Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-05-10

her!-how have you taught hcr?-what
do you say is her name?'
And glancing from the Master to Ber.
thalde, he listened eagerly to the an.
swers that wers given to his questions.
Yes, yes-ve:y good-very good, he
muttered to himself, as If pond ering some
project in his mind. 81 would gladly
hear one other piece. l will choose one
for myself and reaching across the
Master, he began TO turn the pages OF
tho mass that still lay open on the desk.
He stopped OF her own favoritc Agnus
Del, and at his request she sang it,
Her cheek was tinged with o faint glow
Of color now; she seemed to the Elec.
tor wonderfully beautiful. He gazed
at her, and listened in deep silence
When she ceased to sing, he drew long
deep breath. Then he turned from her
to the Master.
Herr Kopcll.mcistcr, a visit here is
truly not thrown away. Much as re:
spectcd this good old town, | anticipa.
ted no such pleasure from my stay in
it, as this last half hour has afforded me.
But time presses now we must not try
the patience Of our municipal friends
too far. Herr Kapell. .mcister, may !
request your further attendance? lwould
speak to you privately about some mat.
ters;' and bowling courlcosly TO all around
the Elector followed by the Master and
and his suite, retired from the choir.
'BerthaIde, remain with me little
while,' the Kapcll. .meister said, when on
the day succeeding to the Electors Wis.
it. the mass was over and the singers
were departing.
Standing beside him, she listened as
was often her delight TO do, to slow
movement tha, he played, until the rest
were gone, and now they were gone, and
they two were alone. Then, the Mas.
ter closed the organ, and coming to her
took her hand in his. A small thin del.
icate hand it sill was and SIZE herself
was small but no longer now child,
nor looking like one.
'Berthalde,' the Kapcll. .mcister said,
| have news for you. Have you no sus.
picion what it is?'
She shook her head.
did nothing happen yesterday'
Yesterday! she exclaimed do you
mean the Electors visit?'
Il do, and what l have to tell you now
is this, that his Highness has expressed
a wish that you would accept an engag'
ment in the choir of his court chapel at
Dresden"
He watched her face as he spoke, and
look of almost tender pity beamed
from his dark eyes as he saw the sudden
change. She stood before him pale as
death, her head bowed down, her lips
quivering; no word broke from her,
She stood like one turned into marble,
quite still aud calm; her arms had lal.
len down, and the hands were claspcd.
Her attitude was that Of one whom some
great sudden grief had crushed.
MY child, what is there in this news
so much to grieve you? l thought that
you would have rejoiced at it,"
She was still mute and now the tears
began to trickle down her cheeks. He
anxiously implored her to arouse her.
self.
She did arouse herself, and crushing
down the sorrow within her, tried to
speak.
Master forgive me; it came so sudden.
ly-l am quite unprepared,' she said
family.
Did then tell it to you too abruptly?
Sit down and calm yourself little
Why Bcrthalde, he said half laughing,
you look as frightened as you did that
day so long ago, when for the first time
tNsaw you at the church door below
Still she wept.
'Berthalde,' he continued, you must
tell me what it is that is grieving you.-
cannot comfort you ifyou will not tell
me what your sorrowis.'
Through her tears she tried to answer
him; and though her voice was broken
her tone was almost passionate in its
earnestness as she said:
% sir, l have lived here all my life.
All that have in the world is here
Do you think that can leave it all and
feel no grief? Do you think that l can
bear suddenly to be told that everything
| love is to be taken from me, and never
weep? Do you think only because am
blind that can grow so little attched
to anything that all places are the same
to me? 0 sir, we do not need sight TO
love-"
MY child you cannot think that we
would send you forth to strange place
alone ....
She looked up with one instant's hope
his last word trembling on her lips.
Alone she echoed.
'Berthalde, will not your father and
your mother both be with your
She stopped her head again to stiae' a
deep sob. There was few moments
pause, then again the Master spoke:
MY child, knowit is no easy thing
to tear ourselves away from things that
we have grown to love; but those who
are dearest TO you, you take with you,
and If there be sacrifice to make will
not the thought that it is made for their
sake, to save them from the labor that is
grown so hard to them, repay it? 1t is
indeed who should grieve to lose you,
for l cannot hope when you are gone,
to find another who will fill your