Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-12-20
MISCELLANY.
From the London New Monthly for September.
THE SENATOR OF BREMEN.
A POPULAR TRADITION

One summer evening, in the year l749, the fam
lily of MIR. Sebaldus Beerlen, senator OF the free
imperial city of Bremen, were seated together,
Willing away tile hour between eight and nine in
conversation, and the Juniors amusing iheselves
with various innocent games. The apartment
which they were in was spacious, paneed, &C
cording to the custom OF that time, with carved
wood work, and decorated with oil paintings Of
some value, which Mr.. Sebaldus had picked up in
his travels in Holland. His aged grandmother
was seated at the window, in chair covered with
leather, embossed with flowers of gold, looking,
usual at the steeples of the different church es
tinged with the radiance of sunset. She hum
med at the same time to herself an old hymn Of
Gerherd's, which treats of the repose of the god
ly after death, and the happiness of those who
have fought the good fight, and are delivered
from the trials and trbuntons of this mortal life
She numbered full eighty years, and so she had
good reason 10 hum such hymn.-Catherine
the senator's wife, still young and comely wo-
man, of the most respectable family of Rhuberg
of Hildershelm, sat not far from the window at n
small table, playing game at lasquenet with her
nephew Ruhberg copying clerk to the senate, an
almost boyish-lookiDg young man. She mistook
the cards in The twilight; the youth took advan-
tage Of this, and purposey cheated his aunt, aud
she reproved him with good humored severity for
his knavish tricks. group of children we've
sitting together in the middle of the room, aud
Sigsmunda. the eldest daughter twelve years old
was telling her brothers and sisters in n low tone
long story, to which they listened in silent at
tenion. Theobald Apevert, an old and faithful
servant of the family, was standing at the corner
of the stove, calculating the last weeks receipts
from little shop which his wife kept and, as
he had reason to apprehend, not to The best nc
count. Thus each Of the members Of the family
was engaged his own way, and not attending to
what the others were about.
Mr.. Sebadus Beerein himself was sitting on
the sofa, with hand in his waistcoat pocket and
his head propped by the other he looked straight
before him, listening with pleasure TO the play
tones of his wife, and the soft whispering voice
OF Ills daughter, and now and then casting
glance at the dark form Of his grandma her
whose shaking head, sharply formed, noble fea
lures, were Defined upon the evening sky. Such
moments are OF great value to the father of a fam
lily. lie takes survey Of his past life he thinks
of all the comforts aud blessing o. tlat Providence
has bestowed on him, and he forms plans for ihe
future improvement OF his circumstances. for the
sake Of those who are dearest to his heart
The clock of the neighborng church nov,
struck nine. AS the sound of the last stroke died
away, the senator rose, took his hat and cane and
hastily left the room.
'Sebald, cried his wife, art thou going to III,
conn,ing-houss Shall light be brought dow
10 thee p
The senator gave no answer. She heard hin
going down the stairs. and presently the house
door shutting heavily after him.
'Where can no be going to p asked the grand
mother.
Indeed don't know replied bis wife.-sH,
meant to spend the evening with US. Something
must have suddenly occurred TO him.