1821-3 Hans Hcilingf Rocks.~~-A Bohemian Legend.
HANS HEIUNG'S HOCKS. A BOHEMIAN LEGEND. Translated from the German O/"KORNER.
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THERE lived many ages ago, in a lit- tle village on the Eger, a rich farmer. The name of the village, tradition has not handed down to us, but it is gene- rally believed to have been situated on the left bank of the Eger, opposite the village of Alch, which is well known to all the invalids of Carlsbad. VEIT, such was the name of the farmer, had a pretty and amiable daughter, the joy and pride of the surrounding country. ELSBETH was really very handsome; and, besides that, so good and well edu- cated, that it would not have been then easy to find her equal.
Near Veit's house stood a little cot- tage, which belonged to the young AR- XOLD, whose father had lately died. He had learned the trade of a mason, and was just returned home for the first time after a long absence, at the period of his father's death. Like an affectionate son, he dropped tears of unfeigned grief upon the old man's grave, for he had received as his patri- mony nothing but a miserable cottage. Arnold, however, enjoyed, in the still- ness of his own bosom, a most valuable inheritance truth and probity, and a lively sense of every thing good and beautiful. The elder Arnold was al- ready in a declining state of health, when his son arrived at the village, and his physical strength was not sufficient for the joy of again beholding him. The young man sedulously attended him, and in fact never stirred from his side, so that, previously to his father's decease, he saw none of his early friends and companions, except those who vi- sited him as he sat by the bed of sick- ness.
Of all the other villagers there was none that took so lively an interest in Veit's daughter Elsbeth, as Arnold ; for they had grown up together, and he still entertained a pleasurable re- membrance of the kind-hearted little maid, who had been so fond of him, and wept so bitterly when he was ob- liged to set out for the dwelling of his master, who resided at Prague. He was now a fine slender youth, and he had often said within himself, that Elsbeth must also be now full grown, and exceedingly handsome.
The third evening after his father's death, Arnold was musing in sorrow,
upon the new-made grave, when he heard a light step entering the church- yard behind him. He looked up, and saw a lovely girl gliding among the grave-hillocks with a basket of flowers upon her arm. An elder-bush conceal- ed him from the eyes of Elsbeth, for it was she who was coming to adorn with garlands the resting-place of her vene- rable neighbour.
She bent in tears over the turf, and spoke in a low tone as she folded her hands together : " Rest in peace, vir- tuous man ! may the earth be less bur- thengorae to thee than thy life ! though no flowers were strewed along thy path, yet shall thy grave at least be bedecked with them !" Here Ar- nold sprang forward through the bushes > " Elsbeth !" cried he, as he pressed the terrified maiden in his arms, " Els- beth, do you know me ?" " Ah ! Ar- nold ! is it you ?" stammered she, blushing ; " it is very, very long since we have seen one another." " And you are so handsome, so mild, so ami- able and you loved my father, and still cherish such an affectionate re- membrance of him. Dear, delightful girl !" " Yes, worthy Arnold, I loved him with all my heart," said she, gently disengaging herself from his em- brace ; " we have often conversed to- gether about you the only joy he knew was the possession of such a son." " Was I really a source of joy to him ?" interrupted Arnold, hastily ; " then do I thank thee, God, for ha- ving preserved me in probity and vir- tue ! But, Elsbeth, only think how every thing is altered. Formerly we were little, and, as my father sat be- fore the door, we played about his knees you were so fond of me and we could not live asunder and now the good old man slumbers beneath us we are grown up ; and, though I have not had it in my power to be with you, yet have I often thought of you." " And I also of you," whis- pered Elsbeth, softly, as she tenderly gazed upon him with her large friend- ly eyes.
Then Arnold exclaimed with ani- mation : " Elsbeth, we already loved in childhood ! I was obliged to quit you but here, on the grave of my fa- ther, where I once more behold you, 1
