The Dove in the Eagles Nest | Page 8

in all
the refinements and accomplishments in which the free citizens of
Germany took the lead in the middle and latter part of the fifteenth
century. To aid her aunt in all house-wifely arts, to prepare dainty food

and varied liquors, and to spin, weave, and broider, was only a part of
Christina's training; her uncle likewise set great store by her sweet
Italian voice, and caused her to be carefully taught to sing and play on
the lute, and he likewise delighted in hearing her read aloud to him
from the hereditary store of MSS. and from the dark volumes that
began to proceed from the press. Nay, Master Gottfried had made
experiments in printing and wood-engraving on his own account, and
had found no head so intelligent, no hand so desirous to aid him, as his
little Christina's, who, in all that needed taste and skill rather than
strength, was worth all his prentices and journeymen together. Some
fine bold wood-cuts had been produced by their joint efforts; but these
less important occupations had of late been set aside by the engrossing
interest of the interior fittings of the great "Dome Kirk," which for
nearly a century had been rising by the united exertions of the burghers,
without any assistance from without. The foundation had been laid in
1377; and at length, in the year of grace 1472, the crown of the apse
had been closed in, and matters were so forward that Master Gottfried's
stall work was already in requisition for the choir.
"Three cubits more," he reckoned. "Child, hast thou found me fruits
enough for the completing of this border?"
"O yes, mine uncle. I have the wild rosehip, and the flat shield of the
moonwort, and a pea-pod, and more whose names I know not. But
should they all be seed and fruit?"
"Yea, truly, my Stina, for this wreath shall speak of the goodly fruits of
a completed life."
"Even as that which you carved in spring told of the blossom and fair
promise of youth," returned the maiden. "Methinks the one is the most
beautiful, as it ought to be;" then, after a little pause, and some
reckoning, "I have scarce seed-pods enough in store, uncle; might we
not seek some rarer shapes in the herb-garden of Master Gerhard, the
physician? He, too, might tell me the names of some of these."
"True, child; or we might ride into the country beyond the walls, and
seek them. What, little one, wouldst thou not?"
"So we go not far," faltered Christina, colouring.
"Ha, thou hast not forgotten the fright thy companions had from the
Schlangenwald reitern when gathering Maydew? Fear not, little coward;
if we go beyond the suburbs we will take Hans and Peter with their

halberts. But I believe thy silly little heart can scarce be free for
enjoyment if it can fancy a Reiter within a dozen leagues of thee."
"At your side I would not fear. That is, I would not vex thee by my
folly, and I might forget it," replied Christina, looking down.
"My gentle child!" the old man said approvingly. "Moreover, if our
good Raiser has his way, we shall soon be free of the reitern of
Schlangenwald, and Adlerstein, and all the rest of the mouse-trap
barons. He is hoping to form a league of us free imperial cities with all
the more reasonable and honest nobles, to preserve the peace of the
country. Even now a letter from him was read in the Town Hall to that
effect; and, when all are united against them, my lords- mousers must
needs become pledged to the league, or go down before it."
"Ah! that will be well," cried Christina. "Then will our wagons be no
longer set upon at the Debateable Ford by Schlangenwald or Adlerstein;
and our wares will come safely, and there will be wealth enough to
raise our spire! O uncle, what a day of joy will that be when Our Lady's
great statue will be set on the summit!"
"A day that I shall scarce see, and it will be well if thou dost," returned
her uncle, "unless the hearts of the burghers of Ulm return to the
liberality of their fathers, who devised that spire! But what trampling
do I hear?"
There was indeed a sudden confusion in the house, and, before the
uncle and niece could rise, the door was opened by a prosperous
apple-faced dame, exclaiming in a hasty whisper, "Housefather, O
Housefather, there are a troop of reitern at the door, dismounting
already;" and, as the master came forward, brushing from his furred
vest the shavings and dust of his work, she added in a more furtive,
startled accent, "and, if I mistake not, one is thy brother!"
"He is welcome,"