Landolin

Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=7DYoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1&dq=Landolin&output=text
ON THE HEIGHTS. 2 vols. THE VILLA ON THE RHINE. 2 vols. BLACK FOREST VILLAGE STORIES. LITTLE BAREFOOT. JOSEPH IN THE SNOW. EDELWEISS. GERMAN TALES. WALDFRIED. THE CONVICTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. LORLEY AND REINHARD. ALOYS. POET AND MERCHANT. LANDOLIN.
Copyright 1878 By HENRY HOLT.
The spring has come again to the hills and valleys of our home. The day awakes, a breeze moves strongly through the forest, as if its task were to carry away the lingering night; the birds begin to twitter, and here and there an early lark utters his note. Among the pine-trees, with their fresh green needles, a whispering and rustling is heard. The sun has risen above the mountaintop, and shines upon the valley; the fields and meadows are glittering with dew. From the cherry-trees comes a stream of fragrance, and the hawthorn hedges that blossomed in the night are rejoicing in the first sunbeams, which penetrate to the very heart of each floweret.
Down in the valley, where the logmen's rafts are floating rapidly--down by the saw-mill, where the water dashes over the wheel, and the saw sounds shrill--a young man with white forehead and sunburnt cheeks opens a window, looks out, and nods gayly, as if greeting the awakening day. Presently he appears on the doorstep; he opens his arms wide, as if to embrace something; he smiles, as though looking at a happy, loved face. Taking his soldier's cap from his head, and holding it in his hand, he leaves the house; his step is firm, his bearing erect, and sincere honesty and candor look from his eyes. He goes through the meadows toward the forest-crowned hill, not stopping till he reaches its summit. Pausing there, he looks far into the distance, where a column of smoke ascends to the cloudless sky.
Good morning, Thoma! Are you still sleeping? Awake! our own day is here! he said in a deep, manly voice.