Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-24
THE DEVILS CLOCK.
Br THE AUTHOR or "aARalAoE oS rms
BATTLE"

haeltants. | like to prepare my readers
with toerable idea OF the locality where.
IN the events narrated transpire-fo for then
may hope TO impress them with at least
two-iold sympathy in my dramatis per-
soma. The street in which Herr Bonn
J garten had his residence, was among the
Oldest IN the town aforesaid, and his resi-.
dence, the oldest in il. He was himself
also, high-dried piece of antiquity. usu-
ally enveloped in cloud of smoke from
sunrise 10 sunset. except only when his
TAR daughter sat beside him at their eye-
ming meal and talked over tho affairs of
the day. On such occasions he would
narrate incidents in his progress through
HE, and dwell upon the difficulties attend.
, antupon acquiring the independence which
they then enjoyed. He had one passion
IN excess-an intense love Of music and
had at one time been nc mean pro6cien,
on the violin. AT the festivals held peri
odlcally in all the principal German towns,
his Judgment was appealed 10 and, in.
deed, no meeting Of the kind was consid
cred complete if he, by any chance, were
absent. 1t may therefore naturally be IN
ferred that his daughter had been early
instructed In the elements OF the art and
at nineteen she was a paniste of consider
able attanments. These circumstances
formed the basis Of desire which became
stronger with bis years, and which con.
firmed resolve that she should wed one
OF the most accomplished musicians Of the
age. They say that when all other pas
sions die, ambition survives, and acquires
force proportoned to its solitarness and
slngeness of aim. Certain it is, that out
of the many suitors whom the beauty and
gentleness of the disposition Of Azalia at.
tracted to the domicil Of Herr Bomgarten,
not one $50 scrupulous was he on the
score of musical perfection) was permit
ted by him to continue his visits. Anx.
lety for the fulilment of hope being
usually in proportion TO its strength, her
sire, as the young lady approached twep-
tyrone, began to experience dread that
he might not live to see her settled. This
preyed upon his spirits deeply, and urged
him TO publish, as widely as possible, his
intentions. To that end he invited to his
house, on certain day, all of the class
musical who chose 10 compete for his
daughter, declaring that at midnight he
would decide on the claims OF the aspir-
ants. Now, it is necessary should in
form my readers that in the grand apart
ment in Herr Bomgarten's mansion there
was piece of furniture supposed TO have
been fabricated by Hungarian magician,
and which exhibited so much of apparent
wilfulness that it had been denomina,ed
by common consent the Devils Clock.
This time-keeping edice struck all
manner Of hours in all manner of ways
but whatever might be its vagaries, was
always true to the solemn "twelre" of
midnight; SO that Herr Bomgarten, not
without reason, fixed upon that hour 10
decide his long. cherished scheme.
The day at length arrived, aud il may
be imagined that not little preparation
had been made. The piano forte Zone of
korner's latest improvements) was placed
under mirror Of immense size, ano OK.
actly opposite the (fatalO clock.
Azalia was dressed in holiday suit,
and looked lovelier than usual and from
this circumstance her father augured
| proposition finale. At about eight o'clock
IN the evening the visitors were all assem-
bled; and the players who veniured to Of.
fer themselves as competitors for so beauii.
ful and so rich prize, were four in mum.
ber They severally sat down to the in
strument, and each appeared, moro than
his predecessor, to astonsh the audience !;
and II was generally imagined that the last
performer would be entitled 10 become the
fair girls husband. But ere Herr Bonn.
garten had quite resolved in his own mind
the exact merits of each candidate, another
stood beside the instrument, and, rather
by signs than words, indicated that he,
too, must try his skill.
The guests seemed extremely puzzled
at this singular apparition for up to that
moment the gentleman had not been OBJ.
served in the room at all One or two
persons, indeed, declared that he had ac-
tually stepped from the clock. case as the
last player OF the four concluded his Fan.
tasa Be it as it may, he sat down to
the piano, and produced-but it is wholly
impossible to describe the sensation. He
now withered up the heart with the in:en-
sIty Of his pathos; and again enchanted
the soul with multitudinous images of
delight. Then would he pour over the
Imagination a storm of harmonies that ex.
allied it almost 10 frenzy, and anon sub.
dued il to the pacidity Of childhood. lie
,cas The man; yet, who was he? The
question was fearful one. He was hand
some-but his aspect was slngularly wild
and melancholy. He executed with mar.
vellous ease, but his mind appeared Gudg.
ing from his eye) TO be wandering over
fields ofthought remote from that 10 which
he was engaged. He rose. Herr Bonn
garten sprang from his scat, and would
have embraced him, but was repelled by
|, his nnculia rity or mien Few minutes