The Argosy — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

48 In the Black Forest. After this wholesale invitation, it seemed almost ungrateful merely to accept a glass of their country ale and a crust of bread; certainly it was unremunerative ; but Iam bound to say that an extensive order for ambrosia and nectar could not have been served with more evidence of goodwill. Whilst the carriage was preparing, I strolled out to reconnoitre the town and take its bearings. It contained nothing remarkable. A small, uninteresting place, of no form or shape; no sign of fashion, or of anything beyond trade and very small commerce; nothing old or antiquated about it, except the distant hills; too distant to overshadow the houses or lend them anything of a romantic influence. In a quiet way the cae ine NMI Wy oe A ai \ ca Lg ee ue NK uN BA HAA Tl ih) ia im eo mM ——— —— = ue Nn SOE WAS SS WE a = WEHRATHAL, people appeared flourishing and industrious. There were no con- spicuous signs of poverty; for the bare-legged children, who played in the gutters, and arrested their intense enjoyment of wallowing in the dust of the road to stare after the stranger, were no evidence of anything but the good habits of the country: bare legs and feet and arms, whereby they grow up stout and hardy for the battle of the world. Before the mild excitement and resources of Schopfheim were exhausted, I perceived at the door of the Three Kings an indescrib- able vehicle in readiness. ‘The landlord, a model of patience and good humour, was watching over it with evident pride and affection. On closer inspection, this wonderful machine proved a kind of Bath chair on a large scale, with a narrow seat in front for the driver and a ledge behind for the luggage. But it was not uncomfortable ; %. ECONNIELIOOKS.E (0)