“Little friend,” whispered a low, sweet voice close to Katrina’s ear, “I can tell you a great deal about Elizabeth, and I am glad that you wish to know her story.”
Katrina, startled and surprised, looked all about her; but not a person could she see.
“Oh,” she said as the thought came to her, “it must be the same voice that spoke to Fritz and me last evening.”
Yet, even as she said it, Katrina could not but feel that they were not the same. That voice had been deep and full and rich; this was as soft and as sweet as the tenderest notes of a harp.
“You do not know, my little friend, that it is the Breath, or Spirit of the Rose that is speaking to you. Now hearken, and I will tell you something about Saint Elizabeth, and her life of loving service.
“Once upon a time,” the Rose began, “there lived here at the Wartburg a Landgrave by the name of Herman. Now Herman, who was a good man, ruled his people well, and they loved him very dearly. Known far and wide as a patron of learning and the arts, especially of music, wise men, poets, and musicians were frequent visitors at his court. It was from some of these he had learned that to King Andrew of Hungary and his wife, Queen Gertrude, had been given a little daughter, and her birth had brought great blessings in its train. For, as was told of her, in the year she was born, wars in her country had ceased, the harvests were never so bountiful, and all evil seemed in great measure to disappear from the land. Not only was she good, but so unusual was her beauty that all rejoiced at sight of her.
“On hearing these things about the little girl it is said that Herman exclaimed: ‘Would to God that this fair child might become the wife of my son Ludwig!’
“In a short time,” the Rose continued, “Herman sent ambassadors to the King of Hungary to ask for the little princess for his son, and it is said that King Andrew received them royally. All were laden with gifts, and when they returned, bringing the little princess, it required over a dozen wagons to convey the priceless treasures which King Andrew sent to the Landgrave and his wife Sophia. There were beautiful jewels and richly embroidered stuffs from the Orient, besides many other things of value. On the tiny Elizabeth her father had bestowed a cradle and a bath of pure silver, most strangely and beautifully wrought; also robes of finest texture exquisitely embroidered in gold, and several noble women of the court to serve as her attendants.
“On her arrival at the Wartburg, the little princess met with great rejoicing, and on the following day was betrothed to Prince Ludwig with solemn ceremony. From the first moment the two children seemed to love each other, and every one predicted for them a happy and blessed marriage. Even as a tiny child Elizabeth gave strong evidence of her goodness, charity, and compassion for the suffering. To the little children round about, she gave away food and clothes and toys—the poor of Eisenach soon became her special care.
“Two years after Ludwig was created a knight down there in St. George’s Church, he and Elizabeth were married. Three days of feasting followed their wedding, then the young couple went to make a visit at the court of Elizabeth’s father in Hungary. Ludwig was then in his twentieth year and Elizabeth was just fifteen. He was tall and fair; while she possessed the richer, darker beauty of her race and country.