The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-04-02
VOL. XII.

and there was singular tenderness in hi.
tone, as he said
All ! Michal, you should have beec a boy
you should have had our sex's stron ~nerves
and deep vitality! our unfailing egot,sm, oul
varied resources, and independence of the af
fections! Yes, you should have been boy"
Are men, indeed, so independent of affec
ton 2" asked Michal, thoughtfally.
Not always; but the world, the flesh, and
the devil, put great many cheats in their way
and for the most part they take them up, and
never know their mistake"
IF they are easily satisfied, why may not T.
a woman, be so too?"
because you are a woman, and no cheat
because you have a woman's heart, and man:
culture, and your judgment will make sad work
with the cravings of the heart But what
what have you here? Where did you pick uE
that little brown thing? Is il human2"
His eye had accidentally lighted on me, anG
Miss Michal could not help smiling at his looh
of comical surprise, even while she said, hasti
ly, as if fearful that his looks or manner migh'
wound me
at is new pupil. forgot that you had
not seen her; but she arrived during your alb
sence from home. For various reasons, my
mother has placed her wholly under my care
and we get on nicely. She is very human,
assure you, sir"
She beckoned me to her, as she added
"Come and speak with Professor Cavendish
ZerEna. Never mind his words, for he, too, is
very fruman."
" said Zarlina, Herr Professor" interrupt
ed Miss Michal.
"And say La Zingorella, Fraulein Michal
Da th,pE II pdaraI ,Lol1 - tbs
among the Carpathian mountains, and followed
the Danube, (the noble later, as the old Ro
mans had it, from its source to where, HYDRA
mouthed, it hurries itself into the Euxine, moi
to know that look? 1t is Bohemian, child
the real gipsy eyes aud skin. Her progenitors
might have fought under Ziska, the famous
Bohemian patriot, and been present at his skin
ming, for aught you or l know. Zerlins no.
no. it is Zingorella! / know that look WELL"
He started. laughed as | met his halfseri-
Gus, halfcomic look, and, seizing me by the
arm, he looked down into my face again, while
his heavy eyebrows became contracted, and his
whole look eager and excited, as he said
Laugh again, laugh again, with just that
lock, girl"
He might as well have told me to fly. was
not one to laugh at order, and l made an un-
easy effort to elude his grasp, which was none
of the softest He felt it, and half showed me
away, as he lifted his hand, and said
Contrary! and that is very human, too,
Michal."
Yes, and quite reasonable, as was your re-
quest-command, rather" she replied. "But
what was there peculiar in Lina's laugh? May
we know, dear Master ?"
"Nothing, nothing" he answered, hastily.
u only fancied slight resemblance to one
once knew. 1t was but fancy; the child is
lank and lean, and eerie-looking enough to
give rise to any fancies."
Michal still looked curious, and he added,
with testy impotence, "What should care
for the grinniDg of girl? Where is the Ger
man lesson for today?" He seized volume,
hat called Egmont' to the scaifoid, "a5Te rregd
hose words with which the poet makes that
Prince greet them:
"Horch Horch Vie oft rief mich diesea'
SchaU zun .freyen SclriH mach dem Felie des
Streits und des Siegs! Auch ich sctrzite ei-
aem ehrencollen Tode aus disem kerkerQntge-
gen; ich Sterile fir die Freghea, fir 6'e ich
lebte und .tocht."
THUS true man meets death, Michal."
She answered only by glance, but / saw
it, and thought of Miriam and Esther, my old
Bible heroines, and thus, for another holy hour.
they went on reading those strange-sounding
words and /, falling into my old habit. sat
and watched them. Then the Professor flung
down the book, and with an imperious COM
mand to Michal to let all books alone, and
90 mind her netting, and such-like works Of fem
inity," left the room, without apparently remem-
bering my presence. This was my first intro-
the next six months our intercourse, beyond
hot which off n.t his xuonpfy loc-
lures required, ended, but not our aea ,aint-
ance, at least on my part; for felt dsawn to
lock at him, and study him, just as ,sould
any of those strange animals that Uncle steve
used to describe to me years before. :. When
ever he spoke to me, he took tone of positive
authority, which did not like, but could nei-
ther resent nor diGobey. Besides, he had sAlled
me "lank and brown, and eerie-looking, and
was almost fifteen, an age at which girS, are
strangely sensitive about such matters. : was
the truth, knew, for stood before my glass
a long time that night, but then it was ntne OF
his affair. If any one in the class was reP.oved,
his eye always rested on me, and a allure
on my port to answer any of the gu stions
which he sometimes put in the coursecbf his
lectures on English history, would irritste him
far worse than if Sophie May, or any of the
other girls, had failed a dozen times. 1t was
settled in my mind, that the Professor disliked
me, and drey myself within my shell of re
serve, which was becoming quite hard by this
time and was as supine and indifrrent as tur
tie, whenever he came to read with Mss Michal
She knew nothing of what passed N the lee
ture-room, for | kept my own counsel; but shs
was evidently annoyed that he toox no NOR,
interest in her pupil, and always tried to pac,
my achievements ia tho most favorable light
had truer eye, more facile use of the pen
ell or crayon, than herself; and, incited By he
praises, and the appreciation of Her Heller,
had made some very clever sketches, for
school girl, and / heard her, one day, speskin!
to the Professor, of my drawings. / was il
my own room, and could not avoid hearing
what was said, particularly his harsh voice, q
he commented npoa them. =
"Cleveri" he said, Fit might; be, if tina
shot house7 we'll, so be it--was NO
more than the eighth of an inch out of the PEI
pendicular and the water.line, for that grs
space is of course supposed to indicate water
and thlt confusion of dark lines and whit
spaces snip, xege anything like level!
1t was my pet effort-a Fater cene-t
which all my memories of the Cove haa IeI
an interest, and which not only ns tesche
bqt Mam'selle Legore, who was no had arti
herself, mad thought worthy of COMMUNICATION
and l drew my breath hard as inwardl
vowed it was the last time he should have o.
cssion to criticize the details of Iny drawing
Neat day, surprised my teaches .ith r
quest to be permitted to return to the udimen
of drawing, aud for several weeks :. drew I
lines and circles, angles and hexsgd5s, with
| zeal that delighted while it puzzled him.
have Q steady end true hand now, thanks
that criticism.
did not catch Michaps reply, bli again Ii
harsh, quick tones said
Remarkable yes, as child's frs attemp
to walk. Zingorella is not a genius Michal
she has the usual faculties and abiliti g of gir
of her age-nothing more, take ~ w,sed for it