The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-03

hours OF INSTRUCTION. hurfan proh"ehs "o'
tiles his quick apprehension and logical under
standing, determined Muller to give him nm
ished education. He chose his fathers caliing
Edmund, my youngest son, quite the opposite
of his brother, who was year older, was
meager, sickly child, who early showed pc
culiar talent for painting Soon as he TOOK a
lead ueucil OF piece of chalk in his hand his
little fingers produced wonderful forms. in
which Law the germs of genius Muller long
hesitated whether to put the suffering boy to
the wasting business Of q painter; but the pro
pensity was too strong and the talent too de.
cided. for any objection or connteracton, and
in the seventeenth year Adrian went to the
University. and Edmund at the same time to
the Artists School at Dusseldorf
CHOW followed time of quiet, which de-
voted entirely to my daughter. Lucie, gen.
tie, pious creature delicate, lovely, plant OF
genuine womanly soul, gave me little trouble.
| needed only like the gardener, occasionally to
raise the little head of the flower, turn it to the
sun, and support it.
gNearly Of the same age with Prince Hyp-
polith she grew up with him. He was OF
character, wild, energetic, and precocious; she,
weak, yielding, and fondling Muller and !
foresaw not that this childish intercourse would
be followed by dangerous results; but when
Adrian returned from the University with his
Golf, the Prince, of nineteen years, thrust upon
him his frantic, unconquerable passion for
Lucie. No other evasion presented but imme-
| date separation, and as Mlller's sudden death
gave different turn to circumstances, this was
altogether a conditionate, not a voluntary al
| tentative.
Duke Reichsied sent his son to a kinsman
in England, and as HyPpolith had no inten-
ton of going without Adrian as his companion
now doubly dear on Lucie's account, he obtain
ed the place Of Governor, and went with him
| Lucie patiently acquiesced. The death Of
her father, and the separation from the friend
Of her youth, were the first storms that blew
on her short spring time, and threatened to
mar its bloom. Long time she dropped, but
finally raised her head again. She is not here
at present Adrian's prudence having found
distant place for her, where the undated pas
sion of the Prince cannot disturb her. honor
the purpose of my son, as once honored that
of my husband Edmund returned from the
Rhine two weeks ago, on visit to me.
Il have now, my dear Baler, given thee all
the particular details of thy family, concluded
Mrs Muller, with look of tenderness. II
have made thee confdant of my inmost feel
ings have let thee into the secret concatena-
/
feel myself like a stranger and foreigner in
the circle now opening to thee Having given
thee faithful picture of the little world near
est my heart, mayst thou in future be happy
in it,
Baler smiled and the happy mother, misun-
Outstanding the smile, proceeded in selfdelu-
sion to portray highly colored images of do
mestic felicity While she was revelling in
fancy on the future, though mourning over the
lost time of childheod's love-" Baler had full
leisure to observe her, and we need not won.
der if be passed secret sentence on her exterior
From childhood he was in the habit of placing
great value on figure; with finely formed
taste and peculiar sharp-sightedness for all that
belonged to elegance, he felt dissatisfied at the
little mark of aristocracy in his mother. First
he was displeased with her red, somewhat
broad hand; that was altogether natural, for
Mr.. Miller had never recognised her as the
Young Countess, but had suffered her to attend
to all the domestic affairs of country clergy
man. Further her complexion was not of tha
fine, transparent white, that Baler so much ad
mired in women and which he called the colol
of distinction Thirdly, his mothers shape
was not becomingly genteel, the outlines wer,
too strongly marked, not delicately fading; hel
movements too quick and hurried, not Of thai
trailing, lingering grace that suited him anG
her attire was not in the fashion The car
a Ia rieiiie, and dress probably cut out by
house seamstress. These things so little an(
insignificant for great mind were TO Baler
who was the incarnate man of the world, o
the highest Importance. Their absence in hi,
mother was let to his feelings. Had he met
with u naughty, regal lady on whom nothing
of rustic planness was discoverable, and such a
figure were even of wood or Wax, without a
pulsation of feeling, he would have been salts
fed, she would at least not have offended his
good taste, though his heart made no claim.
A few hours in the presence of her son flew
with arrowy swiftness for Mrs. MGller-a time
that might well seem long to the son, who now
rose to leave his mother and to restore his quiet.
Howl cried She quite astonished, Thou
wilt certainly take meal with me? have
been careful lest we might be disturbed, and
have yet so much 80 infinitely much TO say,
about thy brothers and sister-but all after
the entertainment at table, after we have re-
freshed ourselves
So saying she hurried out of the room to
direct the dinner to be served up.
Aconvulsive sensation passed through Balers
soul Probably the hour of interview with his
relations was now fixed on. But though he
earnestly wished it might not strike for him,
and longed to be liberated from this strange
atmospbere--the surprising intelligence receiv-
ed having suifocated him--yet he was not die
posed 10 offend one who had suffered so much
for him, had 30 ardently longed for him, and
now met him so confdingly
While alone he had full leisure to look around
and notice the arrangement of the room. II
was highly simple, almost too common to be
spoken Of and had apparently been brought
from the parsonage house. An incommodious
sofa, cane chairs, an old fashioned secretary,
antiquated clock flap table, small looking glass,
and book frame, formed the ameublement of
the room. Not single piece therein that
could be called an article of luxury, nothing
that served for convenience, no ehai@ Tongue, no
edu@nse no frameau, no fateui, no table
cloth, no English carpet nor embroidery
nothing of all this charming superiority in the
midst Of which Baler was used to move.
On the sofa where he sat with his mother
lay a handkerchief yet moist with her tears
but not Of cambria, not trimmed with legiti-
mate point, nor scented throughout with Pat
chouli
Baler found all tasteless, coarse and anti.
quated But on raising his view 10 picture
that hung over the sofa, he discovered the like
ness OF man in his last years The hexd was
fine, the eyes large and expressive, but the
frock, the vest, the watch chain, the toupee,
troubled Baler, who stood in deep contempIa
ton Of the painting when his mother again en-.
tered.
"That is my ever-memorable dear Muller
whom thou art so closely examining. my be-
loved son" said she, placing herself beside him
q Is he not handsome Do not his mind and
soul speak from these lineaments, Is not dig.
nifty enthroued on this forehead, apd does not
this mouth testify that it could speak nothing
but truth :"
Baler evasively answered bot why did