Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-05-02

lect articulation proved tnat the singer nau never
been educated OF lie r. A. M. And this was
THE SONG OF THE RHINE NYMPH
Ger the waste Of water floating,
have sighd through countless years,
From my couch Of crystal noting
Lies vain Joys and vainer tears,
Mourners, whom bright stars are leading
By the wave to wander lone.
Oft my boarded sorrows needing,
Half forgot TO weep their own.
Thou, whose love yon maid returning,
Warmly meets with voice and eyes,
Yet for deeper proof art burning,
Claim and clasp thy priceless prize.
Yet to chains thy Fate is weaving,
Yield-nor seek their links to prove,
Lip from lip the vow receiving,
Faith should ask no more from Love.
And as the singer paused, she smiled-a sweet
smile but cold beyond tho coldness of the lip Of
the statute which has smiled away thousand gen.
era,ons AdoIph lookcdin wonder upon the form
which ffoated in the stream, A being as lovely
as woman, but which he felt it would be impious
to call woman, was before him. A face ofexqui-
site regularity, but intense in its melancholy, was
surrounded by mass of golden hair which fell
over her shoulders and bosom whittier than those
Of mortal. The symmetry Of that bust was per-
feet, as was that of the waist round which the
waters fingered, cIaspiney fit wooers for such a
form. One rounded arm with its transparent hand
was holding back the clustering tresses, the other
hand bore small mirror set in silver--it might
have been the toy of a maiden who had gone down,
with some laundering bark, to the ocean deeps. A.
doph gazed for one moment in admiring wonder,
which the next turned to shudder. A breeze
had driven the rpples from the breast of the song
stress. 1t was but for an instant, but that in
slant showed Adolph tina, monster was before
h;r, ond mi tho ,vort of Hin, ,vho created hu.
manly in his own image.
The mermaid approached For indeed II was
one of those dreadful beings framed by the exuIt-
ing fen g in impious mockery while the waters
Of the deluge lay upon the earth, the bodies OF
whose expiring daughters were DISCERNING to aid
in the unholy union of humanity with the lower
CREATION Adolph would have risen to fee but
the surrrising lovcliness of the fearful object be.
fore him enchanted the eye and limb He re-
main,d without motion. and that passionless voice
spoke
'Adolph Won Rosenhcin seeks the truth. Let
him ,,kp this mi ror discover the truth, and be
rr,,rhcL"
Aud with another ,n,ancholly smile, the being
extending its arms laid the grass upon his hand.
I, thrilled him to the bone il had been of white
hot steel Giancng at it Tor an instant, he again
raised bis eyes. He was alone but he imagined
which formed itself into The words
"Yield-nor seek their links to PROVE"
The sound, if sound there were, then ceased.
The philosopher sat as il supplied for some
time, when human and familiar voice addressed
him. 1t was that Of Carl Osten, formerly his Eel.
low student at Halle, now his most intimate friend.
But at that moment the sound even of an enemys
voice would have been welcome
sAdolphl Yes by all the divini,ies in and out
of the saloon, by the godesses in the skies and the
goddesses IN the satins. Why, man, we have
been in CONSERVATION on your account most Of US
supposed you had been spirited away, and the bar
oness, who AYERS she saw you mixing water with
your hook declares that she suspects you are riv-
er demon in disguise"
Adolph shuddered.
Pray continued his friend do some thing in
ono or other of your characters and return 10 the
waltz or to the water
Il was heated and tried said Adolph
Heated and tried, and Bertha Won Herold in
the room Credat Judeus Appella, non CARL
You have had quarrel with her. Is it so p
Heavens, Adoiph how you start and glare
Are you wild
He might well ask the question AS Adolph
arose the mermaids mirror had turned towards
the breast Of Carl Glancing at its surface, A.
doph read the heart Of bis friend read words
which Carl had died ere he had dared to utter
They were words of love and jealousy, and hope
chat kindled as the idea Of difference having arts
en- between Bertha and Adolph crossed the mind
of Carl. In the desperation which we too often
mistake for fate, Adolph asked hurriediy
you too, Carl, you love Bertha. do you not 2
The lips of Carl attempted denying smile, bu
there, in the fatal glass, was the heart glowing
with passion and bate. and even thought O.
murder was preseat for an iastant With vic
lent effort Adolph dashed Carl away; he stagges
ed and fell into the stream. Adoiph looked bu
once; but as The rapid tide bore away the sirus'
Cling Carl to death. his face became that of the
fearful mermaid The slayer rushed to the house
bearing with him the demons glass.
I He entered the splendid saloon and was acan
amid high, music and perfumes Smiles and gen
tie qlances greeted him, but he scewled in return
egen when the e ehead Of Bertha glowed AZ his
approach H. + !, the mirror as a dreadful and
elingiag weight VI be fingered to try its efficacy
here
Several acquain'ances addressed him; poe'
who hal publishd his rhymes solely atthe reqpes
~ A. A rto