Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-06-22
H RTAoE NIlIIlELJ,

No paper viii be Discontinued until all arrearages are
paid excspt at ths option Of the publisher
THE DEVILS CLOCK.
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M rms AUTHOR OF "a aaRRIAsE ON THE EVE
of BATTLE. n@ 5@s5 sss;sassz5
8 The town of Herringhausen, not hundred
miles from Frankfort, is one of the most pictures
que antique in Germany, and contains about l2,
O00 inhabitants. I like to prepare my readers
with d tolerable idea Of the locality wherein the
events narrated transpired--for thenI may hope
to.impress themwith a two-fold sympathy in my
dramatis persoasae. The street in which Herr
Bomgarten had bis residence, was among the old
est in the town aforesaid, and his residence the
He was himself, also, a high-dried piece of an-
tiquity. usually enyeloped in cloud of smoke
from sunrise till sunset. except only when his
fair daughter sat beside him at their evening meal
and talked oyer the affairs of the day. On such
occasions he would narrate incidents in his pro-
gress through life. and dwell. upon acquiring the
Independence which they then enjoyed. He had
one passion in excess--an intense love of music;
and had at one time been no mean proficient on
the violin. Atthe festivals held periodically in
all the principal German towns, his judgement
was appealed to; and indeed, no meeting of the
kind was consideeed complete, if he,s by any
chance, was absent. Itm ay, therefore, naturally
be inferred that his daughter had early been in
strutted in the elements of the art; and at nne-
teen she was pianist ofconsiderable attainments.
These circumstances formed the basis of a desire
which become stronger with its years, and which
confrmedsa resolve, that she should wed one of
the most accomplished musicians of the age. So.
They say that when all other passions die, am
bition survives, and acquires force proportioned
to the soltariness and singleness of AIM Ger
tainly it is that out of the many suitors whom the
beauty or gentleness and the disposition Of Azalia
attracted to the domiciI of Herr Bomgarten, not
one ESQ scrupuIous was he on the score of musical
perfection3 was permitted BY him to continue his
visits Anxiety for the fnlf liment of hope being
usually IN proportion to its strength, her sire, as
the young lady approached twenty-one, began to
experience a dread that he might not see her set
tied. This played upon his spirits greatly, and
urged him to publish widely as possible his in
tentions. To that end he invited to his house on
certain day, ,all of the class musical who shoald
choose to compete for his daughter, declaring that
at midnight he would decide on the claims of the
aspirants Now, It i necessary that should in
form my readers, that in the great apartment of
Herr Bomgarten's mansion, there was a piece Of
furniture supposed to have been fabricated by a.
Hungarian magician, and which exhibited SO much
OF apparent wiIfuIness, that it had been denom-
mated, BY common consent, the Devils Clock. /
This time-keeping edifce struck all manner Of
hours in all manner Of ways; but whatever might
be its vagaries, was always true to the solemn
.twelve" at midnight; SO that Herr Bomgarten,
not without reason, fixed upon that hour to decide
his long cherished scheme.
The day at length arrived, and it may be imag-
iped that not a.little preparation had been made.
The piana- forte Zone Of Korner s latest improve
ments) was placed under mirror Of ofimmense size,
and exactly opposite to the lfataD clock.
!, Azalia was dressed in holiday suit, and love-
ier than usual, and from the circumstances, her
father argued prosperous finale. At about
O'Clock in the evening the suitors were assembled;
and the players who yentured to offer themselves
nj comnettors for SO beautiful and SO rich prize
we've four ii number, They sayerallyz sat down
70 the. instrument, and each appeared more than
his predecessor, to astonish the audience; and it
vas aeneraliy imagined that the last performer
,ronld he entitled to become the fair girls hus-
hand Rut ere Herr Bemparten had quite resoly-
= s, h;s ovn mind the eroct merits Of each can.
d;,3ate another stood beside the instrument. and
r,tber ~ sions t,an words Indicated that he. too.
,,,,at .,ry his skin. -. 8, =
Tbo oassts seemed ertremelv nnzzled st this