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Volume 4 (1859-1860) (600 pages)
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Page: of 600
LEGEND OF THE TURNIP-COUNTER. 133
LEGEND OF THE TURNIP-COUNTER.
Translated from the German,
BY P. F. JOHNSON.
[Brocrarnicar Notz.—The author of this interesting story is John Augustus Muszus, who was born
in Jena, Saxony, 1785. Atan early age he entered
its University for the study of theology, where
he remained for about three years and a half; but,
having danced ata rustic festival, his superiors
thought this a sufficient impropriety to justify them
in excluding him for ever from taking holy orders.
Muszeus was no less excellent as a writer, than estimable ag aman. Serenity of mind and kindness of
heart threw about his character the never-failing
charm of making friends. It is said of him that he
belonged to the few happy mortals, who, during their
lifetime, never had an enemy. Actuated mainly by
his scanty income, he betook himself to literary pursuits; and was the last one to find out the beauties
of his own works. His earnings he freely shared
with his poorer brethren. Nothing could induce him
to cringe servilely before rank, or gold, craving for
patrons or wealth. He died, as he had lived, a righteous and good man, a loving father, a sincere and
true friend, and one who was contented with the
little that Heaven bestowed upon him, The present
Legend is the first, in a series of five, to be found in
his “Stories of the German People’? —the work by
which he became so great a favorite with the public.
He died on the 28th of October, 1787, aged 52 years;
and before the completion of the last work upon
which he was engaged, entitled “ Ostrich Plumes.”
A simple but beautiful monument. was erected over
his grave by some unknown hand. If the sparkling
gems scattered throughout the original, have here
Jost any of their brightness, the translator would be
very sorry, as the desire of his heart —the better
appreciation and more general diffusion of Germun
literature — would be defeated, and injustice done its
able author.]
Tue Sudets, though often feebly lauded in verse and prose, are considered the
Parnassus of the Silesians. On its lofty
crown Apollo and his muses dwelt in
peaceful harmony, side by side with the
famous mountain goblin, named The
Turnip-Counter. He it was who immortalized the great and world-famed Riesengebirge more, by far, than all the Silesian
poets put together. This sovereign of
the gnomes owns only a small dominion
on the world’s surface, as the spot, enclosed by a high mountain chain, is but
afew miles in circumference. Besides,
two powerful monarchs each put in their
claim to the estate, disdaining to acknowledge the goblin, even as a silent partner.
Yet, several fathoms below the rich crust
of ‘mother earth’ his undisputed title,
and his reign commences. Unabridged
by. any treaty of partition, it extends to
the very centre of our planet. At times
the subterranean Starost, always restless,
takes pleasure in roaming over his farstretching provinces in the caverns below,
inspecting their inexhaustible treasures
of valuable veins and stratas, reviewing
the company of his mining gnomes, and
directing their work.
Now they check the ravages the fiery
fluid occasions in the bowels of the earth,
by throwing up a substantial dam; then
they seize the mineral vapors to impregnate barren rocks with their copious exhalations ; a process by which the worthless stone becomes changed into rich ore.
At other times, Turnip-Counter divests
himself of the trouble his reign in the
lower world imposes on him, and ascends
the fortification on the frontier, fully bent
on haying his own way in the mountains
of the Riesengebirge.
How he delights in playing off gambols
and odd tricks on mankind generally, like
some wanton fellow who, to enjoy a laugh,
tickles his neighbor to death! For, let
it be understood, friend Turnip-Counter
is imbued with the attributes of eccentric
genius, being capricious, impetuous,
queer, clownish, rough, saucy, proud,
vain, and fickle; a firm friend to-day,
while to-morrow he is cold and distant;
at certain moments kind, generous and .
sentimental, yet always at paradoxes;
foolish and wise; often soft and hard in
the same minute—like an egg dropped in
boiling water; roguish and honorable;
stubborn and tractable; humorous or otherwise, just as his disposition becomes
worked upon at first sight.
Since Olim’s time, and long before the
descendants of Japhet advanced so far