The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-01
VOL. TX.

last prayer that my dying lips can utter.
Your faithful and loving mother, even till
death, BEArA MANNERsrEDr."
Tears streamed down Franks cheeks, as,
with profound and unutterable emotion, and
with the deepest anxiety, he pressed to his lips
this last pledge of a mother so dearly beloved !;
and long, dreadful pause ensued, ere he could
summon sufficient courage to open Lifver's
letter. 1t had been written week after the
first, and informed him that his mother had
departed to realms of peace, and that her let
ter to him was the last deed of her life.
What he had written about business matters,
Frank did not see; he cast himself upon the
bed, crushing both letters in his hands he had
no more tears to shed-all was over-the last
tie was broken-the only heart which had been
entirely his own was cold-not another being
lived who loved him, who could pray for him,
and with him-not one relative, not friend
he was alone, quite alone. He felt it deeply,
strongly; his sorrow was greater than words
could express; and hour after hour passed
away, it became dark, he knew it not-the time
was long past when he should have been at
Mrs. Widen's house; but neither the invitation
nor the hour were remembered he was uncon-
scious of the world.
The tea table had been spread for the family
festival, in the large drawing-room, at the mer-
chants. At the head of the table sat Mrs.
Widen, surrounded by some ten or dozen
aged ladies, distant relatives of the family
A number of gentlemen, in like manner,
members of the family stock, and guests only
at Christmas, stood around Mr.. Widen, who
was comfortably seated on the sofa, smoking
lis pipe, while they were standing and listen
ing to exploits of lis youthful days, when he
sat before the desk as clerk, or when, in after
years. he strayed through foreign lands.
Near window, separate from the others, sat
Rosa and Captain Ferdinand, busily engaged
in conversation regarding the Professor and
his taste for solitude but the interesting dis
courses of the several groups. were often dis
turbed by the higher tones of the children in
the hall, who were frolicking and dancing around
the Christmas tree.
"Rosa, my dear Rosa" cried Mrs. Widen
turning her head as far as her new, stiff cap,
and the multitude of her curls, would allow
this noise, my love, quite unnerves me /; you
must really go out again, and reduce those
young people to order. Heavens. how vexatious
that Msnnerstedt has not come; and / had
reckoned completely upon him to amuse the
children, and in some degree regulate their
happiness within proper bounds. 1t is past
eight" added she, looking at her watch "the
poor lad does not usually neglect an opportuni-
ty of getting a warm cup of tea, which he often
needs; and, really, it seems to me as if some
thing must have gone wrong this evening.
Rosa, dear, tell Larson to go over and see if
Mr.. Mannerstedt is coming"
Rosa hurried out, and gave thesorders she
then flew up to her own room for few mo-
ments, to arrange her Christmas presents once
more. She had herself begun to be vexed, that
Mannerstedt should have been so late but not
until her mother said, "it seems to me that
things cannot be quite right today" had an
indescribable feeling Of apprehension, a certain
dark and mysterious foreboding, arose within
her heart. She then remembered that, to CON-
fort his anxiety, she had predicted he would
receive letters on Christmas eve.
"Only think, should it have happened" was
the silent current of her thoughts, !" that my
predictions may have deluded him with the
hope of happiness, and have brought him only
sorrow. Oh, it would be dreadful! Poor, poor
young man, was not your cup yet full?"
Rosa stood at the window, looking out upon
the street, and, while her fingers mechanically
turned about small packet which she had
destined for Mannerstedt she listened, with
strained attention, to catch what was passing
in the street below. However, she had to ex-
ercise her patience, for several minutes, and
ever a quarter of an hour, passed at length
she heard Larson returning, but now she felt
frightened, and could scarcely venture out upon
the stairs, for it was bad omen, that Larson
was rapidly running; and as she stood there,
leaning against the banister on the lower
step, the man rushed in from the entrance
hall.
well, Larson" said Rosa, addressing him
in a tone meant to be quite Indifferent, "what
is Mr.. Mannerstedt about-what makes him so
late ~
"Ah, he is so bad" responded Larson, quite
out of breath.
How so bad?" asked Rosa, pale and trem-
bling. "Is he ill?"
"Aye, gracious Heaven, that he is-at least
] could not make out what else it was" said
Larson; when l got there, asked on the Sec
ond floor if they knew whether the music master
was at home, and the girl said she believed not,
for she had not heard him for some hours past
| thought perhaps had better look for myself;
however, found his door at last, and knocked,
but no one answered, so | went in-the room
was dark as pitch, so that l could not even see
my hand before me. Are you there. Mr..
Mannerstedt?' | said, aloud then heard a
heavy sigh in one corner of the room. | felt
my way, and, after upsetting a little table, l
got hold of his head. Il beg pardon, SIR says
l. How in Heavens name is it with your
honor? Miss Rosa sent me here to see after
you, for the mistress has been expecting you
this long time
"'Thanks, thanks, said he, in a low tone.
Well, well, friend but he was not well, for
he was glowing like fire. but why does not
your honor come, then, if you are not i'll p /
asked again. Come said he, 'where-where
should l Gomez To Mr.. Widen's, of course
says |. 'All the rest are there already is it
you, Larson? said he, raising himself up lit
tie; 'ah, yes; | recollect now, but cannot go;
L am not well l have had a sad, sad Christ
mas eve the saddest in all my life be so goos
as to make my excuse to your mistress, for
having forgotten to send them word Yes
says !, I'm do that for certain; but do you not
want anything-ights, or anything else?' to
which he replied, want nothing
farewell, Larson"
Rosa had sufficient fortitude to listen to Lar
sons tedious narrative, and to procure some
aid for the poor young man, whose grief in his
solitary condition she could well conceive. She
was able to go in, and, though pale and slight
~ trembling, she managed to communicate to
her mother the sad result of Larson's mission.
Good God! what Indebtedness +" exclaim-
ed the lady, her head dress shaking with agita-
ton. "Who in Heavens name should comfort
the poor young man, if l do not? He has so
few houses that he can visit, and in the hour of
need, Heaven knows that few will get fewer
still; but we have never felt thus. Rosa. do
listen to what am saying, my love, and not
stand there staring at the Christmas tree, when
a poor fellow creature is in trouble Larson, l
say, shall go there again soon, and take a
couple of candles with him, and if it is cold he
shall make fire; and Karin shall go and take
him some tea, and make him drink something
warm, and tell the housekeeper to send him
some rice broth and cold fowl; fish is good
for nothing when a man is ill: and Larson