of Chevalry

@ofchevalry

Story sideblog of danjaley.tumblr.com This is my place for more ambitious Sim-storytelling projects.

727 posts

A 19th century children’s story

The Mute Child as a single post on Wordpress.

#the mute child ts3story

Thank you for following this story, which wasn’t my own this time, but one I really enjoyed staging.

If you’d like to have a look at the original, you can read it in German here and English here. The German link is the 1875 edition, which has the most pictures. The English translation (1848) has some pictures too, but isn’t entirely faithful to the original. I feel it often misses the tone of the original and avoids European references, among them Haska’s being Hungarian. However, it was the only digitized translation I could find.

#the mute child ts3story

Behind the scenes - Mute Child

A sign of peace, forgiveness and tolerance on a gloomy autumn day.

This was the warning note...

... and these were the pistols.

Outtakes of the innkeeper falling downstairs. (I built a replica of the passage and cellar for these shots, on the first floor. The combination of door, stairs and cellar didn’t work with an actual cellar)

“Murder”, he said.

Mad as a hatter.

These poses had incorrect height-references. I was reminded of Mary Poppins, where the company floats to the ceiling.

“No, you may not pinch my cheeks!”

#the mute child ts3story

Frau von Grünau: Raised by crooks! There I was thinking of her as drowned, and in fact she was among criminals who tried to turn her into one of themselves! Heaven would have been a better place!

Meline: That’s what I told them, too! But it’s good that I survived. I could use all the things you taught me about der liebe Gott.* He was my only friend all this time. I didn’t want to be Ursula at all. I stayed in my room as much as I could, and prayed, which was really the only thing I could do.

Frau von Grünau: I felt the same, although I was alone in my quiet, comfortable home. We both prayed to be reunited.

Meline: And then, when I told them they were murderers, they forced me to play mute, which I had to do, because I didn’t want to be murdered. But when it really mattered, I did get a say and could safe my Uncle.

Von Berg: And that’s another reason, why I think all this happened. Meline saved my life and I saved hers. None of us could have made it without the other.

Frau von Grünau: And I am no longer alone in the world. Let us remember this, whenever we are in a dark place. Help is on the way.

_____

* the good Lord

#the mute child ts3story

Meline: They brought me here, and the disgusting old landlady said, I must be her granddaughter Ursula now. At first she was always flattering me, and giving me sweets – she really thought sweets were all a child cared for! It was so unlike home! The innkeepers were either talking about money and getting rich or they were quarreling and calling each other names. The robbers were also drinking and brawling and making jokes I didn’t understand – so I assumed they must be wicked. But as to why this happened to me – I’ve often wondered myself.

Von Berg: I think I can tell you why. You’ll never have met your father’s kinsman, Herr von Klauenburg. They couldn’t stand each other, as Von Klauenburg is a greedy old villain. I suspect he wanted you out of the way to inherit the estate. Luckily he’s also a coward, so he didn’t stoop to murder, but what he did is bad enough. Taking an innocent young girl from her home to have her raised by crooks!

#the mute child ts3story

Von Berg: But tell me, how, and why did you get abducted?

Meline: One day a nasty, rude man called on us – one of the robbers, I saw him here often. He claimed that my father had owed him money. Mother told me to leave the room and sent me to fetch Herr Verwalter*. When I had done so, I went to the garden. Suddenly two men broke out of the scrubbery – the two you defeated yesterday. One grabbed me and carried me away. The other kicked my hat into the brook and followed.

_____

* the Steward

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[The next morning]

Von Berg: Here comes brave little Ursula, who saved our lives!

Ursula: Don’t mention it, mein Herr,* that’s what anyone should have done. But actually my name isn’t Ursula. It’s Meline von Grünau. I was taken from my mother’s house and brought here by the robbers.

Von Berg: Gott im Himmel!** – this means you’re my sister’s daughter! I’m your uncle, Major von Berg!

Meline: But my uncle fell in battle.

Von Berg: No I didn’t. I was a prisoner of war for many years. The last time I saw you, you were only a little baby. Who would have thought that you’d be my guardian-angel one day!

_____

* Sir

** “God in Heaven!” (exclamation of surprise)

#the mute child ts3story

Wachtmeister: What a night, hu? We hunted down no less than ten robbers in the forest, until we finally saw the light which led us to you!

Von Berg: You were looking for me?

Wachtmeister: But of course we were! Everyone knows how much you value punctuality. When you didn’t arrive at the time you gave us, we knew something must have happened.

Von Berg: Indeed! I stumbled into the robbers’ headquarters! There are two of them locked in the cellar, besides those two you see here. The little girl is on our side. Tell our men to secure the prisoners – and then they may eat the beefsteaks the landlady was preparing for the robbers. I’m sure there’s also plenty of wine and beer in the house.

(cheers from the comrades)

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[hoofbeat outside]

Haska: Did Ursula say they have horses?

Von Berg: These are more than ten!

[hoofbeat draws nearer]

[a knock at the gate]

Voice: Hello? In the name of the Kaiser, open this gate!

Von Berg: Herr Wachtmeister!?

Wachtmeister: Von Berg? You’re here? Kameraden*, we found him!

(cheers from the comrades)

_____

* comrades

#the mute child ts3story

Ursula: These were the two who kidnapped me and brought me here.

Robber: You treacherous little … We should have cut your throat as was the original plan!

Ursula: I’d rather have gone to Heaven than to this place.

Von Berg: Yes, of course, but now go back into hiding, there’s someone coming.

#the mute child ts3story

Von Berg: Well done, Haska! Two down, ten to go! Tie them up as well as you can, and quick, before the next ones arrive.

#the mute child ts3story

Von Berg: Surrender, or you’ll meet your death!

#the mute child ts3story

(a knock at the gate)

Voice: Open up, old hag, we’re hungry!

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Ursula: This is what they call their lighthouse. When the candle is in the window, the robbers know it’s safe to come, and the light helps them find the way.

Haska: Quick, let’s blow it out!

Von Berg: Wait! I’m sure some have already seen it, as we have. If it disappears, they’ll know something is wrong and band together. If they arrive one by one, we have the effect of surprise on our side. – Come on, let’s get ready to defend the gate!

#the mute child ts3story

Haska: Here are the keys! The fortress is yours!

Ursula: Mein Herr!* You’re far from safe! There are at least twelve robbers roaming the forest and they’ll be here for dinner soon. That’s what the old lady was busy preparing for when you came. Follow me – I’ll show you something.

_____

* Sir

#the mute child ts3story

Ursula: He was such a nice, friendly gentleman. He had lots of goods and money with him, in his coach. They murdered him! I heard his screams and came downstairs. It was terrible! I told them murder is a terrible crime and will mar their souls if they don’t repent. But they just told me to shut up about it. The innkeeper was furious. "We’ll pass you off as mute from now on”, he shouted. He made me look at the corpse and said “If I hear you speak but one word to the guests, I’ll kill you in an even worse fashion.” Most of the time I didn’t mind being quiet. The only one I can really talk to is God anyway. But I had to warn you, so I wrote the note.

Von Berg: My poor girl! Don’t be afraid; the innkeeper and his mother are taken care of. Come downstairs and tell us what on earth is going on here.

#the mute child ts3story #tw: death #tw: murder

Von Berg: Ursula! Is that you praying so fervently? But aren’t you mute?

Ursula: Oh no. They just told me never to say a word to the guests or I’ll end like the Merchant.

Von Berg: Which Merchant?

#the mute child ts3story

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