Village Tales from Alsatia, Tr. from [Sittengemalde Aus Dem Elsassischen Volksleben] by Sir A.D. Gordon (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848 Excerpt: ... young man fell so violently in love with Udilie that he grew sick from it. As he knew that she was too rich to marry him, and also that she was betrothed to her cousin Matthew, he did not dare to tell his love to her; and he accordingly left Schirrhoffen as soon as he was well enough to move, without showing himself again in the village. His passion however was no secret; all the village knew it, and Udilie in her innocence felt very kindly towards him. Among the villagers some laughed at, and others pitied him; but Gottlieb especially sneered without mercy at the poor journeyman, who had fallen in love with a girl who had fifteen thousand thalers to her fortune. Thus Udilie already did not want for suitors, though they caused her much vexation in the end. But hold I find that we have almost lost sight of Matthew and Gertrude. The unfortunate are always the first to be forgotten. VII. When Matthew was fetched home from Hatten, his parents resolved, for two reasons, to send him to France; in the first place, that he might perfect himself in speaking French, --in the second, that he might forget Gertrude. He did not oppose the wishes of his parents, and declared himself ready to set out on his journey to Nancy or Metz without so much as taking leave of Gertrude. His bundle was tied up and taken to the office, in order that he might find it poste restante on his arrival. His father put three hundred francs into his pocket, and his mother secretly added another hundred to it. Half the village accompanied him nearly to Bischweiler, where with many tears he took leave of his relations, among whom was Udilie. To her however he did not say a word more than to any stranger, and, wonderful to relate, she did not seem the least hurt by his neglect. He then continued ..