Page:Select Popular Tales from the German of Musaeus.djvu/85

Rh The treaty of marriage was quickly arranged. On being accepted as such, the joyous bridegroom, sweeping half the gold into his hat, threw it into the lap of the bride, as her marriage portion; the other half he as liberally scattered in a golden shower into the bosom of the greedy matron, whose dry countenance instantly acknowledged its influence.

The wedding-day was now fixed, and half the town received invitations to the feast, which was to be celebrated in the most spacious apartment of the Golden Lamb. As Gertrude was putting on her bridal wreath, she could not help saying, “This wreath would delight me, indeed, were but my good father here to conduct me to church. Would to Heaven that he were here with us once again! 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!

All now was tumultuous joy: Gertrude rushed down and threw herself upon his neck, and even Dame Ilse reached out her hand in token of forgiveness of the theft he had committed. At length the bridegroom saluted him in his turn, while both mother and daughter expatiated at the same time on his merits, as a suitor; for Master Peter seemed to scrutinize his person with an eye of eager inquiry. No sooner, however, was he informed of the pretensions of the gallant, and the manner in which he had acquired his right to such intimate hospitality, than he appeared to be perfectly satisfied with his future son-in-law, and was soon as familiar with him as though he had long been acquainted with him. After having first brought him some refreshment, the dame expressed her curiosity to hear his adventures, and all that had happened to him in his travels.

“I have travelled far and wide,” replied he, “and at length am become a dealer in hardware. All my wealth however consists in this cask of nails, of which I intend to make a present to the young folks here, to begin housekeeping with.” Mother Ilse now vented herself in so many reproaches, that the bridegroom, little pleased at this specimen of female eloquence, was obliged to interfere, assuring her that he was well satisfied with the offer.

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