Legends of the Rhine | Page 5

quickly and with great
presence of mind determined upon a safe expedient; he put forward the
hand of the great clock one hour, so that instead of striking midnight,
the clock struck one.
The traitors in the town looked at each other aghast, believing the
enemies outside had neglected or perhaps betrayed them. General doubt

and misunderstanding reigned in both camps. While they were debating
what plan they must now adopt, the sharp-witted watchman had time to
communicate with the magistrate and with the governor of the town.
The alarm was raised, the citizens warned, and the treacherous plan
completely wrecked. The enemy at last, tired of the useless siege,
retired discouraged.
The magistrate in remembrance of this remarkable deed ordered that
the town-clock should remain in advance as the courageous watchman
had set it that eventful night. This singular regulation continued till the
year 1798, and although the honest inhabitants of Basle were, as
talkative tongues asserted, a century behind-hand in everything else, yet
with regard to time they were always one hour in advance.

CASTLE NIEDECK
The Toy of the young Giantess
[Illustration: Das Riesenspielzeug--Nach dem Gemälde von
Cnopf--The Giant's Toy--Les jouets des géants]
In olden times a race of giants is said to have lived in Alsace. Castle
Niedeck in the valley of the Breusch was their residence, but even the
ruins of this fortress have long since disappeared. The legend however
remains to tell us that they were a peaceable people, well disposed to
mankind.
The daughter of the master of the castle was one day leisurely walking
through the adjoining wood. On approaching the fields and meadows of
the valley, she perceived a peasant ploughing. The young giantess
looked in great astonishment at the tiny man who seemed to be so
busily engaged trudging along after his little team, and turning up the
ground with his small iron instrument. She had never before seen
anything so wonderful and was very much amused at the sight.
It seemed to her a nice little toy, and she clapped her hands in childish
glee, so that the echo sounded among the mountains; then picking up

man, horse, and plough, she placed them in her apron and hurried back
gaily to the castle. There she showed her father the nice little toy,
greatly pleased at what she had found.
The giant however shook his enormous head gravely, and said in a
displeased tone, "Don't you know, child, who this trembling little
creature with his struggling tiny animal is, that you have chosen for a
plaything? Of all the dwarfs down in the valley below, he is the most
useful; he works hard and indefatigably in scorching heat as well as in
windy cold weather, so that the fields may produce fruit for us. He who
scoffs at or maltreats him will be punished by Heaven. Take the little
labourer therefore back to the place he came from."
The young giantess, greatly ashamed and deeply blushing with
embarrassment, put the amusing little toy back into her apron, and
carried it obediently down to the valley.

STRASSBURG
The Cathedral Clock
The Cathedral was finished, and the city magistrates resolved to place
an ingenious clock on the upper tower. For a long time they searched in
vain, but at last a master was found who offered to create a work of art
such as had never been seen in any land. The members of the council
were highly satisfied with this proposal, and the master began his work.
Weeks and months passed, and when at last it was finished there was
general astonishment; the clock was indeed so wonderful that nothing
to match it could be found in the whole country. It marked not only the
hours but the days and months as well; a globe was attached to it which
also marked out the rising and the setting of the sun, and the eclipses of
that body and the moon could be seen at the same time as they took
place in nature. Every change was pointed out by Mercury's wand, and
every constellation appeared at the right time. Shortly before the stroke
of the clock a figure representing Death emerged from the centre and

sounded the full hour, while at the quarter and half hours the statue of
Christ came forth, repelling the destroyer of all life. Added to all these
wonders was a beautiful chime that played melodious hymns.
Such was the marvellous clock in the cathedral of Strassburg. The
magistrates however proved themselves unworthy of their new
possession; pride and presumption got the better of them, making them
commit a most unjust and ungrateful action.
They desired their town to be the only one in the land which possessed
such a work of art, and in order to prevent