Part 1 (2/2)
The Queen gave the signal, and the attendants brought in the rich dress of an Almanach. It was inwrought with brilliant colors, and beautiful figures. The waiting-maids plaited the long hair of the fair girl, bound golden sandals on her feet, and arrayed her in the robe.
The modest Marchen dared not look up; her mother, however, beheld her with satisfaction, and clasped her in her arms. ”Go forth!” said she unto the little one; ”my blessing be with thee. If they despise and scorn thee, turn quickly unto me; perhaps later generations, more true to nature, may again incline to thee their hearts.”
Thus spoke Queen Phantasie, while Marchen went down upon the earth.
With beating heart she approached the city, in which the cunning watchmen dwelt: she dropped her head towards the earth, wrapped her fine robe closely around her, and with trembling step drew near unto the gate.
”Hold!” exclaimed a deep, rough voice. ”Look out, there! Here comes a new Almanach!”
Marchen trembled as she heard this; many old men, with gloomy countenances, rushed forth; they had sharp quills in their fists, and held them towards Marchen. One of the mult.i.tude strode up to her, and seized her with rough hand by the chin. ”Just lift up your head, Mr.
Almanach,” he cried, ”that one may see in your eyes whether you be right or not.”
Blus.h.i.+ng, Marchen lifted her little head quite up, and raised her dark eye.
”Marchen!” exclaimed the watchmen, laughing boisterously. ”Marchen!
That we should have had any doubt as to who was here! How come you, now, by this dress?”
”Mother put it on me,” answered Marchen.
”So! she wishes to smuggle you past us! Not this time! Out of the way; see that you be gone!” exclaimed the watchmen among themselves, lifting up their sharp quills.
”But, indeed, I will go only to the children,” entreated Marchen; ”this, surely, you will grant to me.”
”Stay there not, already, enough of these menials in the land around?”
exclaimed one of the watchmen. ”They only prattle nonsense to our children.”
”Let us see what she knows this time,” said another.
”Well then,” cried they, ”tell us what you know; but make haste, for we have not much time for you.”
Marchen stretched forth her hand, and described with the forefinger, various figures in the air. Thereupon they saw confused images move slowly across it;--caravans, fine horses, riders gayly attired, numerous tents upon the sand of the desert; birds, and s.h.i.+ps upon the stormy seas; silent forests, and populous places, and highways; battles, and peaceful wandering tribes--all hovered, a motley crowd, in animated pictures, over before them.
Marchen, in the eagerness with which she had caused the figures to rise forth, had not observed that the watchmen of the gate had one by one fallen asleep. Just as she was about to describe new lines, a friendly man came up to her, and seized her hand. ”Look here, good Marchen,” said he, as he pointed to the sleepers; ”for these thy varied creations are as nothing; slip nimbly through the door; they will not suspect that thou art in the land, and thou canst quietly and un.o.bserved pursue thy way. I will lead thee unto my children; in my house will give thee a peaceful, friendly home; there thou mayest remain and live by thyself; whenever my sons and daughters shall have learned their lessons well, they shall be permitted to run to thee with their plays, and attend to thee. Dost thou agree?”
”Oh! how gladly will I follow thee unto thy dear children! how diligently will I endeavor to make, at times, for them, a happy little hour!”
The good man nodded to her cordially, and a.s.sisted her to step over the feet of the sleeping men. Marchen, when she had got safely across, looked around smilingly, and then slipped quickly through the gate.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Marchen represents the fairy or legendary tales, of which the Germans were at one time so fond.
[B] The German ”Almanach” corresponds in a measure with the English ”Annual.”
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