Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-05-19
MISCELLANY.
THE BRIDES CHOICE.


BYE. HorFMANS.
Translated from the German, Boston Daily Advertiser
CHAPTER
Treats of Portraits Green Faces, spngng Mice and Jewish
Curses.
Not long after Alberne's conversation with
Edmund in the public gardens, she discovered
that the large oil painting of her father, which
hung in her room, was very unlike him, and in
fact miserable daub. She assured the Commits
sioner, that notwithstanding several years had
passed since he was painted, that az the present
moment he looked far handsomer and youn Ter
than his portrait She condemned especially the
oarS, gloomy expression of the picture, as well as
the old French style of dress, with The unnatural
bouquet OF roses, which the Commissioner was
gracefully holding between his two fingers, on one
OF which sparked brilliant diamond ring.
Albertine talked so much aud 80 hong about this
picture that the Commissioner himself finally dis.
covered that it was frightlu daub, and that il
was not to he endured; that the unskiu paint
or bad transformed his amiabe person into such
disagreeable image The longer he looked at
ahe portrait The more excited he became ut the
"retched thing, and concluded at last to remove
1t and stow it away in the rubbish room.
Aibertine was fully of opinion that the ugly
picture deserved this treatment, but she had be-
come SO accustomed 10 have her dear fathers pic
tnre in her room, that the bare wall wouId annoy
her, whatever she might be about. Nothing was
10 be done, but for her dear father to he painted
again by more skillluI, and more generally sue.
cessful artist, and this could he no one else than
young Edmund Leshen, who had executed some
very successful portraits.
"Dauebter" replied the Commissioner 10 this
request, "daughler, what are you thinking of! -
The young artists are so full OF pride and inso-
lence, that they think they can hardly ask gold
enough for their works, they cen talk of nothing
but solid Fredercks dor and are not content with
the best OF current money, not even silver pieces"
Alberne assured him on the contrary, that Le-
shen pursued the art of painting more as a matter
OF taste than from necessity she was certain he
would hHd him very accommodating, and she
talked 20 much to the Commissioner about the mat
ter, that he at last concluded to send for Lesen,
and talk to him about the picture.
1t may be imagined with what pleasure Ed
munG declared himself ready 10 paint The Com
missioner, and this pleasure arose to transport
when he discovered, that it WINS Aberne who had
persuaded her father 10 allow him TO take his por-
trait tie rightly thought that Alberline was de-
srous in this way OF keeping up some intercourse
with him. Ii was very natural, therefore, for Ed
mund, when the Commissioner began TO speak
with him, with some anxiety, on the subject of
The price OF the portrait, TO assure him. that he
should be unwilling to take any fee, but that he
should be but too happy in being able by means
OF ms art to gain access to The house OF such all
excellant man as the Commissioner.
"How ID this" cried the Commissioner in the
greatest astonishment " what do | hear my good
Mr.. Leshen, what no gold, not a Fredericks dor
Tor your trouble not even n sufficient sum in good
current money 10 repay you the expense oil the
canvass and color ?"
Edmund assured him with smile that this
for a moment
hut" said The Commissioner, in a whisper
you do not perhaps understand that this is to be
a 20 No larn e., AZ m
the same thing replied Leshen."
Ihe Commissioner pressed him vehenenlly TO
ms bosom, while tears of deep emotion filed his
eyes, "Oh, heavenly powers" cried he, "are
Vere still LETT in this world lying in wickedness,
sue'i good dsinlerested souls First the cigars,
'hen the picture. You are most excellent man.
or youth, might say, my good Mr.. Leshen, and
IN you survives the old German virtue and Loyalty,
OF which much that is charming is to be read in
several books. Yet, believe me, sir, Notwithstanding
1 am a Commissioners Of the council and gener-
ally dress in the French style, yet synipa,hize
with such spirits, and know how 10 prize their
nobleness of soul, and am as disuerested and
hospilable as any one of them"
The discerning Albertine had ioreseen the man.
ner 10 which Edmund would receive the PROPOSAL
o. the commissioner. She had gained her object
LIE Commissoner was overtiowing with praises
oil the excellent young man, who was SO iur re-
moved by deleslable avarice. and concluded there
"Po"' "o' 40 you"B leopie, particularly painters,
always iaDcied something fantastic and romantic
that they priced greatly withered iowers, ribbons
which had been worn 10y pretty glrl, or perhaps
some manufacture of her own fair hands, that il
would b. well for Alberlne to work Edmund a
gold purse, and if il not dsagreeable to her.
add, perhaps, lock OF her beautiful chestnut
brown hair, aud that this would be sufficient re-.
Enumeration to Leshen for his touble. He gaye
MS express permission for This, and would himself
answer for her doing it to the Privy-Treasury Sec
retary.
Aioertine, who had never been made acquain-
ied WIN The designs and plans of the Coinmis.
soner, did not understand why he referred TO
Insmann, and asked her father to explain the
thing.
The same evening, Edmund caused his painting
materials 10 be brought to the Commssioner's
house, and the next morning The fist sitting took
place.
lie besought the Commissioner 10 bring IN his
mind the most cheerful, the gayest moment of his
HE, perhaps the moment when his departed viii.
assured him, for the first time, other love, or when
A'bertine was born, or when he hoped 10 see
again unexpectedly some friend whom he had
supposed TO be lost
stop, MIR. Leshen," cried the Commissioner,
"aoonf three months since received advices from