The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-15

in deep thought, and the first tact of the music
had begun, when the side box. till then empty,
and which was close to that of the Muler's.
began to fill
A lady in n simple dark dress attended by
two gentlemen, entered. The lady nodded a
salutation Adrian was not deceived it was
Countess Esbeim, who took seat near him.
For moment they looked at each other with
surprise, and beam of pleasure shot from the
eyes Of both. But a mute. polite bow of Adri-
an. and slight motion Of Erika's head. were
cold signs foretclling setting sum- or rather
hindcred his rising. Erika Saluted those in
Globen's box, and began TO look over the bill
Emil Devrient appeared for the first time as
Richard Savage, and all were full of expecta-
ton to witness the performance of one whose
applause in this part was afterwards universal
| ly read in the pamphlets
The musc-they played the overture to
Beethoven's Fidelio-exercised its beneficial in
fluence on many agitated minds Gained their
tumults mellowed their dissonance and melted
/ their hardness But how awfully did the pur-
| port of the piece seize on the soul of Mrs. Null
Ter! Richard, the poor forsaken son of an un-
natual mother, with unabating love for her,
! which no injury or abuse could abate still
cIings to her. And though she had from some
unworthy motive disowned him for half life
time, he IL content with the name of mother
TO conciliate oil her faults, and forget all her
crueltes. He strives only for her love, and in
toxicatcd with the thoughts Of winning it,
heedlessly plunges overhead into the most
frantic prodigality. Everything is Indifferent
| to him without her he desires but to move her
heart to genteness, to awaken in her the voice
of nature, labors for the happiness of being ac-
knowledged and received by her. What Il
contrast does Richard present to one who, in
stead of cold, repusive lady of rank, has found
an ardently loving mother, who comes to EN-
brace him, to indemnify him. Mrs. Muller's
agitation increased every moment and fixing
her look on Baler, it seemed rs il every word
spoken from the stage was directed to him by
| her mouth.
Count Sternhof found himself in most tor
tured condition. He felt his mothers sad re-
proachful glance entering like glowing arrow
into his breast, and feared, moreover, that others
would notice the language Of her eyes, and
that all would be betrayed. But, like some
Lady Macclesfeld he played the Indifferent in
IA mastery manner, sensible of the shame OF
an open recognition Of his mother. The humil.
iating nature Of such a scene alarmed him, and
for obviating any possibility oft, he maintain
ed u heartless cOldness in his manner, notwith-
standing his increasing uneasiness Of mind.
Every unnatural, highly overwrought," said
he to the Minister'S lady, who was near him
"A visionary and bedlamite is this Richard "
eve must not forget that . poet and phan-
tast is struggling with poverty and ambition
and, on suddenly seeing his mother, cannot but
seem elevated to the highest degree on the
contamination of all his wishes" remarked
Seraphine
"lt would certainly have been otherwise
had he found his mother poor, miserable, and
desolate," observed Baler. Then, perhaps the
voice of blood would not have spoken SO loud
ly within him.
al believe that with character like Rich
ards, worldly glory and wealth would have
no influence" said the Minister'S lady and
that his poetic soul would only love with pas
sion the MOTHER, but not the lady of high
rank and glowing sentiment. They must be
altogether dried-up CYCLISTS, who, with trem.
bling fear for a life such as we lead here, have
an eye solely to self-interest"
| TO BE CONTINUED.