: THE WHITE WOMAN OF BERLIN. A Fragment. * " As I live," said Conrad "the woman in white has been sweeping the apartments of our royal master, and the symptoms of approaching death are palpably discovered in this mysterious work. Woe, to the kingdom of Prussia, for its monarch will speedily be laid in the dust of the grave !" "Go on," articulated Agatha, in breathless amazement. " I had just equipped my late master in his military uniform, and seen him seated, for the last time, in that chair, which received his final sigh, when the gracious Monarch, squeezing my hand with a gentle pressure, motioned me to quit the room. I obeyed, and passed into an inner apartmentthe shades of twilight had filled it with thick gloom, and I proceeded a few paces beyond the threshold, when, on raising my eyes, they encountered the form of a female, clad in white garments, and of gigantic stature! The blood shot to my brain as I beheld this visionary figure; but, I am a Chris " You make my blood curdle," said Agatha, "at this announcernent of your fears; and yet I am told, by reason, to deride their superstitious tendency. What do you mean, by this woman all in white; and how is her hidden agency connected with the king's disorder?" " Young woman," replied the hoary Conrad, "what these eyes have witnessed, surely these lips may declare; and if ever the shadows of supernatural | tian-" creation were suffered to visit the beings of humanity, I have seen the WHITE WOMAN OF BERLIN. It is an old tradition that she appears regularly at such period as any member of the Royal Family is struggling under ❘ of the ghastly hue that overspread her " Forbear!" screamed Agatha, sick and fainting with alarm. "I saw her gliding slowly through the room, and, though my eyes were rivetted with horror, I caught a glance mortal disease; and her coming, in the course of twelve months has been followed by the dissolution that it threatened." countenance, and Gracious God! - Look there!" "Agatha shrieked, and fell senseless to the floor, as she beheld * * On the Tuesday after Bartholomew's day, in the very year that the emperor Wenceslaus fled from the prison at Prague with the fair damsel of the Bath, according to an ancient custom, the guild of shepherds held at Rottenburg their annual procession, at which were present all the country for about three miles round. After hearing mass at the church of St. Wolfgang, they proceeded to mine host's of the Golden Lamb, where they spent the rest of the day in quaffing their cups, playing on their rustic instruments, and dancing too in the open square until sunset. The younger part of the company then dispersed homeward; not so, however, the elders, and the more substantial shepherds, for they continued to carouse over their wine till the night was far advanced; and, when the liquor had somewhat thawed their tongues, began to indulge in loud and lengthy discourse. Some made sage predictions as to the from the German. weather, on which subject they were in no wise inferior to some of our modern seers ycleped almanack-makers. Indeed, they prognosticated very shrewdly what the approaching season would be, from the aspect of Our Lady in the procession over the mountain, and the appearance of the heath flowers.-Others related stories of their adventures, recounting how valiantly they had defended their flocks against the attack of the wolf, by aid of that faithful ally their dog; or put to flight the still more terrible were-wolf by devoutly crossing themselves, and repeating a prayer to St. Andrew. Or, they told how they had been led out of their way across wild and through wood: and had been mocked and perplexed by witches and spectres. So terrific were most of these narratives, that they caused to shudder that part of the auditory which consisted of the town's folk, and made their hair to stand erect with horror. festivities of this rustic holiday'; for many a boon companion, and mechanic, generally betook him on this evening to mine host's of the Lamb. Of these latter, in fact, no inconsidera- | beg my bread from door to door; I ble number attended to share in the Among all the company no one was more jovial, or contributed more to the conversation than the silver-headed Martin, a lively old man of eighty years; who, like the patriarch Jacob had seen a whole race of shepherds descended from himself. When the room began to clear somewhat of the guests, he ordered mine host to bring him a cup, by way of a farewell glass before retiring, not displeased to find that the tumult had somewhat subsided, and that it would now be in his power to make himself better heard. "Good neighbours," quoth the old sire, " you have been recounting some wondrous marvels; nor have they methinks, lost any thing of their worth by savouring a little of the wine cup. I myself, however, can tell you an affair, which, although I give you nothing but the pure truth, will appear more wonderful than any of your tales:-but the evening is now rather too far advanced, and I should never come to an end." All were silent while the old man was speaking; and such was the hushed attention in the tavern-room, that you might have supposed the bishop of Bamburg was reading mass. When he ceased, however, there were voices enough to be heard, for his neighbours cried out unanimously, "Father Martin, let us hear this strange adventure of thine, never spare us the pleasure on a holiday night like this." Even some of the town's folk, who had been preparing to depart, now hung up again their cloaks, and beseeched him to relate his marvels as their parting cup. Their earnest solicitations were more than old Martin could withstand, he commenced therefore as follows: 1 "Affairs went sorrowfully enough with me in the world, at first. Being a destitute orphan boy, I was forced to had no place that I could call my home, but strolled about with my wallet from one village to another. When, however, I grew up to be a sturdy lad, I hired myself to a shepherd on the Harz Mountains, whose flocks I tended for three years. At that time, one evening, about the beginning of the autumn, ten of the sheep were missing, on which I was sent into the wood to search for them. My dog got upon a wrong scent, and hunted about the under-wood; night began to fall, and I being unacquainted with the place, and not knowing how to find my way, determined to pass the night beneath a tree. Towards midnight the dog became uneasy, began to howl, slunk his tail, and crouched close to me: I then perceived that all was not aright, and, looking up, discerned by the clear moonlight, a figure standing opposite to me, resembling that of a man whose body was entirely covered with hair. He had a long beard reaching to his middle, a garland upon his head, and around his loins an apron of oakleaves, while, in his right hand, he held a fir-tree that had been torn the up by roots. At this apparition I trembled like an aspen leaf, and my very soul was shaken with horror. The terrific spectre motioned me to follow him; yet et I stirred not from the spot; I then heard him exclaim in a hoarse growling voice: 'Coward heart, take courage, I am the Treasure-keeper of the Harz. Come with me, so shalt thou find a treasure." Although my apprehension threw me into a cold sweat, I at length roused myself, and, making a sign of the cross, replied, - Avaunt thee Satan, I desire none of thy treasures!"On this the fiend grinned horribly in my face, and pinching me, said,Loon, thou rejectest good fortune! continue then a sorry varlet all thy days.' He then turned away as if to depart; but again he approached me, saying,'Bethink thee, bethink thee well, thou heedless wight, I will fill thy wallet, I will fill thy bag with a joyous burden.' 'It is written,' I returned, Thou shalt | square flat stone, built into the wall, not covet; away then from me, thou evil spirit; nought do I require of thee.' "As the spectre saw that I listened not to him, he desisted from further importunity, only adding, Thou wilt repent this;' then looked grimly at me, and, after a short pause of reflection, continued, Give good heed to what I now say, so that it may yet avail thee, shouldst thou think yet more advisedly. In the Brocken Mountain, deep under the earth, is buried an immense treasure of gold and precious stones, which, having been deposited there by twilight, may be removed in the open day, 1 as well as at deep midnight. I have watched it for seven hundred years; but, from this day forward, it becomes again free to be taken by whoever discovers it:-my time is up. Therefore, did I intend to deliver this hoard to thee; for, as thou pasturest thy flock on the Brocken, I have felt kindly disposed towards thee.' He then proceeded to acquaint me with the place where the treasure was to be found, and of the manner in which I ought to seek it. " It seems to me even now as though I heard him, so plainly do I remember his every word. Proceed,' said he, 'towards St. Andrew's mountain, and there enquire for the Black King's valley; or, as it is now called, the Morgenbrodsthal. When arrived at a brook, named the Duder, follow its track, against the current, until thou reachest a stone bridge, hard by a saw-mill. Pass not, however, over the bridge, but still continue to advance with the stream on thy right hand, until thou seest before thee a steep rocky crag. A bowshot distance from this, thou wilt perceive a hollow, resembling a grave prepared for a dead body. Do not fear, but clear it out without apprehension, although thou wilt find it no very easy labour; thou wilt perceive that it has been filled up with earth intentionally. Having now discovered a stone wall on either side, proceed manfully in thy work, and thou wilt soon meet with a and about a yard in height and breadth. This being wrested out, thou wilt be at the entrance of the vault where the treasure is deposited. Into this opening must thou creep on thy belly, with a miner's lamp in thy mouth, thy hands being quite disengaged, lest thou shouldst strike thy face against a stone, for the descent is very great, and the stones are exceedingly sharp. Should thy knees chance to bleed, regard it not, since thou art in a prosperous path. Nor rest until arrived at a staircase of stone, of which thou wilt, without difficulty, descend the steps, in all seventy-two in number; and thou wilt reach a spacious hall with three doors, two of which are open, but the third is fast closed with bolt and bar. Heed well that thou goest not through that on the right hand, lest thou disturb the bones of the former possessor of the treasure. Neither enter that on the left; it is an unclean vault, wherein house the viper and the snake; but open the closed door by means of a spring-root, which thou must not fail to take along with thee, else is all thy labour bestowed in vain: for, with tool of iron, however strong, thou wilt accomplish nothing. How thou art to obtain this precious root, thou must enquire of some well experienced carl: since it is known to those who track the forest, and it is not very difficult to be met with. Fear not, even though the door should burst open with a crash as loud as if of thunder; thou wilt receive no injury, it being merely the force of the root. Only remember to cover well thy lamp, so that it may not be extinguished, so wilt thou needs be dazzled by the noble sparkling and bravery of all the gold and jewels, wherewith are covered the walls and pillars of that vault; yet stretch not out thy hand towards them -beware of that as thou wouldst of sacrilege. In the middle of this subterra neous hall stands a brazen chest like as it were the high altar of some church. There thou wilt find enough of both gold and silver, and mayest take all that thou cravest. Takest thou as much as thou canst carry, so hast thou enough to suffice for thy whole life; it is besides in thy power to return thither three different times, but no more-the fourth would prove in vain: nor wouldst thou escape without the chastisement due to thy avarice. Forget not to close well each time the mouth of the cavern, by which thou enterest the vault of king Bructorix.' When the phantom had ceased speaking, my dog pricked up his ears, and began to bark; I heard the sound of wheels at a distance, and, looking around me, perceived that the figure had vanished." With these words did the grey-beard- | ed ghost-seer end a narration that affected his auditors in very different ways. Some were fain to treat the adventare very lightly:-" "Tis certainly a wondrous tine dream, my old sire!" exclaimed they; others gave implicit credence to the tale; while a third party, more cautious than either, assumed a sagacious look, but cared not to utter their opinion of the matter. As for mine host, he very shrewdly asserted that the proof of the pudding lay in the eating; that, let them dispute, and proand-con as much as they pleased, the question, after all, was, -" Had Martin really been on this subterraneous pilgrimage, and had he returned with his pack laden with treasure?" In order, therefore, to ascertain this important point, and keep his guest in a talkative humour, he filled him a goblet from a fresh flask, and, as he offered it, said: "Come goodman! let us hear whether you visited this said cavern, and found there all that this spirit promised-or did the mischievous elf play thee false ?יי "By no means," returned honest Martin; "I cannot accuse him of telling untruths, since I never took even so much as a single step to find out the cavern, or to open it." -" And wherefore not?" "For two reasons: in the my neck to expose myself to the malice of a goblin; and, in the next, I have never been able to meet with any one to inform me how I am to come at the spring-root, where it groweth, or at what season of the year, or what hour of the day it must be plucked, although I have questioned respecting it many a one well conversant with every kind of plant." The innkeeper was now quite aground with his inquiries, without having obtained the slightest glimpse into the business, when a shepherd, well stricken in years, addressed himself to the narrator of the history, and said: ars ago, you by " 'Tis a thousand pities, neighbour Martin, that your secret is now somewhat out of date. And you had had your wits about you some forty years you had certainly not missed of having the spring-root. And although you will never, I warrant me, climb the Brocken at this day, yet, if it be only for mere passing the time, I will inform what means the plant may be obtained. The readiest method of all is to call in the service of a black woodpecker.Watch one in spring tide, at which season it makes its nest in a hollow tree, then after the time of brooding, and when it flies out to seek food for its young ones, drive a hard knot of wood into the hole, whence it has taken its flight. Then watch behind the tree until its return. As soon as it perceives that all access to its home is intercepted, it will fly round the tree with a scream of loud lament, then suddenly wing its course towards the west. After this you must take care to be provided with a scarlet mantle; or, in lieu of this, hie to a dealer in such wares, and buy thee some four yards of red cloth; which conceal beneath thy garment, and wait until the bird returns with the springroot in its mouth, even though it be one, nay even two days. No sooner will the bird touch the wooden plug with this wondrous plant, than it will immediately fly out with a sudden bounce, just as a cork does from a foamThen lose no time, but in first place, I had too much regard foring flask. |