Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-09-18

Der and began to reflect upon his position
'' What a life is mine" said he, pacing the
narrow spot which he inhabited, how its !
dull gloomy details differ from that of the poet
and the artist, which is my beau ideal, and OF
which each hour is priceless treasure. While
others listen to the harmony OF the majestic
forest trees, as chafed by the angry winds,
thew murmur in chorus, or watch their thick
leaves floating in the breeze, like the name of
the war horse or bending their giant limbs in
cadence. While to others it is given to con-
template the wondrous glories of the setting
sun-unfortunate that am! | am confined
to the shop of an obscure tradesman instead
of the beauties of nature, see before me but
desks, blackened by spots of ink +; instead of
the fresh visages with which Heaven has
blessed the people of the country, perceive
through the long day but pale countenances,
which seem discharged from the other world;
instead of the winds whispered sigh, and the
melancholy plant of the prayer bells at Yes
per, thrown across the odoured gale, hear
but the sharp click Of piles of silver, rolling
in their chests, noisy discussions between GUS
toners and the merchant, and questions of price
and measure. All my God how can one
like me be happy amidst so much hustle and
noise! What if they do bring me fortune?
Wealth always comes too late; just at that
moment when man has no longer the time nor
the strength to enjoy it. But the artist and
the poet! With what inestimable riches are
their labors rewarded. Increasingly, in the
presence of God and his majestic works, their
souls enlarge, and the light of their genius
irradates with its splendors the new objects
that hourly cross their way. And l too,"
said Traugott with passion, 8" feel moving
within me the impulses of an irresistible power
that draws me towards unknown paths. Why
sever not with one blow the chain which
binds me here. Yes, feel it The mystic
rious old man and the beautiful page with the
gentle smile, were sent to call me to my voca-
j ton," thus spoke the young man-high hope
beat in his bosom, and exulting he exclaimed,
Yes | too shall be an artist"
Filled with this sensation, Traugott arran-
: ged along the walls of his chamber all his old
sketches, which modesty, till now, had kept
concealed. His momentary exaltation lent to
the objects the most fattering colors. He ira
ced among all these pencillings, for the most
part imperfect, and all unfinished, coarse
draughts OF the old Burgmeister and his pretty
page, showing evidently that for long the two
personages which thus occupied his imagina-
ton, had also exercised over his destiny Sc
! cret sway, of which the future alone could tell
the influence.
Thus too, did memory, bounding over the
narrow boundaries of time and distance, recall
to Traugott the incidents of childhood; how,
for instance, impelled by some occult power,
he had suddenly quilted his playfellows, and
finding the Court of Artus accidentally open,
favored by the light Of the moon, trembling,
he had sought the figures of the fresco. He
remembered too, that in that quiet hour, while
his soul thus communed with the images of
! the past, and drank in inspiration from the
beautiful in art, he had been impelled 10 copy
: those mysterious figures. Once more he drew
these little monuments of infant genius from
their secret hiding place. He had preserved
them with superstitious care, and again the
same feelings returned as he gazed upon their
half obliterated outlines.
By degrees the enthusiasm of the young ar
fist disappeared. A sweet melancholy sue
, ceeded, and he threw himself upon couch
But in vain did his eyelids seek repose Al
last, rising, he dressed himself, and stealing
r noiseessl Y from the house, few moments
found him Laundering up the steep sides of the
karlsberg mountain.
1t was the hour when silence, like man
tie, falls over every living thing. Silence a
! bove and below; in the fields as in the city
Solely afar, the pillows of the distant sea broke
q noisily upon the rocks.
f "Es BRIGHT SIGH die Welle NIT Macht, nit Macht
4 Und sic seufzt hnaus in die fnstere Nacht
:. Das Auge Vom Weinen getruhet"
: Swiftly the night clouds swept over tn
moons pale disk, as chased by the winds O
q the north, they heaped themselves upon tn
= promonto1y of Hela. Long did Traugott re
main, following with his eye their fantasti
e shapes. Sometimes they seemed armies hur
Q rying on to battle, with their gaudy banner
kissed by the purple tints of twilight-anon
1t beautiful forms of varied beings and at time
+ the two figures OF the tableau would appear
e and the little page with her meek eyes, smi
u led down upon him from the ramparts of Hea
Y ven.
y Traugott awoke the next day to the busi
i ness of the world. The consciousness of de
IL fciency, assailed him with new force-his in
- capacity appeared so strongly that, mastere
. by despair, he spurned with his foot the sam
Il sketches in which, but few hours before
II fancy had discovered to him the traces of a
% exalted vocation; the words of the prosaic oil
) man required to him with bitterness. Con
sidering now the apparition of the two Twin
- persons who resembled SO strongly the paint
ings Of the Hall, as creation of a fevere
. fancy, he bravely took the resolution of resu
II ming with resignation, his place at the coun
'e ter OF his master, and of giving way NOR
IL Z IL I l.