A FAIRY STORY AT THE AGRICULTURAL FAIR.

Eric and Roland walked inland over the hills, keeping step together.

There is no better time for a pedestrian journey, than some bright day
of the early autumn; the cows are pasturing in the meadows, the
vegetable products are being harvested in the fields, the foliage
assumes variegated colors on the trees, and all day there is a dewy,
morning, or rather, evening freshness in the air, for the evening of
summer is now coming on. All nature appears sated, and like one who has
accomplished his work.

Eric and Roland wandered on, as if they must so wander on forever, with
no rest, no goal, always keeping step. And yet they had a goal, Eric
especially. Roland had never yet seen a life of active endeavor, and
now he was to be made acquainted with one.

Eric related to him, as they were going along, his own life-history,
but in a wholly different way from his narration to Clodwig, and
afterwards to Sonnenkamp, dwelling principally upon the failure of his
military career. This must have its influence upon Roland.

Eric had the feeling that this was the last journey he should make with
Roland; and the latter confirmed this feeling when he related that
Pranken had already bespoken a uniform for him; late in the autumn he
would enter the military school.

Roland also spoke particularly, for the first time, of Knopf, the
teacher at Mattenheim. He frankly said that before he entered a
different course of life, he should like to become reconciled with him.
And Eric now learned how deeply Roland had wounded his former tutor. He
and a former valet, who had been the instigator, had cut off the beard
on one side of Knopf's face, while he was asleep; he sincerely
regretted this now, and wanted to acknowledge it to Herr Knopf.

And so this journey had a variety of ends in view.

They were all the time going farther away from the Rhine, and the
country had a poorer look. They now met cows decked with gay ribbons;
hogs and sheep, and also choice products of the fields, were carried
along, arranged in excellent order.

"What's going on?"

"It's the District Agricultural Fair at Mattenheim."

They reached the village at a short distance from Weidmann's property;
it was adorned with flags, and peasants stood in their wagons decorated
with garlands, and imitated in sport their different occupations.

Here was one wagon with threshers, another with reapers, and others
with weavers,