Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1853-07-14
nj | S G. E Il 4 n E 0 i S.
THE DEVILS CLOCK.

BY TIE AUTHOR OF ga MARRIAGE ON THE EVE
BATTLE.
The town Of Herringhausen, not, hun
dred miles from Frankfort, is one of the
most picturesque antique in Germany, and
contains about 10000 inhabitants. like
to prepare my readers with lolerable idea
of The locality wherein the events narrated
transportation then ] may hope to impress
them with a iwo-folI sympathy IN my dra
mats persona. The street in which Herr
Bomgarten had his residence, was among
the oldest in the town aforesaid, and bis re-
sidence, the .oIde~l 10 it.
He was himself, also. high-dried piece
Of antiquity, usually enveIoped in a cloud
OF smoke from sunrise ill sunset, excep,
only when his fair dau9he; sat beside him
al their evening meal. and talked over the
affairs of The day. On such occasions he
would n4rrale incidents in his progress
through life, and dwell upon acquiring the
Independence which they then enjoyed. He
had one passion in cXcess-an intense love
of music; and had at one tine been no mean
proficient on the violin. A, the festivals
hec periodically in all the principal Ger
man towns, his judgment was appealed to;
and indeed. no meeting of the kind was con-
sldered complete, if he. by any chance. was
absent. II may therefore, naturally be in
ferred lha, his daughter had early been in
slrucled in the elements Of the art and al
nineteen she was pianist Of considerable
attainmen,s. These circumstances formed
the basis OF desire which become stronger
ith lis years, and which confirmed a re-
solve, that she should wed one of The mos,
accomplished musicians of the age.
They say that when all other passions die.
ambition survives, and acquires force pro-
porIoncd to The solllariness and singIeness
of ain. Certainly i, is that out of the many
suItors whom the beauty or gen,leness and
the disposition of AzalIs attracted to The do
mlcIl OF Herr Bomgareu, not one so scru-
pulous was he on tbe score of musical per-
fection) was permitted by him to continue
his visits. Anxiety for the fulfiIlmen, OF
hope being usually in proportion To It's
strength, her sire. as the young lady ap-
preached twenty one, began to experience
dread that he might not see her selled.-
This preyed upon his spirits greatly, and
urged him TO publish as widely as possible
his intentions. To that end be invited to
his house on a certain day, all of The class
musical who should choose to compete for
his daughter, declaring that a, midnigh, he
would decide on the claims of the aspirants.
Now, it is Necessary that ] should inform
my readers, that in The great apartment Of
Herr Bomgarten's mansion, there was q
piece of furniture supposed 10 have been
fabricated by Hungarian magician, and
which exhibited so much Of apparent will
fullness that II was denominaied, by COM
mon consent, the Devils Clock.
This time keeping edifce struck all man.
ner of hours IN all manner of ways; but
whatever nigh, be its vagares, was always
true TO the solemn 'lwelve' at midnight; so
that Herr Bomgarlen, not without reason,
fixed upon thai hour to decide his long cher
ished scheme.
The day at length arrived, and it may be
imagined that not q lille preparation had
been made. The piano-forle zone of Kor-
ner's latest improvements was placed under
a mirror of immense size, and exactly op-
poslte to the fatal clock.
Azalia was dressed in holiday suit. and
lovelier than usual, and from the circum
stances, her father argued prosperous f.
male. A. about O'Clock in the evening the
su'iors were assembled; snd the play ers
who ventured 10 offer themselves as com
pelltors for SO beautiful and SO rich prize
were four in number. They severaIly sat
down to the instrument, and each appeared
more lhan his predecessor, TO as,onish the
audience; and it was generally imagined
that the last performer would be entitled to
become the fair girl's husband But ere
Herr Bomgarten had quite resolved in his
own mind the exact merits of each candi.
date, another stood beside the instrument,
and rather by signs than words, indicated
that he too mus, try his skill.
The guests seemed extremely puzzled al