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

T., a room as much out of order az only that
&c an artist and lover can be, sat two young
men.
apost thou not find mother much altered! y
said Adrian to the painter, who sat meditatiug
on picture that having taken from green
enclosure, he had placed opposite the bust oil
Albrecht Durer. "Dost thou not lind that In
. constant excitement and feyerish restlessness
sine is become Indifferent to what formerly was
of highest interest to herr"
The death of father, answered Edmund
amust have shaken her deeply, and she can
not vet overcome the consequences OF that
mournful event.
When left her, it was after fathers death
and though but a short time had elapsed since
she laid him in the grave, still, she was more
collected, more calm, than now find her.
Thou knowest that she has pous, believing
soul, and that the hope of meeting him again
had power to raise her above the SORROWS Of
temporary separation Religion had never I'M
Ill now denied her its consultations, its strength
ening tranquility have never seen her de-
lence, the restless look of her eye, the trem-
bling motion of her lip when she forces a smile,
the transient change of color in her face, are
too expressive. She conceals from US II secret
and it must be sad one, that imposes on her
so unnatural a silence"
Edmund who since his return had neither
eve DOR heart for the requirings of others-he,
the tender, childlike Edmund, who had loved
his mother with enthusiasm, but in the present
moment felt almost Indifferent, was painfully
moved bv Adrian's words His stupidity as to
the whole world, except one animating object
he now suddenly thought to be a crime, and as
if awaking from a dream, thoughtfully asked
And hast thou, whose sharp psychological
eve penetrates the SOUL not yet discovered the
source of her secret distress"
81 doubt not that self,reproach corrodes her
peace and though thoroughly convinced that
in her past life no action slumbers that she
would make of little account to our Observa-
ton there is, notwithstanding, something that
she has reason to hide from US. Ii were in.
delicate and uncharitable to be urgent, and
compel her to IA confession that ought only to
be made from pure necessity, in order to restore
her former equilibrium Does she not care for
and love her children enough to warrant her
unbidden confidence in them! Therefore she
may keep silence in order to merit our esteem
and love, notwithstanding our uneasness Thou,
Edmund, vast ever nearer to her heart than l.
TO thee were unlocked the secret depths OF her
SOU, more freely than to the childlike, innocent
Lucie How comes it, then, that thou art SO
distant and Indifferent towards her? 1t is inn
possible for me to ascertain the cause in a
separation of three years, filled with the ex.
change of letters for when once love and con-
iidence between mother and child take root, nc
power on earth can eradicate them The
sanctity of this feeling grounded in nature is
mtainted by the world or fate. Discords may
arise. but cannot set bounds to the free effu-
sions of the heart There may, at most, occur
times of lukewarmness, when the soul of one
or the other, controlled by strange power,
finds itself enchanted by passion, in which
great aflction or great happiness absorbs all
natural feeling, and man sees himself placed
in condition of comfortless dependence with
out the power of volition. God grant that ne.
Their of you may be under the dominion of this
state, and that no merciless disappointment
may follow the sudden fit of delusion.n
A blush overspread Edmund's face, whose
glance was directed to the picture opposite
which was the same that Sternhofs impru-
dence had spoiled, and which was left with
him. Adrian followed with his eyes the direc-
ton OF this glance, and as his brother was 81
lent calmly proceeded:
81 Let me be candid, Edmund thy blush tells
me that have rightly delineated thy position
comprehend it. do not blame thee, but hold
1t as my duty to warn thee. Thou art an art
list; thy imag nation s used to deal in ideals
and thy Judgment confoupds the misty forms
OF thy dreams with the corporeal ones OF real
ity. To thee there is no boundary Of distinc-
ton, for thy ideal is too closely interviewer
with thy real life-one. as it were, flows into the
other. Therefore trust me, thy brother, who
have lived IN the world, observed its practices,
and compared them; while the painters atelier
was thy world, colors and pencils thy society
Sk'lful'y as thou knowest how to manage the
latter, thou must have remarked, in mixing thy
coors, that the union of one with another is not
always agreeable to an experienced eve; that
IN reality harsh tone is occas0ned as soon
as hand unacquainted with the materials
and rules undertakes the combination and OK
ecution. This example applies to the world
and to every one who is strange aud unac.
qualnted with its laws, uninitiated 10 its mys.
teries, and with blind confidence casts himself
one art thou, Edmund and notice with pain
no" one glowing flame is consuming not only
tny present but thy future peace. Thou art
IN embryo as it were; thy gains are yet too
small thy reputation is not yet 10 well estab-
hshed as not to need all thy powers, all thy
earnings in order TO succeed in the strife Tor
mat goal which thou hast marked out for thy
sell In place of which, thou givest myself up
without reflection to a phantom, sacri6cest thy
pest powers to wrong notion, and languishest
III thy vocation in the indulgence Of an unhap-
Py passion Interrupt me not dear Edmund
know all. Thou canst not describe TO me in
measured expressions the eternity Of thy feel
ings; but know as well that il IL not too late
70 break the chains that are dragging thee 10
endless embarrassment in which thy highest,
id'rest aim, thy art, must be sequestered. Thou
must seek to keep myself free, IL anything gen.
ulne Is to be achieved by thee, Mt least now, ~
ig9ng AZ circumstances forbid the entering into
oo'er connection. Thou revellest in the thought
" :, marrying young lady Of distinguished fam
ny and thou hast hardly means sufficient for
my own existence. Independently OF the Duke,
shOu owest these friends and patrons of our
'a'her the highest gratitude. That thou art
uumindtul Of this, forgive the phantasy, in
i, parable from the life Of an unacqnainted art
put make o demand on the man, on his
t "rr that he conquer himself that he re-
I'm INTO the right track
;n unund, who till now had believed his feel
HE sa'e from observation, suffered indescriba-
wI under the treatment of Adrian. That
hsara IKE something purely spiritual and
.o'',, ,",y lowered over him, which himself
eoa a,u hardly account for, he must now be
g., To sse handled and torn by power
-, nand II Adrian had even the prudence
~; mention sname, yet his glance ON Sera-
Fumes picture made up for the deficient word.
,ha nand revolted, like spoiled child, against
'erness replied Nv
a.