Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-18
nlistelloneous.

A TALE FROM THE RUSSIAN.

a Ihbh Inn hOSoiAN'
was at Vienna few years ago. After try
ing several tables-de' hotel, established myself
in the Judenstrasse, frequsnted by select socie-
ty. Mr.. Muller, master of this establishment,
did its honors with thorough German gravity.
Perfect order, extreme and conscientious clean
liness, reigned throughout the house. One
might pass through the servants room, and
even through tho kitchen, without meeting with
anything by which the sight wash the least Of
Tended. The cellar was as well arranged as =
bookcase, and the regulations Of the house, as
regarded both the service and the hours Of meals,
were as punctually observed as they could have
been in seminary. If a guest came in late,
Though it were but ten minutes, he was served
apart in an adjoining room, that the comfort Of
oil might not be sacrificed for the convenience
Of ono.
In the conversation at this table d'hote there
prevailed tone of good society which excluded
neither ease nor pleasantly; but caustic or
indelicate expression would have Jared on the
ear like a false note in well-executed concert.
The countsnance of Mrs. Muller, in which be-
nevolence predOminated, was the barometer BY
which the young men regulated themselves when
the influence Of Rhine wine or Stettin beer
might lead them little too far. Then Mrs.
Muller assumed an air of reserve by few
words she adroitly brske of the conversation
and turned it into another channel; and she
glanced gravely at her daughter, who, without
afsctation or pouting, kept her eyes fixed on
her plate until the end Of the meal.
Ellen Muller was the type of those beautiful
German faces which the French call cold because
they know not how to read them she was 8
happy mixture of the Saxon and Hanoverian
characters. pure and open brow. eyes Of in
expressible softness, lips habitually clesed with
maidenly reserve, transparent complexion,
whose charming blushing each moment protest
cd against the immobility Of her bearing auburn
hair, whose rich and silken ourls admirably har.
monized with the serenity Of her features, a
graceful and flexible form just expanding into
womanhood; such was Ellen Muller.
A councillor Of tho Court, Hofrath Baron
Won Moth, who had resigned his functions il
consequence OF An injustice that had been don't
him, several students, whose parents had recon-
mended them 10 the vigilance Of MrMullsr, ant
. few merchants, comprised the majority Of th'
t habitual guests. Tho party was frequently in
creased by travellers, literary men and artists
After dinner, philosophy, politics, or literature
were the usual topics Of conversation, in which
Mr.. Muller, man Of extensive requirement
e and great good sense, took part, with choic'
t of expressions and elevation Of views that woul'
/ have astonished me in o man Of his station il
r any other country but Germany.
Q Sometimes Ellen would sit down to the piano
o and sing some Of those simple and beautiful mel
/. odiss in which the tenderness, the gravity an'
> piety of the German national character seem 4
mingle. The conversation ceased every coun
it tenancs expressed profound attention; and eacl
:, listener, as if he were assisting at religion
K service, translated the accents Of that universe
d language according to his sympathiss, his assO
Citations, and the habitusl direction Of his ideas