Page:Story of the bitter wedding (1).pdf/7

 end, though I should talk the whole day about it.

'In the village there, below us, old Bernhard has a pretty sweet girl of a daughter, Siegelind; he has lived for many years, and his wife Gertrude with him, in a nice little cottage by the stream, where the road strikes of into the wood. Their trade is to make wooden spoons for the herdsmen, by which, and the help of a goat and a couple of sheep, they gain their livelihood.' [sic]

'Last winter, having got some ashen spoons and cups nicely cut, I thought with myself, now, as my father is getting old, and sends me with the cattle to the mountains in spring, if I only behave there as becomes a herdsman, what is there to prevent me coming down in autumn and marrying Siegelind?

'Ah, Master Almerich, my words do poor justice to my heart; my feelings always get the start of them, and reason comes limping after!

'I beheld Siegelind, you see, moving actively about,---wearing a merry face late and early,---all goodness and discretion from top to toe, and pretty too,---overflowing with gay spirits and merry songs without number: all this my eye, my ear, and my heart in smoothly,---she was satisfied, and the  people too, so in summer I was to go to