-179^' Veur.atale. 397 



PETER, A GERMAN TALE- 



My dearest children, be always good, and you'll be 

 alwavs happy. Sixty long years have your mother and I 

 enjoyed a happy tranquillity. God grant that none of ycu 

 may ever purchase it so dearly I" Such were the words of 

 Peter, a huftiandman in a village of Bareith in Franconia^ 

 addrefslng himself to his grand-children one clear evening' 

 of autumn. 



With these words a tear stood in the old man's eye. 

 Louisa, one of his grand-daughters, about ten years old, ran 

 and threw herself in his arms. " Rly dear grand-papa I" 

 said (lie, " you know how well pleased we all are, when 

 of an evening you tell us some pretty story ^ how much 

 more delighted fliould we all be if you would tell us your 

 own ! It is not late — the evening is mild — and none of us 

 are much inclined to sleep." The whole family of Peter 

 seconded the request, and formed themselves (in a semi- 

 circle before him. Louisa sat at his feet, and recommended 

 silence. Every mother took on her knfe the child whose 

 cries m.ight distract attention : Evcy one was already lis- 

 tening ; and the good old taan, stroaking Louisa's head 

 with one hand, and the other locked in the bauds of 'I'lie- 

 cesa, thus began his history : 



" It is a long time ago, my children, since I was ei-'li- 

 teen years of age, and I'liereaa sixteen. She was the only 

 daughter of Aimar, the richest farmer in the country, I 

 was the poorest cottager in the village j but never attend- 

 ed td my v.'ants, until I fell in love with Theresa. I did 

 all I could to smother a pafsion which I knew must on:: 

 Jny or other have made a wretch of me. I was very cer- 

 1 ..i.i that the little pittance fortune iiad gi\-en me, would 



VOL. vji. ■ p p f 



