The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-08


strictest truth, when we assure onr readers that
the conviction that there was human being
of such disinterested and generous feelings 10
be found in the world, and that he had been so
fortunate as to attract the attention of such
person to himself, filed Franks head with more
joyous and happier sensations than the posses
sion of the presents.
Widen, my love-Rosa, dear-Heavens, our
poor Mannerstedt has reason for rejoicing;
these clothes-look, look--only look )" and the
lady held the suit alof, took the bank notes
from Mannerstedt's hand, and displayed them
to her husband.
Yet all this, though anything but proper, had
such a look Of good win and kindness, though
it was after Madame Widen's own way, that
Frank allowed it to pass without opposition.
Rosa seemed to look only at the writing.
"What do you think, my angel?" asked her
mother. "Do you know the hand? Oh, /
should SO like to find out who it came from
Have you ever seen the hand before, Rosa,
| dear?o
= q MOL cannot recoilsnt it iust thu instslt,"
replied she, slowly; but Mannerstedt, whose
eye had followed her movements, fancied he
could discover that she only avoided speaking
her thoughts, in order not to expose the giver.
swell, be it who it may" said Madame
Widen, the cloth is charming" to assure
herself of its fineness, she rubbed it with her
| finger with the air of a Judge; yes, quite fine
at least twelve ri1-dollars the yard"
"And such an enclosure, too" said the Mer-
chant; "upon my word, you have reason to
thank your good fortune"
When the party had finished tea, the Mer-
! chant went to his own room to read the papers.
The children assembled around their Christmas
tree, which had now been placed in their maids
room and after Madame Widen had strove in
| 20 otoJf in
she arose, and went to pay visit to her house
keeper, Dame Bern-she had few orders to
give for the morrow-but her real object was
to impart to her con6dentially the contents of
the packet which Mannerstedt had received,
and to ascertain whether she could find out tho
giver.
Dame Bern's apartment was simple and
neat. She was sitting on a little old-fashioned
SOFIA piece of furniture which, on account of
its comfortable qualities, she had taken from
among the lumber of the garnet. Before the
sofa was small square table, and upon this
were spread the many-colored cards, for the
old lady's favorite game of "pdtience," or for
tune telling. Besides these, the table contain.
box in the shape of heart, Ia relic of the year
l768, her book of devotion, a psalter, and
her pocket handkerchief.
Her mistress, who in certain cases was very
condescending, took chair opposite to her,
and after she had told Dame Bern the whole
matter, and the latter had promised to do her
best to throw light upon the subject by the fol
lowing evening, Madame Widen added
ado just take one look, Dame Bern, and see
what the cards portend for our house. l have,
: as usual, the diamond; give Rosa the heart
and, for the fun of the thing, let Mr.. Manner
stedt have the club"
d.. Ill A. L.. IL
J pinch of snuff, and then handed the box to
: her mistress. The moment was silent, earnest,
and full of import; the great diamond and all
his court were laid out the prophecies took
another pinch of snuff, and "hemmed;" Mad.
anne Widen said
"Well?"
"Well, look, Madame" Dame Bern com
menced. at is exactly as it has been several
times this winter. A terrible TODD in the
Observation-Disclosures and strangers without
end, and all appears to originate from a fair
complexioned, and, as it appears, elderly gen
tleman. 1t is very clear, too, that there is not
a sign OF wedding upon the cards in this case,
for the Captain is young, and dark; besides, it
does not look a bit like wedding, for all can
see and Judge; alas it rather seems as if some
great sorrow would follow all this hustle. Miss
Rosa is upon the cards, light and happy; but
good Heavens, how black the Captain is look
ing! What can all this mean? Aye, aye;
say nothing-nothing at all-but-it is very
,ingular-but nothing regarding him and our
young lady will agree. The fair gentleman
is silly to talk of such thing-but it does look
as if he is interfering-but what seems very
clear, at any rate, is, that there will be no wed
ding here, in this house, so very soon, after all
The lady seemed to find no great satisfaction
} in what Dame Bern had told her. She sighed
deeply, but nevertheless kept her seat, as if fet
tered by the mystical captivation of the noble
science.
| "For Mr.. Mannerstedt," resumed Dame
Bern, there Is upon the cards some great, YET
still distant, good fortune. Look here! !" and
she again began to count. latter sorrow come
sunny days. Truly, now, the dear boys fortune
is here, bright and peaceful; but he must wan
der over many long and weary path, ere he
, shall attain the end. And now I'll pack and
7 shuttle the cards again, and see if they give
/ anything better next time"
In the mean time, Frank and Rosa had beer
left alone in the front apartment. Each sal
some moments in silence. At length Frank
! commenced
May L venture upon the liberty of asking i
Miss Widen is acquainted with the hand which
/ wrote those lnes?" He extended the paper
, towards her.
"YesI know them WELL" answered Rosa
"and to you only will l intrust the name of the
noble writer. 1t is the hand of Professor Ling
: When l was in his study, few day ago, saw
his handwriting and observed it so exactly
that L cannot mistake it."
"Oh is it possible" cried Frank, with Joy
! full emotion, that the old sage has been pleas
/, ed to bestow some attention upon me? Do YOU
think that he would take it i'll, if were to of
fer him my heartfelt thanks?"
2 81 hardly know how to advise you; but the
, circumstance of his having addressed the packet
himself, leaves room for the presumption thai
l he did not intend to preclude all possibility o.
: discovering the donors name; and, therefore
| think that perhaps it might be the best way
to act"
! "Then l will do So" rejoined Frank warm
ly. Let him take it as he WILL shall have
done my duty. Should he be formal and cold
l shall cut my visit short. Oh, trust l shall
lind the right tone, please God. At any rate
g L must make the trial"
Alter Mannerstedt had concluded, Rosa wen
I to the piano, opened little drawer, and tool
out a packet, at the appearance of which, Frank
was sensible OF an emotion of quite different
n nature from that which he experienced on re
= ceiving the first
t 1t is such a perfect trihe," said Rosa, a.
she offered it to him, "but worked every stitch
. of it myself"
s Hurriedly, and with glowing cheeks and
: beaming eyes, Mannerstedt took the packet
q and pressed the portfolio, which we have pre-
t viously seen in Rosa's hands, to his lips. The
contents were now exposed. Mannerstedt re
e garded the embroidery on one side, and hi.
heart glowed with delight as his eye fell upor
E; the work. The embroidery represented tn,
e moment when he restrained the horse, willis
n IL