ing. A knock was heard at the door, and the
Bohemian cried, 'bestir yourself, sir. The morning breaks, and we must
away!' The youth sprang upon his feet and awoke the maiden with a kiss.
Soon ready to set out, they took a grateful leave of their worthy hosts
and stepped to the door. Every object was obscured by a thick morning
mist; and the sun, like a large red ball of fearful size, was just
rising in the east.

'Let us wait a little, until the sun has dissipated the mist,' said the
Bohemian, 'lest the lady should hurt her feet among the rocks.'

They stood a short time, waiting and shivering in the morning wind.
Oswald had thrown his cloak over Faith, and held her closely clasped to
keep her warm. The mist moved before them like a waving ocean, and
apparently resolved itself into numerous dark clouds, which settled
down upon the earth, and seemed to root themselves there. Meanwhile the
sun had mounted higher, the waving of the ocean of mist increased, and
suddenly there came a powerful gust of wind which rent and pressed down
the immense cloud-curtain, when a scene as singular as it was
magnificent, lay before Oswald's astonished eyes. The dark clouds that
had appeared to sink down upon the earth, had changed to huge masses of
gray rocks, which, rising up into the blue ether like countless
palaces, churches and high towers, assumed the appearance of a gigantic
city. Softly rounded snow-domes, crimsoned by the rays of the morning
sun and glistening with thousands of diamonds, adorned the summits of
these natural edifices, and the undying verdure of the pines and firs
which arose here and there from the clefts of the rocks, gave a
cheerful aspect to the view.

'Great is the Lord, when seen in his works!' cried the enraptured
Oswald, withdrawing his mantle from Faith, to enable her to enjoy the
spectacle.

Opening her large and beautiful eyes, she stood awhile as if blinded.
'How came this strange and wonderful city here?' asked she with
astonishment 'Is it indeed a city?'

'Certainly,' answered the Bohemian, laughing. 'We call it the stone
city, and divide it into city and suburbs. It is here, however,
properly called the rocks of Aldersbach.'

'Are we to go in among those rocks?' anxiously asked Faith, clasping
her Oswald more closely.

'There is no other way, my child,' answered the latter. 'Be not
alarmed--you see that I am not disturbed, which I should be, if I
anticipated any danger to you.'

'Ah, you ir