ZÄHRINGEN.

THE ORIGIN OF THE ZAHRINGEN FAMILY.

N the wooded valley of Zähringen, where the forest stretches up to the

summit of the hill which is called the Horse's Head, there once lived a young charcoal burner, a fine honest fellow. He might have been content with his employment, from which his parents had obtained a sufficient livelihood; nevertheless, he was not happy. Once, on going to the town with his father, he had an opportunity of seeing a tournament, which awoke in the young man a longing to follow the profession of arms; and as his father was now dead, and no filial duties bound him to the paternal hut, he was often tempted to leave the forest for ever, and to enter the service of the first brave knight he should chance to meet.

One morning as he was musing over these thoughts, an old hermit came to him, and said, "I know what you are thinking about, still it appears to me the means of obtaining your wish, lies only in this wood, and in what has hitherto been your occupation. But you must select a better spot than this one, where up to this time you have burnt charcoal; come with me, and I will show you a better site." Astonished, the young man followed the hermit, who led him far into the thicket, to a hill. "Here," said the old man, "burn your charcoal for the future!" and with these words the hermit disappeared, before the charcoal burner could ask for more information.

"The old man's words will explain themselves in time," thought he, "and in the meanwhile, it will not harm me to obey him." And he now employed himself more vigorously than ever in felling the large trees which crowned the height; he then made a charcoal pile, and before he lighted it, covered it with the rocky soil of the hill. How great was his astonish

ment, when on

removing the covering, after the charcoal pile was burnt out, he found several pieces of solid gold, which had been drawn out

of the earth by the great heat of the fire. He wisely concealed the treasure in the cleft of a neighbouring rock, then he made a second charcoal pile, and then many others, and from each was extracted a similar treasure, so that he soon found himself in possession of great wealth.

He pondered over various plans for making use of all this gold, and one evening as he laid himself down late to rest, the anxiety attendant upon the possession of so much treasure troubled him, and he could not sleep; he thought he heard a gentle knock at the door of his hut, he raised himself and listened doubtfully; a louder knock convinced him that he was right. He opened the door courageously, and by the feeble light of the moon, saw standing before him a man who asked for admission.

The charcoal burner was very much astonished at this late visitor, for a stranger seldom came into so distant a wilderness, and thereupon he asked his business; but the stranger told him that he was an unhappy fugitive, and the only thing he sought was concealment; upon hearing which, the kind charcoal

burner lost no more time in giving him a hospitable reception.

The secluded situation of the hut afforded the best security for the stranger, no pursuer came in sight, and the fugitive soon recognised in the charcoal burner a true and honesthearted man, to whom every one could trust their life without a moment's doubt.

"I venture," said he one morning to the young man, "to discover myself to you without reserve, for it appears to me you are incapable of treachery, and a man to be relied upon, and I am in need of such a friend. I never should be able to find my way in this thick forest, therefore I require a faithful guide who will escort me to my own people. Know, young man, who it is whom you have entertained in your hut I am your unfortunate Emperor; attacked by a superior force I have lost all, men and treasures, in an unequal and dangerous warfare, and I must flee far from hence, to bewail my fate in poverty and concealment. As a last service, I ask you to show me a private path, by which to rejoin those who are waiting for me, a service which I, who was

once so powerful, am unfortunately now unable to requite."

The charcoal burner heard these words with astonishment, and shedding tears of sympathy, sank on his knees before his sovereign, then raising himself, seized the right hand of his royal guest, and said, "I now perceive the hand of God, who has permitted me to find a wonderful treasure here, in a spot so secluded. This wealth enables me to offer to my beloved Sovereign the needed service of a rich follower; look here." And going out he led the Emperor to the spot near the hut where he had hidden his gold. "Look here, what I have obtained from the stony bosom of the hill, and accept it from me as a gift. I ask for nothing in return, but that you will allow me to be numbered amongst your followers, and to devote my arm to your just cause."

Overpowered by these words, and full of new hopes, the Emperor embraced his benefactor. On the evening of that day they both left the hut in the wood, taking the gold with them, and by retired paths, and many nightly wanderings, they at last reached trusty friends.