The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-02-15
NUMBER I61.

him no further information; al he could do was
to promise that, if the king sent the text
through him, it should be forwarded with the
utmost possible dispatch.
The day and the next passed, and yet Helm
rich heard nothing from either the king or Mar
| shall. Only an official intimation had been
sent, as was customary, that he had been Sc
| ileeted as the preacher on the following Sunday
ar the chapel royal. e,--<s .#F.
| IF it had not been that Heinrich knew him
self to possess no mean powers Of oratorys and
that he could even extemporize in case of emer-
gency, he would have certainly run array from
! Berlin and abured his discovered cousin As
it was, he abided the course of events, and for,
titled himself by prayer and philosophy for the
momentols hour Sunday morning arrived,
but no text!
Heinrich went to the church appointed, and
was conducted to the seat always set apart for
the preacher of the day. The king, with the
royal family, occupied their accustomed places.
The service commenced, but no text-the
prayers were ended, and while the organ peal
ed forth its solemn sounds, the preacher was
led to the pulpit. The congregation were as
tonished, not only at his youthfulness, but at
his being an utter stranger
The pulpit steps were gained, and the
possibly he should find the text placed for him
on the desk.
But. as he was on the point Of mouating the
etairs, an officer of the royal household deliy-
end to him folded piece of paper, saying
"His majesty sends you the text"
After having recited the preliminary pray
ers, the preacher opened the paper, and lott
was blank--not a word was written on it
What was to be done? Heinrich deliberately
examined the white sheet, and, after a short
pause, held it up before the congregation, say
Ing His majesty has furnished the text for
my sermon But you may perceive that moth
ing whatever is upon this sheet of paper. Out
God created the world;' l shall,
therefore, take the Creation for the subject of
my discourse this morning"
In accordance with this decision, the preach
er went through the whole of the first chapter
of Genesis in mastery way, his style being
forcibe and clear, and his fluency of language
remarkable. His audience, accustomed to the
kings eccentricities, were far more astonshed
at the dexterity with which the preacher had
extricated himself from the difficulty, than at
the dilemma in which he had been placed At
last the sermon was ended, the congregation
dismissed, and Heinrich found himself in the
sscristy receiving the congratulations of sever
al dignitaries of the church, who allprophesied
for him brilliant future.
Heinrich ventured to express his aInaZemene
at the singular proceeding Of the king, but was
told that he could only have arrived recently
from the provinces if he did not know that
such yagares were quite common to his maj
esty. In the midst of the conversation a mes
senger arrived to conduct him to the royal
presence. Being totally unaware what i'm
preston his sermon might have made upon the
king, the cousin seeker rather dreaded the ap-
preaching audience. But Heinrich had scarce
Iy crossed the threshold of the kings room
when his majesty jumped up, and thrust roll
Of paper into the young preachers hand, ex-
claiming, "Hurra, siri-puff away-take this
for the light you gave me!'
Then, throwing himself back in a chair, he
laughed heartily at the young preachers look
If surprise and confusion. The latter scarcely
Snew what reply to make or what to do, but
ust as he had got as far as Your majesty
-" the king interrupted him, saying, "Make
10 fine speeches; go home quietly and exam
ne the contents of the paper. You came to
Berlin to seek cousin; you have found one,
Who, if you 60 on steadily, will not neglect
you.' .s-... t.s-
1t is hardly necessary TO add that the roll
# paper contained good appointment at the
University of Berlin, and made Heinrich Mey-
r one the royal preachers. !