripest bananas, and -the sweetest oranges, and when she would -look up to him, with her soft eyes dewy -with love and thanks, he would kiss her -brown cheek, and say: "Never mind, little -one, you shall be <i>señora</i> one of these -days." Then they would laugh and be -happy, till the mother's sharp voice would -ring through the house, calling the unfortunate -to some new task.</p> - -<p>The sister was changeful in her treatment -to Zaletta. Sometimes she would call her -pleasantly to come and play with her, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> -very soon she would become angry and -strike her, calling her "only a pitiful servant." -Then the mother would whip Zaletta -for making her little mistress angry. -The father and Guilerme always took her -part, making the mother more displeased -than ever.</p> - -<p>One day, when Guilerme was about fourteen -years old, and the girls were twelve, -the mother called the boy to her, telling -him in two weeks a vessel would sail -from the nearest sea-port for the Atlantic -States, and that, he must be ready to take -passage in her, for she had determined -to send him to New York to school. -"Your father is now rich," she said, "and -you must be educated like other rich men's -sons."</p> - -<p>Poor little Zaletta! What a blow it -was to her. Her best friend going away -so far over the waters. When he told her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> -the morning before he sailed what his -mother had said, her pretty dark eyes filled -with tears, and she sobbed bitterly.</p> - -<p>"Listen to me," said the boy, soothingly; -"I have something to tell you, and must be -quick, or mamma will call me before I can -finish. You know I am going away to be -educated like a gentleman, and shall want -a lady for my wife; so you must study -hard to become one, for I am determined -to marry you as soon as I come back. I -have taught you to read, and you will find -all my books in the hiding-place, where I -have left them for you, and you must study -hard and see how beautiful you can grow -while I am gone, for I shall make you the -greatest lady in the hacienda;" and he -took the little eager face between his hands -and kissed it with much affection. Just -then the mother called, "Guilerme! Guilerme!" -so he kissed her again, and said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> -"remember, my little wife," and was off in -a moment.</p> - -<p>That night Zaletta wept herself to sleep, -and many succeeding nights; but she did -not forget to study very hard, and though -she labored under great difficulties, her -progress was wonderful. She was working -for the approval of the only one that -loved her since the dear silver-haired -grandmother died. After Guilerme went -away the señora took Zaletta into the -house as maid for her young daughter, who -every day was growing more proud and -selfish.</p> - -<p>For some years the innkeeper had been -greatly prospered. The family had used -economy in all things until they had -amassed considerable wealth.</p> - -<p>"Now," said the señora, "the children -are growing up, and we must not spare the -money—they must have position." She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> -engaged a governess to teach her daughter, -and a master to give her lessons on the -harp and guitar.</p> - -<p>Zaletta always sat in the room with the -young señorita, and listened eagerly to -every word the teachers uttered, though -her hands were busy with her needle.</p> - -<p>Every day she grew in knowledge and -beauty. Her dark eyes were soft as a -fawn's, and her pure olive cheek glowed -with a clear rose-tint, while her form and -features were cast in beauty's most exquisite -mold. Both mother and daughter were -often cruelly unkind to her, more especially -when they saw that her beauty, and innocent -sweetness of manner, attracted more -attention than all the young señorita's fine -clothes and accomplishments. The señorita -was pretty and full of airs and graces, -but Zaletta, in her coarse dress, was far -more lovely. Every day increased the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> -envy of the mother and daughter, and new -and harder tasks were invented for the -weary little hands to perform.</p> - -<p>One sultry afternoon all three sat upon -the piazza of the inner court. A ship had -arrived from New York, with letters from -Guilerme, and a large box, filled with -beautiful fabrics for dresses, shawls, and -ornaments, for the mother and daughter; -but Zaletta received nothing, not even a -word of kind remembrance.</p> - -<p>All the long night before she had wept. -Guilerme, the gentleman, had forgotten the -poor maid; but she, alas! remembered him -too well.</p> - -<p>The mother and daughter sat looking -over their treasures with great delight, and -for the time she was unnoticed. Stitching -away upon a beautiful organdie muslin, at -last overcome by fatigue, loss of sleep, and -the excessive heat, she fell asleep, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> -her dreams she called out in a piteous tone, -"Guilerme! Guilerme!" and the tears ran -down her pale cheeks.</p> - -<p>"What is she saying?" said the mother. -She rose and looked at her, and again she -called, "Guilerme! Guilerme!"</p> - -<p>"Hear her, mamma," exclaimed the -enraged daughter, "I'll give her a lesson -for her impertinence," and she raised her -hand to strike the sleeping girl.</p> - -<p>"Stop, daughter," said the mother, softly, -with a malicious smile, "we can do better. -The foolish Guilerme has sent her a letter -and presents of books. The letter I have -burned. The books you can do as you -like with, but I have a present for la señorita, -she will not like, perhaps."</p> - -<p>She shook the young girl roughly by the -arm, saying, "What, sleeping over your -work. Wake, and hear what Guilerme -says. He sends you this!"</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span></p> - -<p>The señora held out to the young girl a -coarse apron, such as the lower servants -wore. "He hopes his sister will train you -to be a good servant for you must know -he is in love with a rich and beautiful -señorita, and though they are both young -now, it is thought best for them to be married -before his return, which will be in -about two years."</p> - -<p>"Mamma, what is the matter with her? -How pale she looks!" cried the affrighted -daughter, as Zaletta with closed eyes sank -fainting upon the floor.</p> - -<p>"She has fainted, the miserable beggar. -To try to creep into my family, and to -think that foolish boy should talk of love -to her. I'll fix them both," and in her -anger the señora and her daughter left -Zaletta lying cold and pale upon the floor.</p> - -<p>Evening came on, with the calm, silver -light of the stars, before Zaletta recovered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> -At first she could not remember what had -happened, and then it all rushed upon her, -a mighty flood of sorrow.</p> - -<p>"Guilerme has forgotten me! I remember -now: this apron for the servant of his -bride. Ah! Guilerme! Guilerme!" Wrapping -the apron about her neck, she rushed -out into the night. "I cannot stay in this -house another night. It will kill me!" she -said, and she hurried on as though she -could fly from her great sorrow.</p> - -<p>At last she came to a deep wood, and, -after wandering about till her wearied -limbs refused to carry her any further, she -saw a light glimmering through the trees, -and pressing on she came to a little cottage.</p> - -<p>Looking in at the window she saw an -old woman at her distaff spinning. The -faggots upon the hearth burned brightly, -and lighted up the little room, but especially -the face of the old woman shone with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> -the glow of a kind heart. Timidly she -knocked at the door, but there was no -reply. Then she knocked again louder, -and the old woman called out in a cracked -voice: "Who knocks at my door so late in -the night!"</p> - -<p>"Only a poor maiden, who has no home, -no friend on earth. I pray you, good -woman, let me in. The night is cold, and -the starlight chills me. I am so tired! so -tired! Good mother, let me in!"</p> - -<p>The old woman opened the door and led -her in. She sat down in the corner, gazing -silently into the fire and wondering why -the good Lord in pity did not let her -die; and big tears ran down her pale -cheeks.</p> - -<p>The old woman baked a fresh tortilla -and gave it to her with a cup of milk.</p> - -<p>"Eat, child," she said gently, "you are -hungry," and she laid her hand on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> -bowed head, saying again: "There! there! -eat, child! and sleep away the sorrow of -youth which is fleeting as the dew of -morning."</p> - -<p>Then she turned away and commenced -spinning and singing in a low, monotonous -tone, which was strangely soothing, while -Zaletta ate her supper, and soon the sad, -weary maiden fell asleep by the warm, -pleasant fireside.</p> - -<p>For some time the old woman went on -spinning and singing, till another knock -came at the door, and again she said: -"Who knocks at my door so late in the -night?" "'Tis I, mother," replied a thick, -rough voice. She opened the door to a -most curious looking dwarf. He was -round shouldered and thick set, with -heavy, black hair covering his forehead, -and shaggy brows meeting over his eyes.</p> - -<p>"How fared thee, to-day, son?"</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span></p> - -<p>"I haven't struck the lode yet, mother," -said the dwarf, cheerfully, "but I am sure -the mine is rich. See what I have picked -up among the loose rocks!"</p> - -<p>He handed her a small nugget of gold, -almost pure, and turned to the corner to -put down his pick and shovel. "But who -have we here? A young girl, and very -pretty," he added, looking admiringly upon -the sleeping maiden.</p> - -<p>"Only a poor friendless child, who came -to the door a little while ago, weeping and -asking shelter," answered the woman.</p> - -<p>"Treat her kindly, mother; she will be -company for you, and by-and-by I may -marry her, but I have no time to think of -women now."</p> - -<p>The dwarf sat down to the hot supper -the mother had prepared for him, and ate -heartily, for he was very hungry. Then -he drew his chair near the fire, and sat for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> -sometime looking dreamily into its glowing -embers.</p> - -<p>"I must strike the lode soon," he mused. -"Oh, my rich gold mine; it must come at -last." Then he rose, saying, kindly, "Good -night, mother," and climbed up into the -little loft, where in a few minutes he was -sleeping soundly.</p> - -<p>The old woman woke Zaletta, and they -retired for the night, sleeping in the same -bed.</p> - -<p>In the morning Zaletta was awakened -by a kind voice calling, "Get up now, -daughter, and help me to prepare my son's -breakfast, he has been at work for an hour, -and will soon come in very hungry."</p> - -<p>Zaletta rose quickly and helped to prepare -a breakfast of fresh tortillas nicely -browned, fried plantain, and venison, -which, with plenty of ripe fruit and goat's -milk, made a repast fit for a prince.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span></p> - -<p>Soon the dwarf came in, so smiling and -cheerful, that though Zaletta thought him -the ugliest looking person she ever saw, -she felt sure his heart was in the right -place. "You are welcome, my pretty girl," -he said, "but don't mind me; I've no time -to compliment women, though by-and-by, -when I strike a rich lode, I may marry you."</p> - -<p>Zaletta's face flushed a deep crimson, -and she looked as though that would be -any thing but desirable; but she made no -reply, and in a moment the dwarf seemed -to have forgotten her presence, and she -became more comfortable.</p> - -<p>Two years passed by and Zaletta remained -at the cottage, helping the old -mother, who was very fond of her, and -reading books with which the dwarf kept -her constantly supplied. All this time he -was working hard in his mine, but could -not "strike the rich lode." Sometimes he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> -grew quite disheartened, then he would be -joyous and hopeful, and would say to -Zaletta: "Though I have no time to think -of women now, by-and-by, when I am rich, -I will marry you." She soon got used to -this, and only laughed, for he was always -very kind to her, and she learned to look -upon him as a brother.</p> - -<p>One dark night in the rainy season she -and the mother sat by the fire waiting for -the dwarf to come in to his supper. The -old woman was spinning, and Zaletta reading -a pleasant book of travels.</p> - -<p>"My poor boy," sighed the old mother. -"How it rains; he will be wet through. -Oh, dear! I fear he will never be able to -strike the rich lode." Just then a loud -knock came at the door. "Who knocks -at my door so late in the night," said the -old woman.</p> - -<p>A voice, young, strong, and pure, answered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> -sending all the warm blood from -Zaletta's heart to her face: "A stranger, -belated and lost in the wood, begs for -shelter from the storm."</p> - -<p>The old woman opened the door, and -Guilerme—dear, handsome Guilerme, dripping -with rain, and very cold, entered.</p> - -<p>Zaletta's book dropped upon the floor, -and her tongue refused her heart utterance, -but Guilerme's eyes rested upon the -beautiful girl with delighted surprise.</p> - -<p>"Found at last, my own Zaletta." His -arms opened, and the trembling, lonely -heart of the maiden found its true resting-place.</p> - -<p>They sat down side by side, hand clasping -hand, and explained all the past to -each other, how Guilerme had written and -received no answer, and at last returned to -find her gone, and his heart desolate.</p> - -<p>Zaletta told him all she had suffered, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> -of the kindness she had received at the -cottage. Then Guilerme took the old woman's -hands and thanked her with a voice -trembling with emotion.</p> - -<p>The mother rejoiced with them, but -there mingled a sorrow for her son with -the joy. "Poor son," she thought, "He is -very fond of the child."</p> - -<p>Soon another knock came, and again the -old woman asked, "Who knocks at my -door so late in the night," and the dwarf -answered:—</p> - -<p>"Mother! mother! I've struck the lode -at last."</p> - -<p>She opened the door, and he threw his -arms round her neck and kissed her, then -he came in, and saw Guilerme; and they -both told their stories.</p> - -<p>"So," said the dwarf, when Guilerme had -finished: "You have come to take my -pretty maid away? Well, if she loves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> -you, 'tis all right, I have had no time to -think of women; but, somehow, I have -grown fond of her," and he sighed heavily. -"I have struck the lode at last. I am a -rich man, but I must find some one to -share my good fortune with me, some pure, -good little girl like our Zaletta."</p> - -<p>In the morning, when Guilerme and the -dwarf went to the mine together, they -found it even richer than the dwarf had -thought it, the night before. Guilerme -offered to furnish the money to build a mill -to crush the ore, for one-half the mine; -and so they became partners.</p> - -<p>Soon after this, Guilerme and Zaletta -were married at the cottage in the wood, -and in time the good dwarf was united -to a pretty Mexican lass, who made him -very happy.</p> - -<p>After a time, Guilerme built a fine house -for his wife, and, when they had two little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> -children, he took his family home to the -old hacienda.</p> - -<p>The mother and sister did not recognize -their old servant in Guilerme's brilliant -señora, but the old father (God bless him) -knew her, when she placed her little soft -hand in his, and kissed him; and very -dearly he learned to love his dutiful -daughter.</p> - -<p>So they were all rich and happy, as long -as it pleased God to spare their lives.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>THE STRONG MAN OF SANTA BARBARA.</h2> -</div> - -<p>Many years ago, in the old Spanish mission -of Santa Barbara, lived an old Mexican, -named Joza Silva, with his wife and -child, in a little adobe house, containing -but one room.</p> - -<p>There was a small window, rudely latticed -with unplaned laths, and a door -opening upon a pleasant view of the golden-sanded -beach and the restless waves of the -ocean.</p> - -<p>At that time, the Spaniards, Mexicans, -and Indians were the only inhabitants of -the country.</p> - -<p>Over these people, the padres, who established<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> -the mission, had acquired a most -unlimited sway, ruling them more completely -than even the Pope his subjects of -the Holy See of Rome.</p> - -<p>The Mexicans are an indolent race. The -luxurious climate of Santa Barbara is not -favorable to the development of latent -energy in any people, least of all to the inert -Mexicans; yet the padres, by awakening -their superstitious fears, made them work -until the wilderness became a vineyard, and -the golden orange glowed amid the leaves -of the fragrant trees.</p> - -<p>Poor Joza disliked any exertion, and, if -left to his own inclination, would have -lived on the spontaneous productions of -that almost tropical climate, and been -happy after his oyster fashion.</p> - -<p>Often he obeyed very reluctantly, those -whom he thought had power, not only over -the body, but could doom his soul to unnumbered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> -years of suffering, in the fearful -fires of purgatory.</p> - -<p>The padres lived in great ease and comfort; -though so far from the elegances of the -great world, their own ingenuity and the -rapid growth of the country, furnished -them with many luxuries.</p> - -<p>Their quaint adobe houses were very -pleasant, built after the Spanish style, in -the form of a square with an open court in -the center.</p> - -<p>Beautiful gardens flourished around -them, in which grew the fragrant citron, the -lemon, with its shining leaves, and nearly -all the rare fruits and flowers of the tropics.</p> - -<p>For some years, Joza labored in the -vineyards and gardens; but the ambitious -padres were planning a greater work. A -new church was to be built, and elaborately -ornamented; a convent and college was -planned; extensive grounds to be laid out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> -and cultivated, and all to be surrounded -by the enduring adobe wall of mud and -stones.</p> - -<p>One evening, after a weary day in the -vineyard, just as Joza was about starting -for home, padre Antonio called him.</p> - -<p>"On the morrow," he said, "we will begin -to lay the foundation of the new church, -the Grand San Pedro; you shall be permitted -to aid in the blessed work, by carrying -stones and mortar, for which great -mercy thank the holy Mother and all the -saints, especially the blessed San Pedro, -who is the patron saint of this great enterprise."</p> - -<p>Then the padre blessed him, and wandered -off into the delicious shade of the -garden.</p> - -<p>In the gathering gloom of the twilight, -Joza returned to his cottage, more disheartened -than ever, wondering how much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> -more torturing the fires of purgatory could -be, than carrying stones under the burning -sun of Santa Barbara.</p> - -<p>As he approached his cottage, he saw his -wife sitting before the door with a stranger, -both smoking, with the greatest apparent -enjoyment.</p> - -<p>His son, and a large dog, were rolling -about on the soft earth, near them, raising -a cloud of dust, and making a great noise, -which seemed to disturb no one, and to -afford them much pleasure.</p> - -<p>When Joza came up, his wife introduced -the stranger as his old playmate, and her -brother Schio, who, many years before, had -gone away, and, until that evening, had -never been heard from.</p> - -<p>Joza welcomed his old friend in the -cordial Spanish way, placing his house at -his disposal.</p> - -<p>For a short time, in pleasant memories of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> -their boyhood, he forgot the weary present. -After they had eaten their frugal supper, -and were again seated in the vine-clad doorway, -Joza looked out upon the great ocean, -dusky with the shadows of evening, growing -sad and silent.</p> - -<p>"What ails thee, brother," said Schio, in -his clear, ringing voice, that sounded like -the strong notes of a clarionet. "You are -changed; you are growing old, but see me, -I am as young in heart as your boy, and -strong as a bullock."</p> - -<p>He lifted a great stone that lay near him, -and held it at arms' length, laughing loudly, -till the caves of the ocean sent back a -hundred echoes.</p> - -<p>With many sighs, Joza told the story of -his troubles; how, for years, till his back -had grown old and stiff, he had worked in -the vineyard of the padre, but the purple -harvest had brought no blessing to him.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span></p> - -<p>How a harder task was to be laid upon -him. He was to hew and carry the heavy -foundation-stones of the Grand San Pedro, -and even at the thought of so great labor, -the beaded sweat rolled down his forehead.</p> - -<p>His sympathizing wife sobbed aloud, but -the brother only laughed, till again he -woke the mysterious voices of the ocean -caves.</p> - -<p>Half angry, Joza turned to Schio, saying: -"'Tis all very well for you, Schio, to laugh; -you who roam at will in the cool of the -evening, and rest in the delightful shade, -while the scorching sunshine is burning -my life out."</p> - -<p>Poor Joza buried his face in his hands -and sighed wearily.</p> - -<p>"Cheer up, brother," said Schio, pleasantly. -"Listen to me. Go in the morning, -to padre Antonio, and tell him you are -getting old and feeble, and cannot work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> -through the heat of the day, but if he will -appoint your task, you will accomplish it -after the burning sun has gone down.</p> - -<p>"Tell him if you carry those large stones -in the day, your life will be consumed like -the burning candles before the altar; but -that in the cool of the evening, your -strength returns as in the days of youth."</p> - -<p>"And what, then?" said Joza, wearily.</p> - -<p>"I will see that the morning finds your -task accomplished," replied Schio.</p> - -<p>That night Joza dreamed that his tasks -were ended, and that all day long he luxuriated -in most delicious ease, under the -shade of olive trees, and, when he woke, -his heart grew sad, that it was only a -dream.</p> - -<p>He rose in haste to go to his task, for -he had overslept himself; then he thought -of Schio's advice. "I will do as he told -me, though I fear 'twill do no good,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> -thought he. "I can but fail, and who -knows what may come.</p> - -<p>"Schio is such a strange fellow; when -he's talking, it seems as though a hundred -voices rung changes on his words. God -grant he's not in league with the devil."</p> - -<p>Joza crossed himself, and muttered -prayers most devoutly until he reached the -house of the padre Antonio.</p> - -<p>After he had told the padre all Schio had -directed, his task was appointed, and he -returned home, all day long resting in the -shade of his favorite lime-tree, smoking his -cigarettés, and was happy as only a careless, -indolent Mexican could be, enjoying -the luxury of complete repose.</p> - -<p>Toward evening he began to be a little -uneasy, but with the dewy twilight, came -Schio, waking the mysterious echoes, with -his ringing laughter, and, as the darkness -deepened, he placed a lantern in Joza's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> -hand, saying: "Now, brother, we will go to -the task you complain of so bitterly."</p> - -<p>Silently they pursued their way, until -they arrived at the huge pile, upon which -the padre had appointed Joza to begin his -work.</p> - -<p>Many days would have passed before he -could have hewn the rock as the padre desired, -but, with one blow of an immense -drill, in Schio's powerful hand, the rock was -cleft in twain. As he reduced it to its -proper size and shape, Joza stood by, -trembling with fear; then pointed out the -chosen spot, and, in silence and darkness, -the first stone of the Grand San Pedro -was laid.</p> - -<p>When the full moon arose, clear and -bright, shedding its floods of golden light -over the mission of Santa Barbara, and the -blue waves that washed its sanded shore, -the laborers had gone—Joza, to sleep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> -peacefully in his little cottage, and Schio, -down to the echoing caverns by the sounding -sea.</p> - -<p>Morning came, gorgeous with sunshine -and beauty, and the padre walked out to -inspect the site of his ambitious dreams.</p> - -<p>He was an avaricious and unscrupulous -man.</p> - -<p>In building this new church, he hoped -to erect a tower of strength and greatness -for himself, more than an edifice in which to -worship the blessed Christ, the immaculate -Virgin, and the holy saints.</p> - -<p>When he saw the huge foundation-stone -that Schio had laid, he was greatly amazed.</p> - -<p>Even the hewing of it, he knew to be -the work of days, and there it was, cleanly -cleft, and in its proper place.</p> - -<p>"There is a mystery here," he said; "the -people will believe it a miracle; be it as it -will, I must make the most of it."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span></p> - -<p>He called Joza, who came to him smiling -and happy.</p> - -<p>"You have done well for the beginning," -said the padre, "but to-night, you must lay -two stones like this."</p> - -<p>"Holy San Pedro, help me!" exclaimed -Joza. "It is impossible!" and he turned -away, very sorrowful.</p> - -<p>At night he told Schio what the padre -had said. Schio frowned, and answered, -"The padre should not ask too much; but -this shall be as he desires."</p> - -<p>Again they went out in the twilight, and -before the rising of the golden moon, two -more foundation-stones were laid.</p> - -<p>At daybreak the padre arose, and hastened -to see if the task had been accomplished, -and before his wondering eyes, -lay the three immense foundation-stones, -smooth, and in their proper places.</p> - -<p>"Holy Virgin! I will give him enough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> -to-night," exclaimed the amazed padre, and -again the task was doubled.</p> - -<p>Thus it went on, night after night, and -week after week, till the Grand San Pedro -began to rise up like Aladdin's wonderful -palace, but, Schio, the man of iron, grew -very angry, as the full moon arose upon -him, bending over his unfinished task.</p> - -<p>"Joza," said he, "the padre may go too -far for even Schio to bear; bid him beware!</p> - -<p>"If the morning sun finds me here, I -will not answer for the result; too much -pressure will burst open the hidden recesses -of earth, and cause the caverns of ocean to -resound with fearful echoes of mystery.</p> - -<p>"Can he think San Pedro will bless -avarice and oppression, even in the padre -Antonio?"</p> - -<p>In the morning Joza went to the padre, -and entreated him to lessen the task, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> -he only laughed, and said: "You are getting -fat and lazy. I will not double your -work to-night, but you shall do four times -as much as ever, and I will be there to see -it accomplished."</p> - -<p>Joza departed with a heavy heart, dreading -to meet Schio; and when he told him -in the evening, he made no reply, but a -black frown covered his whole face, and his -eyes shot fire.</p> - -<p>That night the padre Antonio went -out to watch Joza, and when he saw -Schio cleaving the huge stones with -one blow of his wonderful drill, he -thought he had not imposed task enough, -and resolved he would command him -to finish the Grand San Pedro in one -night.</p> - -<p>Just after midnight the moon arose, and -the startled Joza heard, at every blow of -the drill, a hundred echoes ring out from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> -the ocean caverns. But Schio worked -steadily on.</p> - -<p>"Schio," said Joza, suddenly, "what is -it makes these mournings from the sea -caves?" But Schio only answered by a -heavier blow from his hammer, and under -their feet the ground shook violently, then -opened, and, where the Grand San Pedro -should have stood, yawned a great gulf, -that closed upon the labor of many nights; -and with the great foundation-stones went -down the ambitious padre.</p> - -<p>The morning sun rose on a scene of great -desolation, but only Joza was there, with -trembling voice, to tell the tale of the -padre Antonio and the Grand San Pedro.</p> - -<p>When others spoke of the great earth -quake, he said: "'Twas all Schio's doings.</p> - -<p>"The padre would never be satisfied, and -the man of iron grew so angry, that he -struck the great stone from the heart of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> -the mountain, and then the earth shook, -opened, and swallowed up the padre Antonio -and the Grand San Pedro."</p> - -<p>Schio was never afterward seen at the -mission of Santa Barbara, but often, at -evening, his ringing voice was wafted along -the shore, from the cave of echoes, down by -the sea.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>JUNG-FRAU MALEEN.</h2> -</div> - -<p>In a small village upon the shore of the -German Ocean lived a man whose wife had -golden tresses so long and heavy that -when they were unbound they covered her -like a cloak of sunbeams, and reached to -her feet. Her complexion was so fair, and -her eyes so beautiful, that her equal was -not to be found in all the Fatherland.</p> - -<p>At last she fell sick and died, leaving -her husband all alone in the world, except -one wee baby, who lay sleeping in the -cradle. At first the father was heart-broken, -and noticed nothing, but after a -time all his love turned to the helpless -infant, who every day grew more lovely,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> -and at last became as fair as her mother, -with the same wealth of golden hair and -soft violet eyes, and all the Fatherland, -from far and near, was filled with the story -of her great beauty.</p> - -<p>When she was only a little maid, she -would go down to the sea-shore and dance -upon the sand, until her light straw hat -would drop from her head, and her waving -tresses fall about her like a shower of pure -gold, and her violet eyes beam with the -brightness of stars, while the flush upon -her cheeks rivaled the soft, fresh bloom of -the peach.</p> - -<p>The maiden was called the fair Jung-frau -Maleen, as she grew older and every -day added to her charms, till half the -young men in the country were ready -to lay down their life for her; but though -her ways were winning, and she had a -pleasant smile for all, no one could be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> -familiar with her. In her guileless innocence -and beauty she seemed a great way -out of their reach, yet she danced with -them, talked and laughed with them, till -her clear, sweet voice rang out upon the -air like the soft notes of a silver bell, but -when she turned away, they felt that she -had gone from them forever.</p> - -<p>Among her lovers was a bashful student -named Handsel, who worshiped the Jung-frau -Maleen with all the devotion of his -great noble heart, but ever at a distance.</p> - -<p>He seldom spoke to her.</p> - -<p>Even the rustle of her dress as she passed -along would set his heart to beating -wildly, and the sound of her voice, or one -glance of her violet eye would send the -hot blood rushing through his veins, dyeing -his face and neck a deep crimson. Poor -Handsel!</p> - -<p>He would say to his heart, "Down, fool,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> -the star of heaven is not for you, look for -some lovely flower of earth," but in all the -Fatherland he knew there was not another -maiden who could satisfy the hunger of his -heart.</p> - -<p>At all the village festivals he looked on -in the distance, and saw others worship at -the shrine he dared not approach. "I -have nothing worth offering her," he would -say, and so he was silent.</p> - -<p>He was handsome and manly, and Maleen -always looked for him in the crowd, and -when she saw him standing far apart with -his large dark eyes fixed upon her, she was -more content than in his absence. If she -had questioned her heart for the reason of -this she would have blushed with confusion, -for Jung-frau Maleen was not one who -would willingly yield her heart unsought.</p> - -<p>Maleen always loved the bright, sparkling -sea, and often she would go out alone in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> -her little boat, and sail for hours over the -blue waters, gathering the pretty sea-weed, -and indulging in the day-dreams that German -maidens love.</p> - -<p>One morning as Handsel was going to -the college, he saw the Jung-frau step into -her boat and push away from the shore.</p> - -<p>He took off his hat and bowed.</p> - -<p>She looked at him with that rare, sweet -smile that always made him happy for -days.</p> - -<p>He stopped and looked back after her -as the boat glided from the shore, and it -seemed as though the sunshine of heaven -and its bright reflection upon the waters -were united, and was poured out in one -rich flood of glory over her golden hair.</p> - -<p>Handsel passed on out of the light into -the quiet seclusion of the college, and -bending over his book did not notice the -rising of a thick, black cloud that from a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> -tiny speck soon swept over the whole sky, -then burst into wind and rain.</p> - -<p>He was living over the heroic ages of the -olden time, when the darkness fell across his -book, and looking out the window he saw -the fierce storm gathering, and heard the -wailing winds crying out, Maleen! Maleen! -'Twas but the work of a moment to rush -out into the storm and down to the lashed -sea-shore and there, he saw a crowd of -anxious faces all turned hopelessly out -upon the pitiless breakers.</p> - -<p>He looked, and there tossed wildly upon -the white-capped waves, rose and fell the -frail boat, and pale and hopeless sat the -pride of the Fatherland, the beautiful -Jung-frau Maleen, her matchless golden -hair hanging like a damp shroud about -her.</p> - -<p>There were the hosts of her admirers -standing upon the shore wringing their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> -hands and weeping, they saw only death -in an attempt to save her, and no one was -so mad as to venture out upon the storm-lashed -sea.</p> - -<p>Even her father stood paralyzed in the -hopelessness of his agony.</p> - -<p>A strong, manly voice burst in upon the -echoes of the storm. "A boat! a boat!" -cried Handsel, with a stout-hearted determination -in his voice to brave the danger -of the breakers, and save the maiden he -loved from the angry waters.</p> - -<p>A long rope was tied about his body, -and in a moment more the life-boat was -tossing upon the crested waves, with the -brave student at the prow, and the poor -helpless Maleen rose up and held out her -white arms toward him.</p> - -<p>On over the cruel waves, the boats -were nearing each other. The agony of -suspense that filled the breathless crowd!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> -Great God! if they should meet and crash -together!</p> - -<p>Down they went into the great sea gulf; -Maleen with outstretched arms, and Handsel -with his great heart beating like a signal-drum -in his bosom, pale but unfaltering.</p> - -<p>Down! down they went!</p> - -<p>Now up came the billow, but only one -boat, and Handsel at the prow was struggling -for the shore.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Maleen! Maleen!" burst from the -father's white lips, then a tress of rich -golden hair hanging over the side of the -boat met his sight, and he knew that -Maleen was in the boat with Handsel.</p> - -<p>On it came to the shore, like a charmed -boat it escaped the perilous breakers, till at -last, no one could tell how, only through -God's great mercy, they were saved, and -Handsel stood upon the shore with Maleen -in his arms.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span></p> - -<p>He gave the maiden to her weeping -father, then sank away, and no one thought -of him, all were gathered around Maleen, -who had fainted.</p> - -<p>Soon she opened her violet eyes, and -looked around searchingly through the -crowd with a strange fear. "Where, where, -is Handsel?" she cried, in wild excitement.</p> - -<p>Then they all wondered how they could -have forgotten him, and looking round -they saw him sitting alone, with his head -bowed down upon his hands. He did not -want their thanks.</p> - -<p>'Twas joy enough to him, that he had -saved Maleen, and, brave man as he was, he -sat there weeping like a child.</p> - -<p>Maleen rose up, and walked feebly to -him, and kneeling down upon the sand, she -put her hand upon his shoulder, and whispered -"Handsel!"</p> - -<p>Handsel raised his head, and saw what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> -he had never dared hope for, in the soft -violet eyes upturned to his.</p> - -<p>He answered only, "Maleen!" and, throwing -his arms around her, pressed her fair -golden-crowned head to his bosom.</p> - -<p>Thus it was, that in the presence of God, -the storm, and all the people—there by the -the wild sea-shore, Handsel was betrothed -to the most beautiful maiden in all the -dear Fatherland,—The Jung-frau Maleen.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>JUANETTA;<br /> -<span class="small">OR,<br /> -THE TREASURE OF THE LAKE OF THE TULIES</span></h2> -</div> - -<p>A great many years ago, before the discovery -of the wonderful gold mines of California, -there lived in Los Angelos an old -Spanish family of pure Castilian blood.</p> - -<p>Don Carlos De Strada was very rich. -Far as the eye could reach his broad acres -were spread out to his admiring view, and -his flocks and herds almost literally fed -upon a thousand hills.</p> - -<p>His house was large and commodious, -built after the Spanish fashion—an adobe -house—surrounded on all sides by a wide -piazza, and in the center an open courtyard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> -The windows were guarded by latticed -bars of iron, and all the gates and -doors were opened by massive keys. Bolts -and bars belong as much to a Spanish -house, as light elegancies to the hotel of a -Parisian.</p> - -<p>When Don Carlos left the banks of the -Guadalquivir for the wild Lake of the Tulies, -he brought with him a beautiful young -wife, who loved him with all the passionate -ardor of a Spanish woman.</p> - -<p>It was a great change for the dainty -lady, from the stately halls of castellated -Spain to the wilderness of Los Angelos, -although it was a wilderness of sweets, and -the most enchanting climate in the world. -Though the Don was a thorough-bred aristocrat, -he was a shrewd business man, and -so intent was he on becoming a great lord -of the soil in the new country, that he did -not notice the roses fading from the olive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> -cheeks of his wife, and the soft mellow -light of the woman's eye giving place to the -more ethereal brightness of spiritual fire.</p> - -<p>Spanish women seldom work, but in -their hours of apparent listlessness they -indulge in wild and ardent imaginings; -and thus she would sit on the vine-clad -piazza of the inner court, looking up to the -clear sky, unrivaled even in Italy, until -she would almost fancy, from the heavens -above, she heard the rippling of the blue -waters of the Guadalquivir.</p> - -<p>There was one great hunger of her heart -the Don seldom satisfied. She was his -wife, and beautiful; as such, he loved her; -but he never lavished the thousand little -endearments upon her that is the natural -food of woman's heart.</p> - -<p>As the evening drew near, she would go -to the barred window and look out upon -the luxurious landscape, thinking only of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> -the coming of her lord; and when she saw -him, she would go timidly out to meet him, -and hold her beautiful oval face up for a -kiss, longing for him to throw his arms -around her, and, if only for a moment, hold -her to his heart.</p> - -<p>He would kiss her lightly, saying, coldly: -"There, that will do; be a woman -now, not a baby." Then she would call -up a quiet dignity, until she could steal for -a few moments away, unobserved, and press -her hands tightly upon her heart, saying: -"If he would only love me! If he would -only love me, I could live away from home, -away from Spain, from every thing, for him! -I must learn to be a woman, and then, at -least he'll respect me.</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear! I wish he didn't think it -so foolish in me to want to be loved! But -I must go to him. I'll try and talk like a -woman, but I don't know any thing about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> -the business that occupies his thoughts and -time. He never tells me any thing because -he thinks I'm such a baby. If he'd only -love me, and let me be a baby sometimes, -I think I'd be more of a woman."</p> - -<p>Then the young wife would try to call -up from her weakness new strength, and -wiping away the traces of her emotion, -would go out to be what pleased her lord, -only a little paler, but with heart-strings -quivering like an Æolian harp in a cold -north wind.</p> - -<p>One year passed in the strange, new -country, and a beautiful babe was born to -the ancient house of De Strada, but the -mother died, and was buried by the clear -Lake of the Tulies.</p> - -<p>Don Carlos wept for his beautiful young -wife, whose heart had been a sealed book, -"Love, the Secret of Happiness," written -for him in an unknown tongue.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span></p> - -<p>His days of mourning were few. The -rain fell upon the new-made grave as he -gave the infant in charge of an Indian -nurse who had just lost her own little baby. -The savage mother took the child to her -bosom, while the polished father turned -away and looked out upon the green hills -rich in verdure, counting the probable increase -of his flocks and herds in the coming -year, and, in the pleasant prospect, forgot -his sorrow.</p> - -<p>The little Juanetta grew to be a beautiful, -healthy child, under the care of her -indulgent nurse.</p> - -<p>She knew where all the wild flowers -grew, could shoot an arrow very well, or -climb a tree, and, in many of the curious -arts of the tribe, was quite skillful.</p> - -<p>She was well versed in all the Indian -traditions, and believed them with childish -credulity. She seemed to have drawn the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> -wildness, of the Indian nature from the -dusky bosom of her nurse, and with her -little bow and arrow would roam the -woods for whole days.</p> - -<p>At times her father would ask the nurse, -"How is Juanetta?" and, at the reply, -"The child is well," he would forget that -every day she was growing less and less an -infant, and needed more and more a -mother's care.</p> - -<p>Thus things went on until she was eleven -years old. She was very tall of her age, -with her long black hair hanging over her -graceful shoulders, her rich olive complexion -deepened by the glowing sun, and her -dark eyes, fawn-like in their softness and -timidity, she looked like a beautiful child -of the wild wood.</p> - -<p>Her father would look at her, and say: -"The girl is a perfect savage; she must be -placed at a convent; the Sisters would soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> -make a lady of her, for the De Strada -blood is rich in her veins;" and then he -would smile proudly at her rare beauty.</p> - -<p>The summer following brought a change -to Don Carlos. Till then he had been -prosperous; but there had been no rain, -and the grass withered and dried up until -the famished cattle died by thousands, and -the hills, once covered with animal life, -were left bare and desolate. Don Carlos, -who lost heavily, became more than ever -absorbed in business cares, and again the -child was forgotten.</p> - -<p>Juanetta saw that her father was greatly -troubled, and she thought if she could only -find some of the treasures hidden so many -years ago by the great Chief of the Tulies, -she could make him rich again, and he -would smile upon her as he sometimes -used to before the cattle died—since then, -his dark frowning face had frightened her.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span></p> - -<p>She had often listened to her old nurse, -sitting by the clear lake, as she told her -how, years ago, a great ship came to Los -Angelos filled with fair men, with long -flowing beards, golden in the sunshine, and -eyes like the blue summer sky, and how -there was one among them, taller and -nobler than all the rest, who was their -Chief.</p> - -<p>For days they rode about the country, -making their camp by the Lake of the -Tulies, and tradition said they brought -beautiful shining stones, that glistened like -the stars of night, and great sacks of yellow -gold to the lake, and buried them there at -midnight; then went away in the great -ship over the water.</p> - -<p>They were seen by an old Indian -woman, who was gathering magic herbs, -but from that moment it seemed as though -a fearful spell had fallen upon her, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> -when she tried to tell the story, just as she -was about to speak of the place where the -treasure was hidden, her tongue would -cleave to the roof of her mouth, and she -could not utter a word; and when she attempted -to go to the spot where it was -buried, her feet would fasten themselves to -the ground, and she could not move. From -that night she seemed bewitched, and she -soon died, taking the secret of the buried -treasure with her to the unknown spirit -land.</p> - -<p>Juanetta had nothing to do but listen to -the wild Indian lore, and roam through the -woods and down by the Lake of the -Tulies; and it was not strange that with -her poetic temperament, she reveled in the -marvelous, till it seemed to her the natural -and the real.</p> - -<p>She longed for the magic talisman to -point her to the hidden treasure, and show<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> -her the wonders of the deep, until she felt -sure that one day she should discover it. -She told all these fancies to her nurse, who -was almost her only companion, and who -encouraged her, believing her, in her fond -love, to be one of the Great Spirit's chosen -children.</p> - -<p>The winter came on with rare beauty. -The rain, so long withheld, fell copiously, -until the hills were covered with luxurious -verdure and gorgeous flowers. Don Carlos's -heart grew lighter; he might hope to recover -his losses in time. The orange -orchard was laden with fruit, and the -lemons fell to the ground from the bending -trees. Juanetta loved the green grass, the -fragrant flowers, and the golden fruit, and -her wild nature expanded into the poetry -of the year.</p> - -<p>One morning she rose with the crimson -dawning, and, stealing away while her old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> -nurse slept, she ran softly to the Lake of -the Tulies, and bathed her face in the clear -water till the brightness of youth and -morning seemed united in her radiant -beauty.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Juanetta stopped, her tiny -hand dripping with water, half raised to -her glowing face, and her soft, dark eyes -sparkling with strange excitement. Upon -the brow of the distant hill, still covered -with the mist of the morning, she saw the -Chief of the Lake of the Tulies. She knew -it was him by the soft, purple light that -gathered around him; by the glow of perpetual -youth that enveloped him, and by -the crimson clouds that dropped their -fleece so near, and yet could not conceal his -noble bearing.</p> - -<p>To her eye, there seemed a shining glory -about his bronze beard, and his brow and -cheeks glowing in the early sunlight, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> -fairer than any she had ever seen among -the dusky Indian tribes or olive Spaniards.</p> - -<p>Down the hill he came, a light straw hat -in his hand, and the air playing with the -light waves of his abundant hair. On he -came to the lake, and to the spot where -the little maiden sat, full of wonder and -admiration.</p> - -<p>He, too, seemed a little surprised when -he saw her, but in the soft Spanish tongue, -bade her "Good morning," and asked -whose little girl she was, and what had -brought her so early to the charmed lake.</p> - -<p>"I am Don Carlos's daughter, Juanetta," -said the child, "and you, the Chief of the -Lake of the Tulies?"</p> - -<p>A smile gathered around the lips of the -Chief, and filled his blue eyes, with a light -so pleasant that the child drew near him, -and placed her little brown hand confidingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> -in his. He drew her to him, saying, -kindly:—</p> - -<p>"You know me, then? I am the Chief -of the Lake of the Tulies, and what can I -do for the little Juanetta?"</p> - -<p>"Tell me," said the child, "of all the -wonderful treasures hidden by the lake, -and of the palaces of the sea, and the coral -groves under the great waters!"</p> - -<p>The Chief led her to a rock that overhung -the lake, and told her to look over -into the waters, and she saw them clear -and sparkling in the morning sun, and it -seemed as though the light of a thousand -brilliants was stealing through the shining -waves.</p> - -<p>He told her of glittering diamonds beneath -the sea, richer far than all the hills -and valleys of Los Angelos, covered with -flocks and herds; and how the coral trees -outshone the trees of earth, in beauty, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> -of the crystal palaces of the deep, and of -the maidens of the sea, whose, purple hair -like sea-weed, sometimes floated above the -waves.</p> - -<p>Juanetta told him she had often found -locks of their silken hair upon the beach, -and how beautiful it was. He told her of -the sounding shells, and ocean harps -breathing their rich, deep-toned melody, -and the thousand mysteries of the wild sea -lore, till the delighted Juanetta begged -him to take her with him down, down to -the crystal caves, and let her become a sea-maiden, -and gather pearls under the blue -waters of the deep.</p> - -<p>But he replied: "You are a child of the -woods, not of the wave; you may become -an immortal spirit in the sky, but never in -the deep, deep sea."</p> - -<p>Tears gathered in her eyes, and she said: -"You are cruel to Juanetta, Chief of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> -Lake of the Tulies. You of all your -wealth of beauty, will grant Juanetta nothing. -Juanetta must live alone, in the -woods and fields, with only the old nurse -and the father who always forgets her."</p> - -<p>He soothed the little maiden gently, and -told her he would grant her greater treasures -than those of the deep, if she would -obey him; and she kissed his hand and -promised.</p> - -<p>Then he took from his bosom, a talisman, -and gave it to her, saying: "Juanetta, this -cross will guard you from evil spirits. -When you are troubled or angry, take it -from your bosom, and ask the great Father -above to bless you and help you. Do this -earnestly five minutes, and the evil spirits -will leave you." And Juanetta kissed the -cross and promised.</p> - -<p>"I have yet another talisman" he continued, -"and very powerful. It opens a new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> -world of delight and beauty, to those who -are willing to give their time, care, and -diligent attention to the study of it. -Would you like it, Juanetta? You could -no longer wander all day through the -woods, hunting wild-flowers, or dream -away your life by the Lake of the Tulies. -Could you give up the wild pleasures of -your present life, for the gifts of the talisman -I have promised?"</p> - -<p>Juanetta's face was glowing with wonder -and delight; she longed to enter the -unknown promised land:</p> - -<p>"I will do any thing, I will give up any -thing you tell me, she cried, with enthusiasm."</p> - -<p>She was enchanted with the unseen gifts -that left so much to her fervid imagination -to picture, and she was delighted with the -giver, the handsome young Chief of the -Lake of the Tulies, whose pleasant smile,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> -and pleasing words, made morning's golden -sunshine in her heart.</p> - -<p>"But won't you show me where the -treasure of the Lake of the Tulies lies -hidden?" she said, blushingly. "All those -rare gems, crimson, purple, golden, and -diamonds sparkling like the morning dew. -What can be more beautiful than these?"</p> - -<p>All her life, Juanetta had heard of the -matchless luster of these hidden jewels, -and now to be so near them, with the -Chief of the Lake of the Tulies by her -side, she felt that her day dreams of beauty -might, with one word of his, or a touch of -his magic wand, be realized.</p> - -<p>"Do not ask for too much in one morning, -Juanetta," he replied, laughing. "Now -for talisman number two," and he took a -book from his pocket, and until the sun -had risen high in the heavens, they sat bending -over it together with mutual pleasure.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span></p> - -<p>Then the Chief of the Lake of the Tulies -arose, taking her little bronzed hand in his, -saying: "I must go, my little Juanetta. -Keep the talisman, and study it well. The -new morning is dawning for you now; -what a queen of light 'twill make you?" -And he passed his hand over the thick -waves of tangled hair that fell in long -masses over the shoulders of the beautiful -child.</p> - -<p>Tears gathered in the dark eyes of the -maiden. "Are you going now, Chief of -the Lake of the Tulies?" said she, sadly: -"Going to the crystal palaces of the sea? -And shall you take the treasure of the -lake with you? Take the talisman, I can -do nothing without you! Here alone! -Only the old nurse, and the father who -never thinks, never thinks of Juanetta! -And you, too, will forget Juanetta!"</p> - -<p>"No! no, Juanetta, I will not forget you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> -but will come again to-morrow. I will not -go to the sea, since you cannot go, but will -stay and teach you the use of the talisman, -and the treasure of the lake shall rest till -we can find it together! So now good-by -to-day."</p> - -<p>And then they parted, and Juanetta -was very happy in the light of the new -dawning.</p> - -<p>All day long she studied, and many successive -days, and the Chief of the Lake of -the Tulies always came, either at morning -or at evening, to hear her lesson.</p> - -<p>Sometimes she would ask him about the -hidden treasure, as they walked by the -lake; he would smile and say, "I have -found a treasure by the Lake of the Tulies -richer than all the gems of the ocean," and -when Juanetta begged him to show it to -her, he would tell, her to look into the -water; but she could see only the reflection<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> -of her own sweet face, full of wondering -happiness.</p> - -<p>Then he would laugh again, and say, he -could not tell her now of his treasure by -the Lake of the Tulies, but he would -describe the rich gold mine he had discovered -in the cañon, and tell her there was -gold enough in it almost to fill up the lake.</p> - -<p>Thus weeks and months passed by. Juanetta -was twelve years old. She had improved -rapidly in her studies, and had -learned to call her young teacher by another -name, not so long or high sounding, -but very pleasant to them both, and often -they would laugh at their first strange -meeting by the charmed Lake of the Tulies.</p> - -<p>At last her father was aroused to the -sense of her increasing beauty. He saw, -that the years of childhood were fast passing -away, and that she stood upon the -threshold of dawning womanhood.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span></p> - -<p>He was greatly surprised, and delighted -to find her proficient in studies of which -he supposed she knew nothing, and he -made all possible haste to have her placed -at a convent, where she could enjoy every -advantage of culture and refinement.</p> - -<p>The young stranger who had been her -teacher, became a great favorite with Don -Carlos. He was engaged in developing a -mine, in the San Francisco cañon, in which -he succeeded in amassing great wealth, -though in after years the mine failed to -yield its store of golden treasure.</p> - -<p>Four years passed away, and Juanetta -returned to her father's house, an accomplished, -and beautiful lady. Again by -the Lake of the Tulies, she met the Chief -of her childhood's dreams, and there together, -they found the treasure greater than -all the wealth of land or sea, the pure and -earnest love of their youthful hearts.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span></p> - -<p>They were married, and Don Carlos's -heart swelled proudly, as he thought of the -great wealth their union had brought into -his family, while they blessed God for the -lifelong treasure He had given them, by -the charmed Lake of the Tulies.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>EMPEROR NORTON.</h2> -</div> - -<p>Once upon a time there lived near a -small village on the shore of the Atlantic, -an honest farmer named Norton, who had -three sons.</p> - -<p>The two elder were smart, active lads, -but the youngest was quiet, and so much -given to dreaming that his brothers ridiculed -and often slighted him.</p> - -<p>"He is so stupid," they would say, "he -will be a disgrace to the family;" but what -annoyed him most, they gave him the -unpleasant <i>sobriquet</i> of Dumpy, on account -of his fat, rosy cheeks.</p> - -<p>As the boys grew up, the eldest took -the farm, and was to take care of the father<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> -and mother, the second became clerk to a -merchant in a neighboring city, but poor -Dumpy, in the indolence of his disposition, -did nothing. He was always hoping some -impossible thing would "turn up," but he -had no rich relations, indeed no one seemed -to take much interest in him but the -mother, who would always say, "Poor -Dumpy, he is a good-hearted boy," then -she would sigh heavily, as though there -was nothing more to be said.</p> - -<p>At last the father became quite out of -patience, and calling the boy to him one -day, he said: "You are now twenty years -old, and never have earned so much as your -salt, and it is quite time for you to do -something for yourself. Your brother, who -has taken the farm, complains that he is -obliged to support you in idleness, which -certainly is not right."</p> - -<p>"For the farm he will take care of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> -mother and me, but you and your other -brother must look out for yourselves."</p> - -<p>"Give me," answered Dumpy, "what -money you can spare, I ask nothing more, I -will go and seek my fortune, and you shall -hear of me when I become a rich man."</p> - -<p>The father gave him what money he -could, and he went away, no one at home -knew whither, leaving only the mother to -weep for him.</p> - -<p>When Dumpy left the farm-house he -walked on to the village, feeling that he -was going into the great world full of -promise, but he never dreamed of disappointment.</p> - -<p>When he arrived at the village inn the -stage was standing at the door. "I will -go," he said, "where fortune leads me." So -he took his seat in the stage, and paid his -fare to the end of the route, which happened -to be the great city of New York.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span></p> - -<p>All day long he was very happy looking -out of the windows upon the changing -landscape, and indulging in day-dreams. -Sometimes he would come to a pretty village -nestling among the hills. "I would -like," he would think, "of all things to stop -here, 'tis so very pleasant, but I have paid -my money, and I must go on."</p> - -<p>It was night when the stage entered the -city, its heavy wheels rumbling over the -paved streets, and crowding along past carts, -omnibuses, and carriages, till poor Dumpy, -who had never been in the city before, -began to feel very much bewildered and -confused.</p> - -<p>"Where shall I go," said Dumpy to the -driver, when the stage stopped. "'Tis so -noisy I can't hear myself think. Oh, dear! -I don't know what to do," and he looked so -pitiably helpless that the driver was sorry -for him, though he could not help laughing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> -"Come with me, my boy," he said, -so he went with the driver to the cheap -lodging-house, where he stopped when in -town.</p> - -<p>To enumerate all poor Dumpy's adventures -while in New York would be impossible. -Enough to say it was not long before -his money was gone, and he shipped before -the mast in a merchant vessel for California.</p> - -<p>Poor Dumpy! Now came woful experiences, -for a time he was wretchedly seasick, -and he soon found that to go before -the mast was no joke, but in his way he -was quite a philosopher, and after a few -weeks became a very good sailor.</p> - -<p>As he was pleasant and obliging he -became a favorite with all on board, but -he loved most of all when off duty, to sit -by himself in the soft starlit evenings as -the good ship sailed over the tropic seas,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> -and dream of the land of gold to which he -was going.</p> - -<p>He possessed a vivid imagination, and his -visions of the wealth of the new Eldorado -were most glowing.</p> - -<p>He would picture to himself how like a -prince he would luxuriate in riches, how -great and generous he would be, even to -the brothers who had despised him. It is -a happiness to be able to revel in dreams -as he did, for the pleasures of anticipation -are but too often greater than the reality.</p> - -<p>He loved his mother, she at least had -always been kind and gentle to him.</p> - -<p>"My dear mother," he would say to himself, -with a bright tear in his eye, "she -shall yet live in a palace. God bless her, -dear mother."</p> - -<p>Then he would sigh till a bright thought -drove away the sad one. "Oh, 'tis so -delightful to be rich," he would say.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p> - -<p>Then he would rub his hands as complacently -as though the wealth of the -Indies lay at his feet.</p> - -<p>"I shall give the father every thing he -wishes of course," he would continue, "and -I will make the brothers rich men, for to -be generous and forgive is the attribute of -true greatness, and for myself I will marry -the prettiest woman in the world, and I -will give her every thing she can possibly -desire."</p> - -<p>Often the sharp quick bell, for change of -watch, would call him to duty, and scatter -his gorgeous dreams, leaving only the dull, -hard present in his mind and heart.</p> - -<p>At length the good ship arrived in San -Francisco, and there again Dumpy found -all the wild bustle and confusion of the -early days.</p> - -<p>Gold was plenty in dust and bars.</p> - -<p>When a man bought any thing he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> -take out of his bag of gold dust as much -dust as he was to pay for the article, and -he would be off.</p> - -<p>The highest price was paid for labor, -and Dumpy soon engaged to drive a cart -for two hundred and fifty dollars per -month, but he determined to make this -arrangement only for a short time, till he -could get money enough to go out prospecting -in the mining districts.</p> - -<p>This he soon accomplished, but he found -a life in the mines even harder than before -the mast, but the golden future was before -him, and he persevered.</p> - -<p>He and another young adventurer built -a cabin together by a little spring of clear, -bubbling water.</p> - -<p>They worked early and late, with the -wearisome pick and shovel for the precious -gold that was to pave the pathway of their -lives with happiness, but often night found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> -them disappointed and weary, and they -would return to their lonely cabins, cook -and eat their coarse supper, and lie down -upon the hard floor, wrap their blankets -around them, with heavy and hopeless -hearts. But thank God, sunshine and the -fresh morning brings renewed life and hope -to young hearts.</p> - -<p>One morning when Dumpy awoke he -found his companion had risen and gone -out before him, so he went out alone, thinking, -"who knows what will turn up before -night, I may become a millionaire. I'll -try my luck alone to-day;" so he did not go -to the ledge they had been prospecting the -day before, but started off in a new direction.</p> - -<p>All day long he worked diligently, but -the sunset found him as poor as the dawning, -and quite worn out, he threw himself -down upon the ledge to rest a little before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> -going home. "Ah, me!" thought he, -sadly, "how long the poor mother will have -to wait for her palace."</p> - -<p>As the sunset deepened into twilight, he -rose, and shouldering his pick and shovel, -started for the cabin. "I can not call it -home," he said to himself, "there is no -mother there."</p> - -<p>He had not gone far, before a little shrill -voice arrested him, and looking down, he -saw a little old man, sitting among the -loose stones, rubbing his foot and ankle, -and groaning piteously.</p> - -<p>He was very quaintly dressed, in a little -red jacket, and wore a Spanish hat with -little gold bells around it, and his long -gray beard swept the ground, as he sat dismally -among the rocks.</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear! I cannot move," said the -little man; "I have sprained my foot, will -not you help me home? Oh dear! oh<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> -dear!" and he moaned so piteously that -Dumpy, who was kind-hearted, was very -sorry for him; so he took the old man -up in his arms as tenderly as if he had -been an infant.</p> - -<p>The old man pointed out the way, and -Dumpy trudged wearily on, for though -he was no bigger than a child of eight -years old, he seemed quite heavy to -Dumpy. After working all day with the -pick and shovel, and finding nothing, his -heart was heavy with hope deferred. "If -I had found gold to-day," thought he, "a -light heart would have made a light burden; -but thank God I am well, and this -poor man suffers fearfully."</p> - -<p>Poor Dumpy! He went on, down the -cañon, then up the mountain, it seemed to -him for miles; at last the little man -pointed to a crevice in the rock, through -which Dumpy managed with some difficulty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> -to creep; but as he went on it -widened, and suddenly opened into a large -cavern.</p> - -<p>"Go on," said the old man, sharply, as -Dumpy stopped and gazed around with -astonishment. So he went on till they -came to a large hall sparkling with crystal, -and glowing with precious stones.</p> - -<p>A large chandelier hung from the roof, -and cast a flood of softened light through -the whole cavern, and Dumpy could see in -the stone floor large masses of pure yellow -gold.</p> - -<p>He saw in the huge irregular pillars -that rose to the dome of the cavern, -great veins of the precious ore, and everywhere -it was scattered about with the most -lavish profusion.</p> - -<p>Curious golden figures, carved with -strange devices, stood in the niches, and -there were couches with golden frames, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> -tables of gold, so that the light, reflected -from the clear crystal dome, glittering with -shining pendants, by the softening yellow -tinge, was mellow and pleasant.</p> - -<p>Poor Dumpy had been so long in the -twilight and darkness, that he was dazzled -by the brilliant scene, and for a few moments -was obliged to close his eyes, and -when he opened them, he saw that he was -surrounded by a large crowd of the little -people, who were full of anxious fears -about the old man he held in his arms, but -he assured them he was suffering only from -a sprain, which, though very painful, was -not dangerous. They gathered anxiously -around the little man as he laid him upon -a couch.</p> - -<p>He soon discovered that the man he had -assisted was king over the little people -who guard the mountain treasures, covering -the rich places with unpromising stones<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> -and earth, and often misleading the honest -miner by scattering grains of the precious -metal in waste places; thus it is we hear so -often of disappointed hopes, and abandoned -mines.</p> - -<p>After they had in some measure relieved -the suffering of their chief, they turned to -Dumpy, who stood in the most profound astonishment, -drinking in all he saw or heard.</p> - -<p>"You have done me a great kindness," -said the chief; "and, though it is our business -to mislead miners, we can be grateful, -and you may now claim any reward you -desire."</p> - -<p>"I have saved your ruler," said Dumpy, -looking at the crowd of little people, and -trying to think of something great to ask -as a reward.</p> - -<p>"Our chief! our king!" cried all the little -people, together. "Ask what you will -and it shall be granted."</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span></p> - -<p>"I would be great as well as rich," -thought Dumpy, so he said aloud: "Make -me emperor of all the mines, and let all the -miners pay tribute to me."</p> - -<p>"It shall be so," said the king. Then -he called one of his servants to bring the -golden crown and scepter, and bidding -Dumpy kneel before him, he placed the -scepter in his hand and the crown upon his -head, and striking him a sharp blow upon -his shoulder, he said, "Arise, Emperor -Norton.</p> - -<p>"As long as you preserve this crown -and scepter from moth or rust, dew or -fog, you shall be the true emperor of all -the mines in California and Nevada, and -all the miners shall pay you yearly tribute, -but if you lose either crown or -scepter, or moth, rust, midnight dews and -damps fall upon them, they will fade -away, and you will be emperor in name<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> -only, and the miners shall pay you no -yearly tribute."</p> - -<p>"So let it be," said the newly-made emperor; -and they all sat down to a table -spread with every delicacy, and feasted till -the noon of the following day.</p> - -<p>When the emperor bade the knights of -the mountain adieu, the little gray king -said: "Beware of the dews and damps of -the night," and he started for his cabin.</p> - -<p>"I will first visit my old comrade," he -said, "though he is now one of my subjects, -I will not be proud and haughty."</p> - -<p>One of the little men ran before him, and -led the way out of the cave into the sunlight, -which was so bright that the emperor -shaded his eyes with his hand, and -when he had removed it the little man had -disappeared.</p> - -<p>The emperor looked around, but could -see no trace of him; even the crevice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> -through which he had passed, was nowhere -to be seen.</p> - -<p>"It is a wonderful dream," said he; but -no! there was the golden crown upon his -head, and the scepter in his hand.</p> - -<p>"I will find that cave," thought he; so -he began to look for it very eagerly, till the -lengthening shadows told of the coming of -evening, and he thought of the gray king's -warning, "Beware of the dews and damps -of night."</p> - -<p>"Oh dear! if I should lose the tribute -money," he said, in great distress; "I -should be emperor but could build no palace -for the mother, nor could I marry the -prettiest woman in the world, and supply -her innumerable wants;" so he started in -great haste for the camp, always keeping -fast hold of the crown and scepter.</p> - -<p>On he rushed till the shades of twilight -filled the deep cañon, through which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> -was obliged to pass, then he broke into a -run, crying, "Oh me! if I should be too -late! too late! now that my hopes are -crowned with success. Too late! too late!"</p> - -<p>"Haste makes waste," and so the emperor -found it. He lost the path and became -entangled in brush and rocks, until he became -almost wild with despair.</p> - -<p>The night came on with a heavy mist -that near morning deepened into rain.</p> - -<p>With the gray twilight of the dawning, -weary and worn, he reached his cabin door, -but the golden crown and scepter had -passed away into the mists of night.</p> - -<p>The poor emperor told of his wanderings -to his comrades, and mourned over the -night in which his crown and scepter had -departed from him, but they only laughed, -saying, "You have been dreaming again, -Emperor Norton."</p> - -<p>He never took the pick and shovel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> -again. "Shall an emperor work," he would -say, "while thousands of his subjects roll -in luxury?"</p> - -<p>An emperor, he thought, should reside -in the chief city of his realm, so he left the -mines and came to San Francisco.</p> - -<p>Here for years he has lived, always -wearing a well-worn suit of blue, with -epaulettes upon the shoulders, which, perhaps, -might have been an unmentioned -gift of the gray king of the mountains.</p> - -<p>At the table of all restaurants and hotels -he is a free and welcome guest, and all -places of amusement are open to him; in -fact, wherever you go in San Francisco, -you are almost sure to meet the Emperor -Norton.</p> - - - - -<hr /> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>DEATH'S VALLEY;<br /> -<span class="small">OR,<br /> -THE GOLDEN BOULDER.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p>Years ago, even before what Californians -understand to be the "early days," Dick -Fielding was promoted to a captaincy in -the United States Army.</p> - -<p>Merry days were those, while he was -stationed near the metropolitan city. Good -pay, little work, brilliant parties to attend, -and beautiful women to make love to. -Love making seemed the natural element -of the gay young captain, and thanks to -his handsome face and shining epaulettes, -he was very successful.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span></p> - -<p>In this world our dear delights are but -fleeting as the smiles of an April day—so -thought poor Dick as he sat one morning -about eleven o'clock at his luxurious breakfast, -reading a dispatch from head-quarters -that doomed him to the wilderness of Fort -Tejon, far below the quaint old Spanish -town of Los Angelos.</p> - -<p>'Twas a sad day for the gallant young -captain, but all his sighs and regrets were -unavailing. There was no reprieve—orders -must be obeyed. Fortunately Dick -was of an elastic temperament, and the love -of adventure and the charm of novelty -which the new country possessed for him -soon returned to him that zest for life -which youth and health seldom entirely -lose.</p> - -<p>Southern California has a most generous -climate, producing in the valleys the luxurious -vegetation of the tropics, and on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> -hills and mountains the hardier products -of the temperate zone.</p> - -<p>Dick was a favorite among the officers, -social and joyous in his disposition, he -became the life of the garrison. He was a -fine horseman, and often he would join a -party of the Mexican rangers in their excursions, -and ride for days over the beautiful -country round Fort Tejon.</p> - -<p>He could shoot an arrow very handsomely, -and by his easy good nature -he was soon on friendly terms with the -Indians, who in that part of the country -are so mixed with the native Californians -or Mexicans that it is difficult to distinguish -the races.</p> - -<p>He became an expert in all the athletic -sports of the country, but with all he could -do, the monotony of a life at Fort Tejon -was very wearisome to him; so when he -found a beautiful young girl among the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> -Indians, he plunged recklessly into his old -habit, of love making; and in a few weeks -he was domesticated in a little adobe house -near the fort with his pretty Indian bride, -who amused him for the time like any other -novelty of the country.</p> - -<p>She, poor simple child of the wild-wood, -worshiped her handsome, blue-eyed husband, -and thought his hair and beard had -stolen their golden beauty from the glowing -sunshine.</p> - -<p>After a time a little one came to the cottage, -and the young Indian mother was -very happy in loving the father and child -who made the wilderness a heaven for her.</p> - -<p>Weeks, months, and years passed by, -and Captain Fielding longed intensely to -visit the gay world again. He had grown -weary of his Indian wife, and his son in -his eyes was only a young papoose, of -whom he was very much ashamed.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span></p> - -<p>At length the order came for his reprieve. -He was summoned to return to the Atlantic -States; but of this he said nothing to -his wife. One bright spring morning he -left her looking out after him from the -door of the little adobe, holding her -three-year old boy in her arms, smiling -and telling him in her own soft language -that dear papa would come back at evening.</p> - -<p>The burning fingers of remorse pressed -heavily upon the father's heart as he looked -upon the pretty picture—but only for a -moment. He turned away, saying with a -sigh of relief: "She'll soon forget me, for -some Indian Chief, perhaps," and was gone -from her sight out into the distance, on -toward the great busy world.</p> - -<p>Night came on with its damps and darkness, -wrapping the heart of the young wife -in its shroud of shadows, never to be lifted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> -till the brightness of the spirit land made -glad morning shine about her.</p> - -<p>Day by day she watched the shadows -lengthen, hoping when the sun went down -in the crimson west he would return; but -the golden moonlight found her watching -in vain, swaying her sleeping boy too and -fro in her arms, and drearily singing the -song of her heart, in a voice from which -the gladness of hope was fast dying out.</p> - -<p>She called him Dick, for his father, and -with a perseverance which only deep love -could give her, talked his father's language -to him in her pretty, imperfect way.</p> - -<p>The little one grew to be a strong, handsome -boy, with a dark Spanish face, and -eyes full of fire, or love as his mood moved -them. In some things he was like his -father; gay, dashing, and attractive in his -disposition, he became a great favorite -with the officers at Fort Tejon, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> -taught him to read and write and many -other things, much to the delight of his -mother, who would say with tears in her -dark eyes: "If his father lives to return he -will thank you better than I can."</p> - -<p>In the spring she would say: "Before -the orange-flowers ripen to golden fruit he -will return," and in the autumn, "before -the fair buds gladden the green hillsides he -will be here!"</p> - -<p>But springs and autumns passed, till the -broken spirit, hopeless and weary with -waiting, passed into the unknown future, and -they buried her where the first rays of the -morning sun fell upon the graveyard flowers.</p> - -<p>Dick loved his mother fondly, and after -she died he grew more wild and daring -than ever, but with the undercurrent of -his nature flowed all the subtle instinct of -the Indian.</p> - -<p>Often at Fort Tejon he heard of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> -great world far beyond the wilderness, and -he learned that gold was the talisman that -opened the gates of earthly paradise. So -he said in his heart, "I will have gold!"</p> - -<p>Young as he was and wild in his nature, -he saw a witching paradise in the soft blue -eyes and sunny curls of the Colonel's young -daughter Madeline, but no one knew that -he worshiped her, no one but God and his -own heart.</p> - -<p>Among the Indian and Spanish boys -Dick was chief. To the lowliest he was -gentle, to the proudest, superior, and by a -wonderful magnetic power in one so young -he bowed them all to his will. No one -among them thought to question his bidding; -he was the ruler, and without a -thought they obeyed him. He could ride -fearlessly the wildest horse, send the truest -arrow from the bow, and laughed carelessly -at danger as though he bore a charmed life.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span></p> - -<p>One evening he lay upon the green grass -before an Indian encampment, looking -dreamily up at the great golden moon as it -sailed along through the clear summer sky, -surrounded by the paler light of the modest -stars, and thinking how Madeline was -like the moon, queen of all maidens.</p> - -<p>The rest were beautiful, but in comparison -with the sweet Madeline were but -attendant lights. Then he thought of the -great world where one day Madeline would -shine fairest of the fair, and that before he -could enter the charmed circle he must win -the talisman that would give him every -thing, but best of all, sweet Madeline.</p> - -<p>Near him the Indian youths and maidens -had gathered round an old man of -their tribe, who was telling them the legend -of the "Golden Boulder."</p> - -<p>"Yes," said the old man, "white men -would risk their lives for it, if they could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> -only find the valley, but even the Indians -except one tribe who make war upon all -others, have lost trace of it; but there in -the center rises a great round boulder, yellow -as the full moon, all gold, pure gold!"</p> - -<p>"Where?" cried Dick, springing with -one bound into the circle. Then for the -first time he listened to the old tradition of -the Golden Boulder in Death's Valley.</p> - -<p>"Far to the south," said the old Indian, -"lies a country rich in gold and precious -stones. The tribe who inhabits that region -makes war with all who dare to cross the -boundaries of their hunting-grounds. In -some way they have become possessed of -guns from which they shoot golden bullets -with unerring precision.</p> - -<p>"The country is shut in by mountains, -and the great Colorado pours its waters -through it. Far into the interior, deep -down in the shadows, lies Death's Valley,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> -and in its center rises the great Golden -Boulder, and round it are scattered innumerable -precious stones, whose brightness -pierces the dusky shadows with their shining -light."</p> - -<p>The tradition came from an old man of -the hostile tribe who many years ago was -taken prisoner. Many adventurous Mexicans -and Spaniards had sought Death's -Valley, but none had ever returned from -its shroud of shadows.</p> - -<p>Dick listened to the story with deep -attention. For days the thought of it pursued -him, and at night when he closed his -eyes the great round boulder of gold rose -before him, and the glittering stones made -the night shining as the day.</p> - -<p>He could learn nothing more from the -Indians than the old tradition, but every -day he became more resolved, at any hazard, -to win the great talisman, gold, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> -alone could open the door of happiness and -greatness for him; even if he were obliged -to seek it among the shadows in Death's -Valley, he would win it.</p> - -<p>It was the early days of February, which -in Lower California is the spring time of -the year. Golden oranges still hung upon -the trees amid the shining leaves and snow-white -flowers, the buds of promise for the -coming year, while everywhere gorgeous -flowers brightened the fragrant hillsides -and dewy valleys.</p> - -<p>Without a word of farewell to any one, -Dick started out into the trackless wilderness -alone, with only his rifle and a small -hatchet to blaze the trees now and then. -Guided by the Indian's unerring instinct, -he reached the Colorado, strong and vigorous -as when he left the neighborhood of -Fort Tejon.</p> - -<p>He had wanted for nothing; his trusty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> -gun had supplied him with game, and the -fruits of the wild-wood had furnished him -dessert. Thus alone in the luxuriance of -that sunny clime he wandered for days, but -still no trace of the valley, or the Golden -Boulder; but he was not disheartened.</p> - -<p>Day and night, the gorgeous imagery -that decked the future, gathered round -him. As the reward of all this toil and -lonely wanderings, he saw his golden hopes -fulfilled, and the sunny curls of the Colonel's -daughter resting upon his bosom. -For this hope more than all others he labored -on.</p> - -<p>It was the close of an excessively hot -day. The dewy coolness of evening was -delightful to the weary gold-seeker, and -he threw himself down upon his couch of -leaves, under the shadow of the forest -trees, thinking the way was long and -weary, and feeling the desolation of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> -solitary wilderness, casting its long shadows -upon his heart.</p> - -<p>But toil, is the mother of forgetfulness, -and sleep was casting its drowsy mantle -over his saddened musings, when his quick -ear, detected a sound like a light, but -rapid, footstep among the dried leaves. -Nearer and nearer it came, snapping the -brittle twigs that covered the ground.</p> - -<p>He hastily concealed himself, and waited -in almost breathless stillness the approach -of wild beasts, or wilder Indians.</p> - -<p>A moment more, and a young Indian -girl appeared, bearing upon her head a -birchen bucket. Light and graceful, with -the freedom of the woods, she walked -along until she came to a clear spring, and -bending over, she filled her bucket with -the pure fresh water.</p> - -<p>Just then, a rare cluster of flowers attracted -her eye, and with a maiden's love<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> -of the beautiful, she stopped to gather it, -then poising her bucket upon her head, -she would have started for the encampment, -but she was fastened spell-bound to -the spot, by an unconquerable terror.</p> - -<p>Just opposite, and crouched ready to -spring upon her, she saw a huge panther, -his large eyes, like great balls of fire, glaring -out from the intense shadow, already -devoured her. She was paralyzed by an -intense terror. The fearful eyes fascinated -and bewildered her. In them she saw the -frail bridge, that separated her from the -spirit land.</p> - -<p>She could not move, or utter a sound. -The panther crouched lower among the -tangled grass. A moment more, and he -would spring upon her. The stream was -drawing nearer, the bridge was shorter, -from those fearful eyes, she could see the -gleaming of the lights of spirit land, then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> -a flash! a sharp report of the rifle, and the -panther sprang into the air, and fell at the -feet of the affrighted maiden!</p> - -<p>She lived! but the waters of the spring -were glowing red and warm with the -lifeblood of the terrible beast. His -glowing eyes grew dim and sightless, in -the river of death, and in its place, to -her sight appeared the handsome young -gold-seeker.</p> - -<p>With all her intense emotion, she was -calm, as only an Indian maiden could be, -but a deep glowing flush burned through -the darkness of her cheek, as with timid -grace, she gave her hand to her deliverer, -and through the dusk of evening led him -to the encampment, and to the chieftain, -her father.</p> - -<p>There was great excitement in the encampment -when they saw the young girl -returning with a stranger. Fiercely the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> -Indians of the hostile tribe gathered round -them, for the girl clung tremblingly to his -hand, and by the fitful firelight he saw the -dark scowls of passion gathering upon -their faces, yet a thrill of joy filled his -heart, he now knew he was by the camp-fire -of the wild tribe of whom nothing -was known, save their uncompromising -cruelty, and that with them rested the -secret of Death's Valley, the great Golden -Boulder, and the glittering stones.</p> - -<p>He had saved their chieftain's daughter, -and they would not harm him, for well he -knew the power of gratitude upon the -savage heart. Calm and resolute he stood -among them, without the shadow of a fear -darkening his face, until he saw the fierce -fires of cruelty that shot from their wild -eyes soften into the kindly light of gratitude -and friendship, as the young girl told -her story with all the pathos and ardor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> -which the almost miraculous escape, had -awakened in her heart.</p> - -<p>The old chief loved his daughter with a -savage intensity. She was all the Great -Spirit had left him, of many sons and -daughters, and he felt that he would be -ready to battle with death itself, but he -could not give up his only child.</p> - -<p>There was a mist over his fierce eyes, -and a trembling about his cruel heart, as he -bade the stranger a kindly welcome, who -but for his good fortune in saving the girl, -would have been condemned to a torturing -death, unheard of.</p> - -<p>So it was at last by this unforeseen accident, -that the young gold-seeker slept -peacefully by the smouldering camp-fire of -the most cruel, relentless, tribe of the Colorado, -and dreamed of his blue-eyed darling, -far away over the desert waste, safely -sheltered in Fort Tejon.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span></p> - -<p>The morning dawned rich with the -glowing warmth of a Southern climate, -and though our young hero woke early, he -was wearied from long travel, and lay for -some time with half-closed eyes, lazily -watching the Indians as they busied themselves -about the encampment.</p> - -<p>He was thinking how he should turn the -advantage he had gained to the furtherance -of his plans, when suddenly he felt, more -than saw, that dark, jealous eyes were -upon him. He feigned to be sleeping, -while by a stolen glance he understood -every thing.</p> - -<p>The tall, stalwart, young Indian, who -bent over him with dark, knitted brows -and flashing eyes, loved the girl whom he -had saved, and was already his enemy, -and one not to be scorned, as his proud -bearing, and the deference shown him by -others attested. That he was in danger,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> -Dick realized; yet he rose with a free and -careless manner, greeting the young men -with a smile, which was returned.</p> - -<p>"Worse than I supposed," he said to -himself; "treachery! but they shall not -find me unprepared!"</p> - -<p>The old chief and his daughter treated -him with marked kindness, and he, by his -modesty and pleasantry, tried to make -friends among the young men.</p> - -<p>After breakfast preparations were made -for a hunt, and Dick was furnished with a -fresh horse, and invited to join the company.</p> - -<p>The day was warm and sultry, and, toward -evening, the hunters, in starting for -the camp, became scattered, and, on entering -the shadows of a deep ravine, Dick found -himself surrounded by five of the strongest -young men, and, prominent among them, -his enemy.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span></p> - -<p>In an instant of time his hands were pinioned, -and he was ordered to prepare for -death. Looking calmly upon the dark, -scowling faces around him, he said: "I -am ready, only I would make one request -of Tolume (his enemy), 'tis this; that if -in his wanderings he should ever reach -Fort Tejon, he would bear a message for -me to the woman I love."</p> - -<p>The face of Tolume brightened, and he -ordered the prisoner unbound, and leading -him to a mossy stone, listened to the story -of his love for the fair, blue-eyed maiden, -of Fort Tejon, and of all his hopes and -plans, till the sun went down and the -silver moon looked into the ravine.</p> - -<p>Tolume was jealous no longer; so they -became friends, and after listening to the -story of Death's Valley and the great -Golden Boulder, he promised to go with -Dick in search of it.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span></p> - -<p>Nothing was said on their return to the -camp of the closing event of the day's -hunt, but Dick saw with great satisfaction, -that his new friend and the dark-eyed -girl he had saved from death, were again -mutually happy.</p> - -<p>Indians generally care but little for gold, -but this tribe had mingled enough with the -Spaniards to know something of its value; -so the young Indian was very ready to -accompany Dick in his adventures, and to -accede to all his proposals, for he soon -learned to look upon our hero as a superior -being.</p> - -<p>"To-night," whispered Dick, as he passed -carelessly by the young Indian, "when the -moon rises above the mountain-tops, we -will start."</p> - -<p>The Indian bowed assent, and looked -fondly upon the young girl he must leave,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> -and whom he loved with all the fierceness -of his wild nature.</p> - -<p>During the afternoon he told her he was -going away for a short time, but would return -bringing her beautiful feathers, embroidered -moccasins, strings of shining -beads, and all that the heart of a pretty -Indian girl could desire. Then they parted, -as all lovers part, with mingled hopes and -fears.</p> - -<p>When the moon rose clear and bright, -casting its soft, mellow light over the glowing -landscape, the young men met silently -upon the brow of the hill, and started upon -their journey.</p> - -<p>They were well equipped with guns and -ammunition. Each had a good horse, and -as much food as they could carry; the only -thing they had to fear was lack of water -and hostile Indians.</p> - -<p>For two days they traveled on without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> -encountering any difficulty; but on the -third they entered a dry, waste tract of -country entirely destitute of vegetation.</p> - -<p>The ground was covered with a formation -of salt and soda, and when the wind -blew it nearly suffocated them.</p> - -<p>"This must be Death's Valley," said -Dick, as they rode on, talking cheerfully, -looking carefully for any signs of gold. By -noon they began to feel very thirsty, but -there was no water, no cooling spring in all -the vast desert spread out before them.</p> - -<p>The burning rays of the noontide sun -seemed to dry up their blood, and their -tongues were parched and feverish, but -there was no shelter; no water. Heat, -thirst, and travel began to tell upon their -horses, so they dismounted, and led them -by the bridle, till night came on, finding -them weary and faint, and, above all, perishing -with thirst. Their fevered tongues<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> -began to swell, and it seemed as though -the salt dust permeated their whole bodies; -but they dare not stop, even for a moment, -they were dying of thirst, and there was -no water.</p> - -<p>At last the clear, full moon rose over the -desert waste of Death's Valley and over -the wayworn prospectors. They thought -no more of gold, only of water—clear, cool, -bubbling water.</p> - -<p>It seemed to Dick as though he could -hear the murmuring of the brook that rippled -by the cottage of his childhood home, -near Fort Tejon.</p> - -<p>He walked along, every moment growing -more hopeless, when suddenly he saw something -bright and shining on the ground. It -was a curious bow and quiver ornamented -with little bells of silver and gold.</p> - -<p>"Some one has been here, and only a short -time ago, or the wind would have swept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> -away the track," said Dick, as he bent down -and examined a footprint upon the ground. -"'Tis too small for a man," he said. "'Tis -very strange."</p> - -<p>Then he gave a loud shout, and they both -listened eagerly, till they heard a low faint -voice in reply, and, looking around, they -saw by the clear moonlight an odd little -figure trying in vain to rise from the -ground. The young men hastened to his -assistance, and found a queer, little dwarf, -with a long grey beard reaching nearly to -his feet.</p> - -<p>"Give me water!" said the man. "My -horse has thrown me, and all day long I -have lain here in the burning sun, too weak -to move, for I am dying of thirst! Oh -give me water, only a drop of water!"</p> - -<p>"No water! No water!" cried Dick, in -despair. "We, too, are famishing for want -of it! We must on, we have not a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> -moment to lose, or we shall die here in the -desert."</p> - -<p>"Do not leave me," cried the little man. -"I can show you water, but I cannot -move!" So they placed him upon one of -the horses, and he pointed out the way.</p> - -<p>Dick would have thrown aside the bow -and quiver, but as he looked at the curious -little being beside him, quaint old Indian -traditions came to his mind.</p> - -<p>"This bow may serve me yet," he said, -as he secured it to his leather belt. "Who -knows but it belongs to one of the dwarf -treasure-guard of the valley."</p> - -<p>All night they traveled on and till -nearly noon the next day, when a little -green spot in the desert's sand met their -sight. The horses snuffed the refreshing -smell of water, and horses and men, faint, -weary, and famishing, exerting all their -strength started on the full run for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> -blessed Eden before them, and soon sank -down upon the soft green grass by the side -of a clear, bubbling spring.</p> - -<p>"Now I will leave you," said the little -man. "Give me my bow and quiver. We -are even, I showed you the water, and you -brought me to it."</p> - -<p>"Not quite so fast, my little friend," said -Dick. "Before I give you the bow and -quiver, or permit you to leave us, you must -lead us to the treasure of the valley, then -furnish us with a guide, two good mules, -and as much of the treasure as we can -carry away."</p> - -<p>"I accede to your proposition on one condition! -Never attempt to point out the -treasure to any one, or to return to it yourself. -If you do, death will swiftly follow, -and the treasure you shall carry away will -be lost to you and your family for ever."</p> - -<p>So they gave the promise he required,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> -and as they were very tired they concluded -to wait till morning and made their -frugal supper under the trees, drinking -plentifully of the clear, delicious water; -and slept peacefully till morning.</p> - -<p>The little gray man woke them early. -"Come," he said. "The sun is rising, we -must away." So they arose, and taking a -drink of water and eating a tortilla, started.</p> - -<p>For some hours they traveled on in the -pleasant morning air, and just as the sun -was beginning to be scorching in its heat -they entered a deep ravine, and there they -saw the wonderful Golden Boulder, and -countless precious stones, and nuggets of -bright yellow gold scattered round it upon -the shining sand.</p> - -<p>Dick and his companions, were bewildered -by the glittering spectacle, and a -thousand glowing visions filled their minds. -The little gray man blew a shrill whistle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> -Another little gray man appeared, and -bowing low, said humbly:—</p> - -<p>"What is the will of the master?"</p> - -<p>"Food and drink!" answered the master.</p> - -<p>The slave prepared a more comfortable -meal than the young men had enjoyed -since they left the encampment, and they -ate heartily while the slave served them.</p> - -<p>When they had eaten, the chief ordered -the slave to lade the mules with treasure -and conduct the young men to the confines -of the valley.</p> - -<p>Then Dick returned the bow and quiver -to the gray chief, and bid him good-by.</p> - -<p>"Never forget your promise, or beware!" -said the gray man, as they turned away, and -looking back they saw in the distance the -last of the little man with up-raised fingers.</p> - -<p>"He is saying again beware!" said Dick, -laughing. How they went, neither of the -young men could tell, but in a wonderfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> -short time they were out of Death's Valley. -The Indian returned to his tribe, but Dick, -with a happy heart, started for Fort -Tejon, and after a speedy and safe journey -he reached his early home.</p> - -<p>It soon became rumored about, that he -was the richest young man in the whole -country. In a short time, poor Dick, the -half-breed, was forgotten, but every one -courted Don Richard Fielding, the rich and -elegant Spanish gentleman.</p> - -<p>There was a great feast made at the fort, -when Don Richard was united in the -"holy bonds of matrimony" with the -Colonel's lovely daughter, and never was -man more happy than he, when he led his -golden-haired bride through the halls of -his pleasant mansion.</p> - -<p>"We will travel by-and-by, love," he -whispered. "But first we will rest and be -happy in our own dear home!"</p> - - - - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2 class="nobreak p1">Transcriber's Note</h2> - -<p class="in0">Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations -in hyphenation have been standardized but all other -spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.</p> -</div> -</div> - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Fairy Tales from Gold Lands, by May Wentworth - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES FROM GOLD LANDS *** - -***** This file should be named 56155-h.htm or 56155-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/6/1/5/56155/ - -Produced by Larry B. 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