Page 613 - Child's own book

former neighbours thus suddenly transformed into so many old
women, but he felt no inclination to ask any more questions.
At this moment, a spruce young woman, carrying an infant on
one arm, and leading a little girl four years of age with the other
hand, made her w ay through the crowd of gaping idlers* They
were all three as like his wife as tw-o peas.
i( What is your name ? ” cried he, in great astonishment.
“ Marie,” replied the young woman.
t£ And what was your fathers name ? ”
<4 Bless you! his name was Peter Klaus. It is now twenty
years since we sought him, day and night, on the Kyff-
bauser, because his fiock came home without him. I was then
seven years old/'
The goatherd could restrain his feelings no longer*
“ I am Peter Klaus,5" cried he, “ and none other I” And he
took his daughter and her baby-hoy in his arms.
All present stood as if petrified, till at length one voice-'
and then another, called out, “ Yes, that is Peter Klaus!
Welcome, neighbour— welcome home, after your twenty years’
absence.”
Peter Klaus now lived very happily in his native village.
The only drawback to his complete satisfaction was, that he
missed the good wine he used to drink while he was with the
solemn nine-pin players. At times, too, he declared every thing
seemed so dreamy, that he was not sure whether he were awake
or not; and the short and the long of it was, that Peter Klaus
felt a great longing to make another expedition to the Kyff-
hauser. So, in spite of all his friends and neighbours could
urge, he sallied forth on Easter Tuesday towards his old
quarters, where he found a monk, with a long w'hite beard,
seated near one of the ruined walls, reading from a book, which
he closed at Peters approach. “ Come with me," said he, “ to