Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's notes: 1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=S84sAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1&dq#v=onepage&q&f=false

2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].

3. Completion of "Volumes Published" in the Leisure-Hour Series was
accomplished by reference to books in Google.books.

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The Wooing O't.
Which Shall It Be?
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Heritage of Langdale.

AUERBACH, B.
The Villa on the Rhine. 2 vols. _w. Portr._
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Edelweiss.
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The Fisher-Maiden.

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Miss Molly.
Eugenie.

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Ida Craven.

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Fly-Leaves. _A volume of verses._

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Joseph Noirel's Revenge.
Count Kostia.
Prosper.

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Fleurange.

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Babolain.
Around a Spring.

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Wyncote.

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Ingo.
Ingraban.

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Pretty Miss Bellew.
Maid Ellice.

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Elective Affinities.

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Lola: A Tale of Gibralter.

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Under the Greenwood Tree.
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Who Breaks--Pays.
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Madame de Beaupre.
Jupiter's Daughters.
Within an Ace.

JOHNSON, Rossiter.
Play-Day Poems.

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The Hon. Miss Ferrard.

MAJENDIE, Lady M.
Giannetto.
Dita.

MAXWELL, CECIL.
A Story of Three Sisters.

MOLESWORTH, Mrs.
Hathercourt.

OLIPHANT, Mrs.
Whiteladies.

PALGRAVE, W. G.
Hermann Agha.

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Hero Carthew.

POYNTER, E. F.
My Little Lady.
Ersilia.

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Clarissa Harlowe. (_Condensed._)

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Noblesse Oblige.
On the Edge of Storm.

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The Habermeister.

SLIP in the FENS, A. _Illustrated._

SMITH, H. and J.
Rejected Addresses.

SPIELHAGEN, F.
What the Swallow Sang.

THACKERAY, W. M.
Early and Late Papers.

*TURGENIEFF, I.
Fathers and Sons.
Smoke.
Liza.
On the Eve.
Dimitri Roudine.
Spring Floods: Lear
Virgin Soil.

TYTLER, C. C. F.
Mistress Judith.
Jonathan.

VERS DE SOCIETE.

VILLARI, LINDA.
In Change Unchanged.

WALFORD, L. B.
Mr. Smith.
Pauline.

*WINTHROP, THEO.
Cecil Dreeme. _w. Portr._
Canoe and Saddle.
John Brent.
Edwin Brothertoft.
Life in the Open Air.

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EDELWEISS

"There is a flower known to botanists, one of the same genus with our summer plant called 'Life-Everlasting,' a _Gnaphalium_ like that, which grows on the most inaccessible cliffs of the Tyrolese mountains, where the chamois dare hardly venture, and which the hunter, tempted by its beauty and by his love (for it is immensely valued by the Swiss maidens), climbs the cliffs to gather, and is sometimes found dead at the foot, with the flower in his hand. It is called by botanists the _Gnaphalium leontopodium_, but by the Swiss _EDELWEISSE_, which signifies _NOBLE PURITY_."

RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

(_Leisure-Hour Series_)

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

LEISURE HOUR SERIES. No. 44.

* * * * *

EDELWEISS

A STORY

BY
BERTHOLD AUERBACH
Author of "On the Heights," "Waldfried," "Villa on the Rhine," &c

TRANSLATED BY
ELLEN FROTHINGHAM.

NEW YORK:
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
1874

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
ROBERTS BROTHERS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.

EDELWEISS.

On the sunny slope of a mountain stands a house that is a joy to every eye; for it tells of happy inmates who have won their happiness by long and painful struggle,--who have stood in the valley of the shadow of death, and risen to new life.

The housewife comes to the door. Her face is young and fair, and of a bright complexion, but her hair is white as snow. She smiles to an old woman who is working in the garden, and calls to the children not to be so noisy.

"Come in, Franzl; and you too, children. William is starting on his journey," says the young white-haired mother. The bent old woman, as she approaches, raises a corner of her apron to her eyes, to stop the gathering tears.

Presently the father comes from the house, accompanied by a young fellow with a knapsack on his back. "Bid your mother good by, William," he says. "Be careful so to conduct yourself that you need never fear the eyes of father or mother on your actions. Then, God willing, you shall one day cross this threshold again with a happy heart."

The young woman with the snow-white hair embraces the sturdy boy, and says through her sobs: "I have nothing to add. Your father has said all. Remember and bring home an Edelweiss, if you find any on the Swiss mountains." The traveller sets off amid the shouts of his brothers and sisters.

"Good by, William; good by, good by." They play with the word "good by," and will not let it go.

"Mother," the father calls back, "I am only going with William and Lorenz as far as the cross-roads. Pilgrim will keep on with them to their first sleeping-place. I shall soon be back."

"All right; only do not hurry yourself, and do not take the parting too much to heart. Tell Faller's wife she must come to us at noon, and bring Lizzie with her. It is a great comfort," she continues, turning to the old woman as father and son depart, "that Faller's Lorenz goes abroad with our William."

Our story will tell why the young, white-haired mother asks the little plant Edelweiss of her boy when he is starting for foreign lands. It is a sad, a cruel history, but the sun of love breaks through at last.