Hauff stood on the threshold of his career as an author, in the dawning glory of his brilliant talents, when he was stricken down; yet his writings betray no sign of immaturity, and his collected works assure him a niche, high in the temple of literature. The art of investing localities with ideal characters who, in the reader's imagination, haunt the spot forever after, was a gift Hauff shared alike with his English brothers, Scott and Dickens. On crossing the Bridge of Arts, in Paris, at night, one familiar with his works is apt to look about for the tall and graceful form of the "Beggar Girl," with her lantern, and the plate held out so reluctantly for coins. Or, if he wander through the rugged Suabian Alps, Hauff's "_Lichtenstein_" will be the guide-book he consults; and through the valleys and over the hills to the _Nebelhoehle_ he will trace the flight of the stern Duke Ulerich, pausing maybe at the little village of Hardt to pick out if possible the piper's home, and to look sharply at every village maid, lest the kind-hearted little "Baerbele" should pass him unawares.
Some of Hauff's poems became quite popular in Germany, and several of his songs may be heard to-day rising on the evening air from out the beautiful valleys he loved so well.
Because of his genius and his early death, Hauff becomes associated in our mind with the English poets, Chatterton, Keats and Shelley; and in thinking of him we recall his own sad words--
"Oh, how soon Vanish grace and beauty's bloom; Dost thou boast of cheeks ne'er paling, Glowing red and white unfailing? See! the roses wither all!"
THE CARAVAN, 11 THE CALIPH STORK, 15 THE AMPUTATED HAND, 30 THE RESCUE OF FATIMA, 49 LITTLE MUCK, 70 THE FALSE PRINCE, 91
THE INN IN THE SPESSART, 119 THE HIRSCH-GULDEN, 126 THE MARBLE HEART (_First Part_), 151 SAID'S ADVENTURES, 182 THE CAVE OF STEENFOLL, 229 THE MARBLE HEART (_Second Part_), 260
THE SHEIK'S PALACE AND HIS SLAVES, 295 THE DWARF NOSEY, 304 ABNER, THE JEW, 340 THE YOUNG ENGLISHMAN, 353 THE STORY OF ALMANSOR, 381
Once upon a time, a large caravan moved slowly over the desert. On the vast plain, where nothing was to be seen but sand and sky, might have been heard in the far distance the tinkling bells of the camels and the ringing hoof beats of horses. A thick cloud of dust that moved before it indicated the approach of the caravan; and when a breeze parted this cloud, gleaming weapons and brilliantly colored garments dazzled the eye.
