THE SOLACHERS. 85 



a merry Schnadahiipfl * ; and even in singing he con- 

 trived to have his joke, by the choice of a verse with 

 some sly allusion, and by the look of intelligence he 

 would then give this one or that as he rattled out his 

 noisy rhymes. But all was taken in good part ; he was 

 an old friend of the house, and evidently a favourite. 



One of the girls played the cithern, and the others 

 accompanied her with their voices. Marie was also 

 at length induced to sing, and with cast-down eyes, 

 and as embarrassed at my presence as though a large 

 audience were listening, warbled forth a charming little 

 song, in which a Sennerinn reproaches her hunter-lover 

 for his long absence from her hut. Everything this 

 sweet young mountaineer did had a charm about it. 

 I thought at the time, and think so still, that I had 

 never seen such modest grace in any girl she was so 

 truly maidenly. In her presence you felt that there 

 was a power which guarded her, protecting her even 

 against evil thought, and which, following her steps, 

 would shield her from any harm. And such a power 

 did protect her, it was her own pure womanhood. 



To understand and feel all the beauty of these simple 

 ditties, they must be heard under like circumstances : 

 beneath a cottage roof, and sung by such a group as 

 was here assembled round our little table. They be- 

 long to and form part of the mountains and mountain 

 life, and nowhere else do they sound so beautiful ; just 

 as a common wild-flower shows most bright in its 

 native lane or hedgerow. 



* See a later Chapter. 



