true value of wealth, now that he was enabled, through its means, to contribute to the comforts of those he so much esteemed and pitied: and her influence exercised a beneficial effect upon the young man; former follies were abandoned, new virtues practised; a scarcely acknowledged wish to be worthy of her friendship, to feel himself more upon an equality with that highminded and self-denying girl, gradually purified his mind and elevated his thoughts and pursuits. But still she was incomprehensible to him he could not reconcile her calmness, her forbearance, her wishes for the happiness of her faithless lover, with the feeling, the suffering, the occasional melancholy which spoke out in her expressive features: he knew not the endurance and resignation of a well-regulated, pure, yet proud female heart, and at times even judged her insensible to all feeling, or a hypocrite! you must yourself admit that they would be better at home among their equals." "So long as my parents chose to stay here, this house is their home!" said the Doctor firmly. "Then we give no ball! I will not be made the laughing-stock of all my friends again. I wonder, Gustavus, that with your knowledge of the world, you should wish to act so absurdly!" The door, which had only been half-closed, was now opened, and old Stern entered. "Son," he said, "I am come to say farewell. My good dame is packing up our bundles, and we start by the conveyance which leaves here at noon." Sidonia looked down in speechless confusion; the old man took her hand and that of his son, and united them between his two horny palms, saying solemnly, "My children, let not the sun go down upon your wrath: embrace one-another and receive my blessing!" "My father!" exclaimed Sidonia, “I am ashamed to look at you: you heard all!" "I heard nothing but that there was some tiff between you and Gustavus; I wish to know nothing about it. I know that your heart is good, and pray God that he will guide it aright. Daughter, honour and obey your husband! Gustavus, cherish and protect your wife; and may heaven's best blessing attend you both!" Our history now once more reverts to Dr. Stern. The wedding-day had passed, and a lovely bride now cheered his home. His parents had not excited so much attention as he had feared, for old Stern was a shrewd, sensible man, and adapted himself better than could have been expected to the new circumstances and society by which he was surrounded; and not only so, but kept close guard over his unsophisticated wife. Nevertheless, every whisper, every glance was construed by the nervous sensibility of Stern into sneers and ridicule; and Sidonia, although to gratify her husband she showed every cordiality to her father and mother-in-law, thought she should have sunk with shame when she saw her "lady-aunt" talking to Dame Stern, and taking a malicious pleasure in drawing the simple-hearted old woman out for the amusement of a circle of tittering listeners. But now that was past, and in her own house she treated her husband's parents with great attention; and although her manner savoured some-pout; and the lady came off victorious. Besides, what of condescension, their presence never seemed disagreeable to her, exepting when visitors were present. Stern, now that the most painful scene was past, had got over his false shame, received his parents into his own house, treated them with every mark of filial love and respect, and endeavoured to induce his bride to share in his feelings. A fortnight had elapsed thus, when Sidonia, one morning, inquired of her husband how much longer his parents were to stay; and in answer to his question, "Did she wish them gone?" caressingly replied, "Why not exactly; but you know, love, that we are to give our first ball next week, and shall want their apartment; and besides, they are so out of place in society like ours, that it is cruel to drag them into it." Stern felt vexed, and observed, "So for the sake of that ball I am to turn my parents out?" "They must go sooner or later, Gustavus dear! They are excellent-hearted people, and I have the greatest respect for them; but still The old people departed, the ball was given; brilliant parties were attended, and this first slight matrimonial fracas was forgotten. Sidonia knew how to persuade her husband into an acquiescence with all her whims, and deemed her beauty and agaceries bestowed upon her for that express purpose. The simple habits, plam tastes, and somewhat grave and severe dispo sition of Stern ill adapted him for the luxuries, frivolities, extravagances, and eternal round of gaieties, in which his pretty bride delighted; and he often ventured some attempts at remon strance, which were, however, always parried by caresses, lively badinage, or a very becoming much as he longed for domestic quiet, much as his heart yearned after his lost hours of study and privacy, he reflected that Sidonia had ever been accustomed to be surrounded with society, to live in an atmosphere of pleasure; to be petted, indulged, and have her every whim gratified by idolizing parents; and these considerations biassed his better judgment, and caused him to yield to her most unreasonable wishes. One thing vexed him; that she received all these sacrifices as matters of course, instead of appre ciating the full extent of the effort they cost him, and regarding them as testimonies of his affec tion; nay, she even sometimes carried her exigéance so far as to pout because he refused to neglect his duties in order to accompany her to some party or fête; but on this point he was inflexible. Another subject of deep anxiety to him, and utter indifference to his wife, was the expense at which they were living. Accustomed as she was, from her very childhood, to every luxury of the toilet, every superfluity of fashion, to a large household of servants, Sidonia had never known what it was to deny herself one whim of which money could procure the gratification, still less to regard the cost of it; and the idea of economy was one which her mind could scarely define. It is true, Stern's income was handsome, his bride's dowry considerable; but whoever had seen the long milliner's, jeweller's, pastry-cook's, perfumer's, and dressmaker's bills, which poured in upon him, not to mention the dozens of other "little accounts" appertaining more particularly to the housekeeping, would not have been surprised at the clouded brow with which the doctor occasionally met his fair and insouciante spouse. But those clouds vanished before the sunshine of her smiles, the magic of her kisses; and when he spoke of the enormous price of some trinket, dress, or bonnet, she would relate how becoming it was to her, and how such an one' had envied her, and everybody' admired. In time, that wonder-working magician, Stern placed his hopes." The winter would soon be over, and then, when those eternal balls and soirées had ceased, Sidonia would become more domesticated." But the winter passed away, and summer came, bringing with it pic-nics, féte champetres, morning concerts, water parties, and heaven only knows what else; it was a mere change, not a cessation of dissipation. Stern's patience gave way; he found himself imposed upon by his tradespeople, and robbed by his servants; his comfort destroyed, and everything neglected and going to ruin. Seriously and sternly he addressed himself to his wife, who, finding her ordinary mode of parrying all unpleasantness here powerless, coolly informed him that she had not been educated for a housekeeper, and could not be plagued with such dry details; hinting at the fortune she had brought him, and inveighing against the meanness and littleness of reckoning up every penny that was spent. The doctor retorted by a phillipic against modern education, useless accomplishments, and the folly and sin of sacrificing domestic comfort, respectability, and eventually health, to an insane passion for dissipation. The contention was only terminated by his carriage driving up to take him his round of visits; and no sooner was his back turned than the weeping Sidonia flew to pour her sorrows into the sympathizing ears of her parents. The Baron shrugged his shoulders, and uttered some common-place remarks relative to "matrimonial sweets" and "faults on both sides." The Baroness, in common with ninety-nine mothers out of a hundred, embraced her daughter, and voted the husband, who could behave so, "a brute." And the lady aunt, who happened to be present, sapiently observed, "I knew how it would be! What could you expect from a plebeian born, but plebeian thoughts and manners? Of course, if he had his way, you would give out coffee, sugar, and spice, see the meat weighed, order the soup, look over the linen, and follow the housemaid through the best rooms with duster and brush, all the morning; and in the evening cast up the accounts, air his dressing-gown and slippers against he comes in; and then sit down to knit stockings, while he reads the paper, or relates some dolorous anecdote gathered during his practice, or holds up his mamma' as a model worthy of your imitation." "I am indeed to be pitied!" murmured Sidonia." He leaves me so much alone that did I not seek society I must positively die of ennui. And then, when he is at home, I know he had twenty times sooner sit among his musty old books, and smoke that abominable pipe, which I never will tolerate, than accompany me to any little amusement. Oh, mamma! what is to become of me now that he is getting stingy too, and reckons the cost of every little trifle? Heaven only knows what he will do next!" At this moment Stern entered, and his wife's eyes sank before his calm, searching look, while a burning blush dried up the tears on her cheeks. I regret to find, Sidonia, that you have deemed it necessary to confide our private disagreements to others, even though those others be your nearest relatives," he said gravely. 66 "It would have been perhaps better not to have given my niece any grievances to complain of," observed the "lady aunt" haughtily. "And to whom should a child complain if not to her parents?" angrily demanded the Baroness. "Really, son-in-law, I must say I think you are too hard upon poor Sidonia!" said the Baron. "Stern looked coolly from one to the other as they addressed him, and then offering his arm to his wife, said, "I am going home, Sidonia; are you ready to accompany me?" "How insolent!" murmured the aunt in a stage whisper. "I hope she will have the spirit to refuse to go." "Come, Stern, we must talk this matter over," said the Baron. "Forgive me, dear sir, but I cannot admit even your interference between me and my wife. I have complained to no one but herself, and she best knows how far my complaints are just, how far her accusations are true. There is no necessity for any umpire between man and wife. Sidonia, my carriage waits, and it is my wish that you should accompany me home." Sidonia had been standing uncertain how to act, but her better feelings for a moment triumphed, and, throwing herself into his arms, she exclaimed, "Forgive me, Gustavus, I will go home with you directly, only do not ask impossibilities of me; remember how differently I have been brought up, and have patience with me; if not for my sake," she added, burying her blushing face in his shoulder, "for the sake of the babe I bear in my bosom !" "My own beloved Sidonia!" exclaimed the delighted husband. "Can this be? Oh, fear me not, dearest; my every wish and thought shall be to make thee happy!" All the past was forgotten in these bright hopes for the future. Stern was the most tender and attentive of husbands, Sidonia the happiest of wives; her every wish fulfilled, her every whim gratified. Nor could she remain unmoved by his affection; she made numerous good resolutions, endeavoured not to yawn when he described his views of domestic felicity-when he tried to explain his plans for living within their income; and when he proposed dispensing with sundry extravagances, she acquiesced with as good a grace as she could. Of promises too she was by no means sparing, but unfortunately forgot them as soon as they were made. Again her husband looked forward with hope to the future; surely, he thought, maternal love will outweigh this love of pleasure, and the sweet duties and affections of a mother bind her to her home. One thing he had set his mind upon. Nothing appeared to him so unnatural as for a mother, who was evidently destined by nature to nourish her child during its infancy, to contemn that law of creation and confide a privilege, which ought to be so dear and holy, to a stranger. Nor was it only in this light he regarded it, but also in a physical point of view. At first Sidonia listened to his hopes, persuasions, and arguments, patiently, and sometimes appeared convinced by them; but, as the time approached, she endeavoured to avoid them; then to change his views; and no stone was left unturned to effect her purpose; tears, entreaties, attempts to alarm him for the consequences which irritating or annoying her on any subject might now have; representations as to the delicacy of her constitution; in short, every resource of a self-willed and determined woman, and all the artillery of a beauty and a coquette was brought into play-but in vain. Her husband was firm. "Sidonia!" he said; "I wish not to reproach you, yet must I speak. Your love of pleasure has destroyed my comfort, broken up all my habits, and impeded my studies and consequent usefulness. Your extravagance has squandered my income, large as it is, and plunged me in debt; yet I have loved and borne with you, and still love you! Do not now, do not, I implore you, let any foolish vanity, any cowardly shrinking from the cares and trifling annoyances which a mother's duty entails-cares so amply repaid-annoyances so wonderfully overbalanced by delights-induce you to sacrifice our child to the shrine of fashion. Sidonia, hear me! Let me not plead in vain!" The weak, frivolous wife felt a burning tear drop upon the hand he held clasped in his; a tear from those usually calm, searching eyes! What intensity of feeling must have wrung it thence! Yet still she could not bring herself to give the required promise, but endeavoured to divert him from the subject by saying, "I am sure I had not the least idea that we were in debt. Why did not you tell me of this sooner, Gustavus?" "It is six months since I first told you so, Sidonia!" he replied with a look of sad reproach. "And if latterly, on account of your situation, I have spared you a repetition of the fact, surely it needed but a slight exercise of your own sense to have been convinced that a princely fortune could not support the system of reckless extravagance lately pursued here." "I am sure that I have never objected to any of the retrenchments you have proposed. But if it is any consideration of the expense of a wet-nurse which leads you to wish to impose me the sleepless nights, anxiety, pain, and exhaustion, not to mention the confinement which nursing entails, I am sure that my parents will gladly defray all cost, in order to save me from such annoyances." She paused, for the frightful paleness which overspread her husband's face alarmed her, and involuntarily she quailed before the expression of anguish and blighted hope that convulsed it. "Gustavus, look not so fearfully! I will do your will!" she cried. But, alas! this concession was but wrung from her in a moment of excitement and alarm. In vain did her husband testify his gratitude and delight by every means in his power, and endeavour to picture to her the reward attendant on a performance of the duties she owed her child. Sidonia received his attentions sulkily, heard him in utter silence, was often in tears, and still oftener in deep consultation with her mother, who openly expressed her disapprobation of her son-in-law's tyranny, her disgust and indignation that he should presume to wish to make a nurse of a daughter of hers. At length the moment arrived when the enraptured Stern embraced his first-born, his son; and then, laying the infant on the bed beside its mother, knelt down by her in wordless but heartfelt thanksgiving. Sidonia smiled as he kissed her hand in silent fervour, and caressing his forehead with her pale fingers, while with the other arm she encircled the babe, whispered, "Now, dearest Gustavus, you will not surely refuse to yield your wishes to mine." How those few words, breathed in the sweetest and most languishing tones, blighted all his new born joys! Sidonia was stubborn; she pushed the poor infant from her when it instinctively sought for nourishment at the fountains created by nature for its use; she wept, entreated, threatened, and wrought herself into a perfect fever. The Baroness came with a wet-nurse, hastily selected, and to that coarse woman, whose breath exhaled a strong spirituous odour, was the unfortunate little object of contention consigned. Sidonia soon recovered; but the infant, the apple of Stern's eye, the object of his tenderest solicitude, faded like a blossom nipped in the bud by some ungenial wind. The parents sat together by the cradle of their child, Stern anxiously watching each motion of its convulsed features, Sidonia wondering how long this dull confinement was to last, and thinking that she might as well have nursed the child herself as have to be constantly looking after the foster mother. Suddenly her husband started up, and turning the light of the lamp full upon the cradle, exclaimed, "Look, unnatural mother! Behold the effects of your criminal neglect of your holiest duties!" "What are you about, old friend?” inquired Forstberg. "Hush! do not tell her! Rosalia would gather this fruit for our own eating, she is so very thoughtless and extravagant! But we must sell them, and lay by the money, or we shall starve." "Surely not, good Arnheim! Is not your table well furnished?" "Rather of your own obstinacy!" she retorted,, a ladder against a pear-tree, and looking anxiously averting her eyes from the lifeless form. "Had round every moment, as if he feared to be seen you not been bent upon sacrificing your wife to and interrupted. a senseless prejudice, a proper nurse might have been selected, and all would have been well!" "Strive to stifle the reproaches of your conscience if you will, Sidonia, by these self-deceptions-endeavour to convince the world, for which you live, that such is the state of the case -drown all sense of remorse, all recollection of the past, in your dearly loved pleasures!-yet there will be moments in which the plaintive wails, the sufferings of this little angel, and the spectacle now before your eyes, will return to wring your perverted heart, at least with a passing thrill of remorse!" He quitted the room, and Sidonia sank on her knees with a burst of hysterical sobs, and covered the lifeless body of her child with kisses. "Yes, yes, and that is just it! And Rosalia and that servant-girl have such appetites. It sickens me to see them eat, when we know not where the next meal is to come from." "But you have not yet wanted for anything, nor are you poorer now than you have been for the last eighteen months!" said Forstberg soothingly. "There, go, go! You are a young man, and do not know what you are taking about!” replied the poor old Professor, beginning to mount his ladder. "I tell you I must sell these pears to buy bread, or we shall all starve! Thoughtless boys and girls imagine that they have but to wish, and it will rain down all that they need." beyond his sphere, one whose influence purified, whose friendship blessed, but who was rather formed to be reverenced than loved. Turn we now to Rosalia. Time had not been idle here. Old Arnheim was not ill in body, but his mental powers were diseased. Memory seemed to abandon her throne, only returning at intervals; reading, thought, nay even conversation, seemed a trouble; desultory thoughts, "Poor Rosalia !" sighed Forstberg, as he strange fancies, distrust, irritability, and ill hu- turned to seek her. "What a strange destiny mour, had replaced all the fine qualities and is yours! And how wonderfully is your nature splendid talents of the once admired and re- adapted to meet its trials!" And yet, while he spected professor. The spring on which his marvelled at this adaptation, in his heart he mind acted had been suddenly withdrawn, and could not help wishing that some few of the now all the works were rusted, or perverted weaknesses and frailties of human nature refrom their proper use. But the ever haunting lieved the high tone, the unvarying gentleness phantom which most tortured him was a dread and patience, yet calmness and self-reliance of of poverty; and this engendered parsimony, and her character; and, above all, that a warmer a love of hoarding: he seemed to grudge even feeling towards himself found place in her bothe very food they eat, and all Rosalia's industry som. How gladly, on the slightest evidence of and economy was insufficient to save her from its existence, would he have laid his hand and the reproach of ruining him by such extrava- fortune at her feet, loved, comforted, and chegance. Forstberg was still a daily visitor; herished her! But as it was, she seemed a being bore with the old man's peculiarities, chatted with him, endeavoured to interest him in some little employment, took him long walks in order by bodily fatigue to subdue the mental excitement; and performed all the duties of an affectionate son. To Rosalia he was an affectionate and attentive brother, the confidant of all her schemes, her proceedings, and her anxieties; a friend, companion, and protector. And there were times when he longed to be more to become the husband, the beloved of that highminded and devoted woman. She was too ingenuous, too simple-hearted, for him to doubt that he had won her friendship, her gratitude, and latterly much of her esteem; but it was his ambition to be loved as he felt convinced such a heart could love, and eagerly he scanned every look and word, in the hope of detecting in them some trace of the passion he would have laid down his life to excite. But vain was his examination; friendship, sisterly regard, gratitude, stood plainly enough confessed; but Rosalia's nature seemed too high or too cold for the passions of love or hatred. One evening, when he entered the garden on a visit to the Professor and his daughter, he found the old man placing He found her, as usual, busily occupied, and bent over her chair to admire the graceful creations of her pencil. It was a scene from Goethe's Tasso she was sketching, and remarks on the group led them to a discussion of that beautiful dramatic poem, to an analysis of the different characters, and thence to character in general; and Forstberg ventured to give utterance to some of the thoughts which had occupied his mind. Rosalia defended herself from the charge of coldness. "Believe not that I am insensible,” she said; "I feel deeply, but ever seek to govern my feelings by the influence of religion and prudence, and prevent them from impeding me in the performance of my duties. My heart has been deeply wounded, but time has poured its healing balsam upon the place, and caution now presents her shield between it and further injuries." "You are then resolved not to love again?" "Not in the sense with which the world invests that term! not perhaps as you understand it— as I once felt it! Esteem, sincere friendly re gard, gratitude, and obedience, I can give, Forstberg; if these will content the man who seeks my hand!" The young man turned impatiently away, murmuring, This indifference tortures me!" 66 Before another year had elapsed, Rosalia had become the happy wife of Stern, and sat with his aged parents as welcome and honoured guests at her wedding-feast. On the same day, My friend my benefactor!" said Rosalia, the betrothal of Forstberg-who now nained rising, "I will not pretend to mistake your himself, "Honorary Treasurer,"-and the difeelings towards me. Believe me, I am deeply vorcée, Madame Stern, was celebrated with sensible of the honour they do me, and if I every splendour which wealth could bestow, and speak with almost unmaidenly frankness, it is these two new matches promised fair to be far because I would not deceive you or myself. I happier in their results than the former one had am not insensible. I have loved Stern, God been. only knows how fervently! I love him still, despite of all that has past, though he has passed from my horizon probably for ever! I have told you with what feelings I should become your wife; and this is not all. You are enthusiastic, lively, fond of society, and calculated to shine in it; I am calm, reflective, devoted to solitude, and simple and domestic in manners and habits. Would not such a partner be wearisome to you? Could such a character make you happy?" Forstberg remained silent for some moments; he felt the truth of her remarks; he was angry at her frankness, displeased at the picture she had drawn, and uncertain how to act. At length he said, "And are you then so unchangeable, Rosalia? Cannot my unwearied love soften down all the discrepancies in our characters until the two harmonize together? Can it not teach you to forget the past, create for you a new and bright future, and eventually find itself amply rewarded in the rich mine of treasures it will bring to light?" "If you think such wonders are in your power, Forstberg-if you are willing patiently to await these magical effects-and meanwhile to be content with the duty, esteem, and friendship I can now bestow, I am yours, and my study shall be to make you happy, and to be happy with you!” Forstberg snatched her hand to his lips in rapturous gratitude, and his joy was venting itself in a torrent of words, when a crashing sound, a dull heavy fall, and a deep groan were heard. Good heavens, it is your father!" exclaimed Forstberg. "Stay here, Rosalia! I will fly to him." She heeded him not, but swift as lightning sped along the garden. The ladder lay broken at the foot of the pear-tree, and on it the motionless form of the old Professor, half covered by an immense bough which he had torn away with him in his fall. It was but the work of a moment for their eager hands to remove this, and then Rosalia knelt by her father, and anxiously sought for some signs of life. The terrified servant-girl, unbidden, flew for a doctor. [The lesson the above story teaches is none the less forcible because in Protestant England (unlike Protestant Germany) marriages are indissoluble, and the one mistake of a life may entail life-long misery.-Ed. N. M. B. A.] STANZAS WRITTEN AFTER A STORM, CROSSING TO The sea-bird screams her cry of wail; The surge runs fierce and fast. Dark night hath spread her sable shroud The sky, at times, is red with fire, Then darkly frowns again; No beacon-light is on our path; No friendly star to guide; Rage on, thou sea! there is no fear In hearts, like mine, forlorn; The world and I have always been Worldling! why is thy cheek so pale? They bore the old man to the house, laid him on his bed, bathed his temples, chafed his hands, but in vain; the vital spark had fled, aud Ro-expensive matters in Germany which they are here. salia had just fallen on her knees in tearful prayer for the soul of the departed, when the door was softly opened, the servant announced "the doctor," and Stern entered the room! * Divorces are by no means the uncommon and Incompatibility of temper on either side, ill-usage, or infidelity, will always enable the parties to procure one; and neither sex is excluded from society merely on account of the divorce itself; but are well received, and at liberty to form new ties. (Trans.) |