The Hope of the Katzekopfs

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ains, which separated his territories from the neighbouring kingdoms, stood the Castl

nd so the country had no charms for him. He was ambitious, and a time-server. He was never so happy as among great pe

tant relation, and so he was glad enough to take possession of them, even though he fou

ved at the object of his desires, and acquired an illustrious name. But instead of this, he spent 59his years in murmurs and repinings; now railing at the blindness of Fortune, who had condemned one of his genius for rising in the world to a sphere of inactivity, now complaining that he was imprisoned for life amid the mountains. What a sad thing it is, when people neglect their present duties,

in a solitary desert. And the Countess, as she stood on the stone platform, which opened out of her withdrawing room, and led to the garden below, and gazed at the wide and fertile valley which lay stretched before her, could count hamlet after hamlet, the inhabitants of which were tenants to her husband, and over whom, therefore, she felt that it was in her power to exercise an influence for good. But the Countess Ermengarde had yet dearer ties, to whom she well knew that all her care and tenderness were due. There were her two littl

g the evening breeze, and watching his lovely children in their play, “What a happy family we shou

y lustre on yonder mountain peaks, and illumining with its declining rays those verdant meadows, 62through which our glassy river flows, and the fields yellow with the ripening corn, and the purple vineyards, and the deep umbrageous forest, were to light up for us no more joyous scene than

which he actually possessed, because a single ingredient which he supposed necessary to fill up his cup of happiness was wanting. So long as he had not that, all else went for nothing. “Doubtless,” said the Count; “but, say wha

ed gaily, “you shall not persuade me that the ch

that! Poor things, they will not have common justice don

e what is the necessity for their ‘getting on in

exclaimed the Count in a tone of pique. “Why, what is

t elapse before they will be women, and when they are grown up, I don’t know why they may not becom

sfied if you could see them making cheese on the next farm, or wedded to the huntsman, or the woodreve. You forget,” added he

it that you co

use to envy their 65good fortune. Yes,” continued he, warming with his subject, and falling unconsciously into one of those day-dreams in which he was continually indulging, “I should like to waken and find myself at the court, with Ediltrudis at my side, the admired of all beholders,

child growing up to maturity, unspotted by the world, and saved from exposure to its poisonous breath, and from the temptat

ave probably made him very angry, but he was too much

said he, calling the child, “and tell us what destiny you would choose. Would you not like to be a Maid of Honour to the Queen

mediately. After a pause she said, “Must I leave Taub

, for where the King lives is

ind such pretty walks as we have here among the hills, nor play such merry games in a palace, as now we do in the meadows by the river side. And besides, I dare say I should not be allowed to take my kid with me, nor my birds, nor perhaps,” adde

ust be old enough to know that a boy cannot pass through life beside his nurse

father, unless I see the world

ure not!” answ

ed Witikind with a sigh. “But I never

ejoined his father, “you don’t

ness, father, in living

“At least I should have found it, if I had not been a poor man, as I was in th

friends?” asked Witikind, still somewhat doubtfully, and looking up with anxiety

o make the experiment 69this very moment! How I should like to see y

more inclined to a change than it had yet been. “And I suppose then, father, I should ride a

eplied the Count,—“at lea

uld like to go and live at court.”—T

e most unexpected places, but they are certain to arrive in the very nick of time, for the purpose of overhearing some conversation which was never intended

rself to her. And as she had been led to believe that to be poor, or afflicted, was a ready passport to that lady’s presence, she assumed the garb and appearance of a lame beggar-woman, and in this disguise entered the domain of Taubennest, and approached the castle. No gate was closed against her, no insolent, pampered menial thrust her from the door. The Counte

by some of her less liberal friends, she made no attempt to deny the probability of the assertion; “but,” said she, “I would ra

e portals of Taubennest, and thus it happened that the Lady Abracadabra wandered forward unobserved, or, if observ

you, my pretty master?” said she, as soon as litt

y, “What is it you want, good mother

e expressed no want. I desire to

carry me over hill and dale t

re of that?” aske

e boy, laughing. “Will you sh

d the Fairy. “I must first see what metal yo

id 73Witikind. “I should never get there

e beggar. “There’s many a worse hobbyhor

d Witikind, “I were fit fo

ame a living cockatrice, which mounted up into the air with its burden, and, after three or four circumvolutions, descended on the platform, to which allusion has been made, and then sto

eive herself to be unwelcome. You do not know me, Countess, for I quarrelled with your father before you were born; but you

s intimated

ly misrepresent you, the beauty of her mind has descended to you. I hear you spoken of as the blessing of th

and they are a simple race, who are satisfied with

believe, you have the means of doing good, and find pleasure

laimed the Countess, “I wou

to your converse, your boy seemed to say that he should like to go and live at court.

d her with sorrow and dismay, but she was unwilling to excuse herself at the cost of inculpatin

he Fairy, addressing Witikind, “are so eager

ten, that 76our best happiness here is grief and dulness, compared with what we

n that child’s fair brow, that, unless we find a remedy, will spread and spread till it infects his whole nature. What his natural disposition may be I know not, but I see his father has inoculated

Lady,” said the mo

ld is father to the man. Such as you m

dolf, he might be induced to see the

e, “I see my way clearly. The evil shall be made to work its own remedy. Go, tell the Count, that an ancient Fairy, a friend of your mother’s house, and who, on that account, desires to befriend you, has become acquainted with his wishes as respects his son: tell him that I have influence at Court, that King Katzekopf and the Queen are not likely to turn a deaf ear

nd, patted him on the head, and springing on her