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THE ORIENTAL STORY BOOK.
A COLLECTION OF TALES.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF WILHELM HAUFF,
BY G. P. QUACKENBOS.
ILLUSTRATED BY J. W. ORR.
NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 346 & 348 BROADWAY. 1855.
OF NEW ORLEANS
IN REMEMBRANCE OF A LONG FRIENDSHIP,
AND MANY HAPPY HOURS SPENT WITH HIM OVER THE
GERMAN CLASSICS,
THIS LITTLE VOLUME
IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.
THE CARAVAN.
INTRODUCTION.
In a beautiful distant kingdom, of which there is a saying, that thesun on its everlasting green gardens never goes down, ruled, from thebeginning of time even to the present day, Queen Phantasie. With fullhands, she used to distribute for many hundred years, the abundance ofher blessings among her subjects, and was beloved and respected by allwho knew her. The heart of the Queen, however, was too great to allowher to stop at her own land with her charities; she herself, in theroyal attire of her everlasting youth and beauty, descended upon theearth; for she had heard that there men lived, who passed their livesin sorrowful seriousness, in the midst of care and toil. Unto theseshe had sent the finest gifts out of her kingdom, and ever since thebeauteous Queen came through the fields of earth, men were merry attheir labor, and happy in their seriousness.
Her children, moreover, not less fair and lovely than their royalmother, she had sent forth to bring happiness to men. One dayMaerchen[A], the eldest daughter of the Queen, came back in haste fromthe earth. The mother observed that Maerchen was sorrowful; yes, attimes it would seem to her as if her eyes would be consumed byweeping.
"What is the matter with thee, beloved Maerchen?" said the Queen toher. "Ever since thy journey, thou art so sorrowful and dejected; wiltthou not confide to thy mother what ails thee?"
"Ah! dear mother," answered Maerchen, "I would have kept silence, had Inot known that my sorrow is thine also."
"Speak, my daughter!" entreated the fair Queen. "Grief is a stone,which presses down him who bears it alone, but two draw it lightly outof the way."
"Thou wishest it," rejoined Maerchen, "so listen. Thou knowest howgladly I associate with men, how cheerfully I sit down before the hutsof the poor, to while away a little hour for them after their labor;formerly, when I came, they used to ask me kindly for my hand tosalute, and looked upon me afterwards, when I went away, smiling andcontented; but in these days, it is so no longer!"
"Poor Maerchen!" said the Queen as she caressed her cheek, which waswet with a tear. "But, perhaps, thou only fanciest all this."
"Believe me, I feel it but too well," rejoined Maerchen; "they love meno more. Wherever I go, cold looks meet me; nowhere am I any moregladly seen; even the children, who ever loved me so well, laugh atme, and slyly turn their backs upon me."
The Queen leaned her forehead on her hand, and was silent inreflection. "And how, then, Maerchen," she asked, "should it happenthat the people there below have become so changed?"
"See, O Queen Phantasie! men have stationed vigilant watchmen, whoinspect and examine all that comes from thy kingdom, with sharp eyes.If one should arrive who is not according to their mind, they raise aloud cry, and put him to death, or else so slander him to men, whobelieve their every word, that one finds no longer any love, anylittle ray of confidence. Ah! how fortunate are my brothers, theDreams! they leap merrily and lightly down upon the earth, carenothing for those artful men, seek the slumbering, and weave and paintfor them, what makes happy the heart, and brightens the eye with joy."
"Thy brothers are light-footed," said the Queen, "and thou, mydarling, hast no reason for envying them. Besides, I know theseborder-watchmen well; men are not so wrong in sending them out; therecame so many boastful fellows, who acted as if they had come straightfrom my kingdom, and yet they had, at best, only looked down upon usfrom some mountain."
"But why did they make me, thine own daughter, suffer for this?" weptforth Maerchen. "Ah, if thou knewest how they have acted towards me!They called me an old maid, and threatened the next time not to admitme!"
"How, my daughter?--not to admit thee more?" asked the Queen, asanger heightened the color on her cheeks. "But already I see whencethis comes; that wicked cousin has slandered us!"
"Fashion? Impossible!" exclaimed Maerchen; "she always used to act sofriendly towards us."
"Oh, I know her, the false one!" answered the Queen. "But try it againin spite of her, my daughter: whoever wishes to do good, must notrest."
"Ah, mother! suppose, then, they send me back again, or slander me sothat men let me stay in a corner, disregarded, or alone and slighted!"
"If the old, deluded by Fashion, value thee at nothing, then turn theeto the young; truly they are my little favorites. I send to them myloveliest pictures through thy brothers, the Dreams; yes, already Ihave often hovered over them in person, caressed and kissed them, andplayed fine games with them. They, also, know me well, though not byname; for I have often observed how in the night they laugh at mystars, and in the morning, when my shining fleeces play over theheavens, how they clap their hands for joy. Moreover, when they growlarger, they love me still; then I help the charming maids to weavevariegated garlands, and the wild boys to become still, while I seatmyself near them, on the lofty summit of a cliff, steep lofty citiesand brilliant palaces in the mist-world of the blue mountains in thedistance, and, on the red-tinged clouds of evening, paint brave troopsof horsemen, and strange pilgrim processions."
"Oh, the dear children!" exclaimed Maerchen, deeply affected. "Yes--beit so! with them I will make one more trial."
"Yes, my good child," answered the Queen; "go unto them; but I willattire thee in fine style, that thou mayest please the little ones,and that the old may not drive thee away. See! the dress of anAlmanach[B] will I give thee."
"An Almanach, mother? Ah!--I will be ashamed to parade, in such a way,before the people."
The Queen gave the signal, and the attendants brought in the richdress of an Almanach. It was inwrought with brilliant colors, andbeautiful figures. The waiting-maids plaited the long hair of the fairgirl, bound golden sandals on her feet, and arrayed her in the robe.
The modest Maerchen dared not look up; her mother, however, beheld herwith satisfaction, and clasped her in her arms. "Go forth!" said sheunto the little one; "my blessing be with thee. If they despise andscorn thee, turn quickly unto me; perhaps later generations, more trueto nature, may again incline to thee their hearts."
Thus spoke Queen Phantasie, while Maerchen went down upon the earth.With beating heart she approached the city, in which the cunningwatchmen dwelt: she dropped her head towards the earth, wrapped herfine robe closely around her, and with trembling step drew near untothe gate.
"Hold!" exclaimed a deep, rough voice. "Look out, there! Here comes anew Almanach!"
Maerchen trembled as she heard this; many old men, with gloomycountenances, rushed forth; they had sharp quills in their fists, andheld them towards Maerchen. One of the multitude strode up to her, andseized 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 beright or not."
Blushing, Maerchen lifted her little head quite up, and raised her darkeye.
"Maerchen!" exclaimed the watchmen, laughing boisterously. "Maerchen!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 Maerchen.
"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 Maerchen;"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 ourchildren."
"Let us see what she knows this time," said another.
"Well then," cried they, "tell us what you know; but make haste, forwe have not much time for you."
Maerchen stretched forth her hand, and described with the forefinger,various figures in the air. Thereupon they saw confused images moveslowly across it;--caravans, fine horses, riders gayly attired,numerous tents upon the sand of the desert; birds, and ships upon thestormy seas; silent forests, and populous places, and highways;battles, and peaceful wandering tribes--all hovered, a motley crowd,in animated pictures, over before them.
Maerchen, in the eagerness with which she had caused the figures torise forth, had not observed that the watchmen of the gate had one byone fallen asleep. Just as she was about to describe new lines, afriendly man came up to her, and seized her hand. "Look here, goodMaerchen," said he, as he pointed to the sleepers; "for these thyvaried creations are as nothing; slip nimbly through the door; theywill not suspect that thou art in the land, and thou canst quietly andunobserved pursue thy way. I will lead thee unto my children; in myhouse will give thee a peaceful, friendly home; there thou mayestremain and live by thyself; whenever my sons and daughters shall havelearned their lessons well, they shall be permitted to run to theewith their plays, and attend to thee. Dost thou agree?"
"Oh! how gladly will I follow thee unto thy dear children! howdiligently will I endeavor to make, at times, for them, a happy littlehour!"
The good man nodded to her cordially, and assisted her to step overthe feet of the sleeping men. Maerchen, when she had got safely across,looked around smilingly, and then slipped quickly through the gate.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Maerchen represents the fairy or legendary tales, of which theGermans were at one time so fond.
[B] The German "Almanach" corresponds in a measure with the English"Annual."