Johann Karl August Musäus

“ Master Peter now enjoyed the golden fruit of his trip to the Harz Mountain, yet wisely forbore to entertain the public with any description of it, and possessed so much wealth that he hardly knew its amount. Frederic, however, was supposed to be the source of this sudden prosperity; and, as honour follows quick upon riches, he soon attained the highest dignities which the town of Rottenburg could bestow. And ever since it has become a common proverb, when the people of Rottenburg wish to describe a wealthy person, to say, “He is as rich as the son-in-law of Peter Block.” ”

“ While we now enjoy all the blessings of Providence, what may he not be suffering;—if indeed he is still alive?” Even Dame Ilse could not now help expressing some regret, although some of it might probably arise from the want she experienced of having some one on whom to vent her spleen.
The eve of the great day had now arrived, when some one stopped before the house with a wheelbarrow, and knocked at the door. The bride opened the window to inquire what the stranger wanted, and, to her surprise, discovered that it was even her father himself! ”

“ The maiden never went abroad, save accompanied by herself; while, at home, under her Argus eye, there was no opportunity; and the good dame was perfectly satisfied that not the most scheming gallant would be able to gain access to Gertrude. The event, however, proved the contrary; and Dame Ilse now learnt that the heart of a daughter, though so well guarded by her caution and experience, was no safer than a hoard of gold secured by seven locks. ”

“ You must take care to be provided beforehand with a scarlet mantle, which conceal under your garment, and wait until the bird returns with the spring-root in its mouth. No sooner will the bird touch the wooden plug with this wondrous plant, than it will immediately fly out, as a cork does from one of mine host’s barrels. Lose no time then, but instantly spread the mantle under the tree. Terrified at the sight, supposing it to be fire, the woodpecker will let fall the root. ”

“ He would hardly have rejected such an honest suitor for his daughter as thou appearest to be.”
“Ah!” replied Frederic, little weening whom he was now speaking to, “the father is nought;—he is an idle fellow, that Peter Block, who has left his wife and child, nor does any one know what has become of him. ”

“ Mustering up a look of profound sagacity, Master Peter considered all the lines very attentively, shook his head occasionally in the mean while, and, after he had carried on the game for a sufficient time, said, “Friend! he who has luck has also the bride! To-morrow, as soon as the sun rises, hie thee with all speed to Rottenburg. The maiden is faithful, and well-inclined towards thee, nor will she fail to receive thee with affection. A rich inheritance will shortly fall to thee, of which thou little dreamest ”

“ Our good-natured traveller of the wheelbarrow, who, when things went well with himself, always delighted in seeing others in equally good spirits, exerted himself to cheer the desponding youth; but finding, at length, that his powers of eloquence were of no avail, he suspected that his gloomy mood might be occasioned chiefly by a vacancy in the region of the stomach, and that it was that organ, not either the heart or head of the patient, that was affected. ”

“ So fearful were these tales, that they caused the townsfolk to shudder, and made their hair to stand on end with horror. Of these townspeople, no small number attended the festivities of the rustic holidays; and many a tradesman and mechanic betook himself on these evenings to the public room of the Golden Lamb.
No one contributed more to the conversation, on the present occasion, than the silver-haired Martin, a cheerful old man of eighty, who, like the patriarch Jacob, had seen a whole race of shepherds descended from himself. ”

“ But if you had had your wits about you some forty years ago, you certainly had not missed procuring the spring-root. I can myself inform you by what means the plant may be obtained. The easiest way is to call in the service of a black woodpecker. Watch one in the spring season, when it makes its nest in a hollow tree, and then, when it flies out to seek food for its young ones, drive a wedge of wood into the hole, whence it has taken its flight. “When it returns, and perceives that the access to its nest is cut off, it will fly round the tree and scream ”

“ Having discovered the stone sides of the cavern, you will soon meet with a flat stone, built into the wall, and about a yard square. This being forced out, you will find yourself in the entrance of the vault where the treasure lies hid. Having proceeded a little way, you will reach a hall with three doors, two of which are open, but the middle one is fast closed with bolt and bar. You must open the closed door by means of the spring-root, which you must not fail to take along with you ”

“ After many unsuccessful attempts, I have at last resigned all hope of again beholding the lovely maiden. I have quitted the town, and am now wandering about the country in the hope that my grief may speedily devour my heart.”
Our hero listened very attentively to his companion’s narrative, and already began to perceive where the wind lay.
“Your history,” said he, “is a strange one enough; there is one point, however, which I would ask you—you do not speak of the father of your mistress—why did you not address yourself to him? ”

“ Peace being restored, Gertrude requested that her father might conduct her the following morning to the church; accordingly Master Peter appeared dressed out like a burgomaster, in honour of the ceremony, which was celebrated with no ordinary splendour. Soon after this happy event, the young couple set up a separate establishment, the bridegroom having purchased a noble mansion, where he resided in the style of an opulent citizen. ”

“ He now laid by every penny of the secret money with which he was supplied by his daughter, in order that he might have wherewith to reward the first lucky wight who should inform him where to find a black woodpecker’s nest. He even retained a scout or two in his service, whom he sent to reconnoitre the forest for this purpose. The wicked fellows would sometimes, however, make an April fool of him, by sending him many a mile, over hill and dale, where his labour was at length rewarded by meeting a raven’s or a squirrel’s nest in the hollow tree to which he had been directed ”

“ Gertrude was now quite relieved from the apprehension of witnessing her lover exorcised as an unclean spirit, and doomed to repass the threshold. The good wife considered that beauty is an article not greatly improved by keeping; that, therefore, for such fading ware, it is better to take the first good customer that offers. ”

“ These solicitations at last induced Martin to yield, and he spoke as follows:—
“In my young days, I was a destitute orphan-boy, and had to beg my bread from door to door; there was no place I could call my home, and I wandered about with my bag from village to village. When I grew up to be a lad, I hired myself to a shepherd on the Harz Mountains, with whom I remained three years. One evening, in autumn, ten of our sheep were missing, on which I was sent off to search for them. Night came on without my finding them ”