Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-08-21
THE IMPROVIsATRICE;
Or, The Artists Daughter.
A TALE OF ltIIINELAND.

We copy the following from small volume
ENTITLED CuriosOs 7aics, published by Phil
lips & Sampton, Boston. 1t is n translation
from the German Of Braun, and is beautiful
i'll its simplicity:
There was once q poor artist who lived in
the village Of Ehrenbrestcin, on the banks OF
the Rhine. lie had been married six years
to lovely woman who was the Joy Of his
heart and the light of his home; She apprc-
ciatcd his art aud stimulated his excrtions =
she never annoyed him by complaining Of
poverty; but in many secret hour Of labor
contrivcd to procure means to relieve their
real wants. The artist loved his wife even
more than his art, for she seemed the soul
that embodied and created his ideas; she
seemed to lend wings to his genius, which
without her could not free itself from the chill
y atmosphere Of earth.
Soon after the sixth celebration of their
nuptial day, the wife was taken i'll and died.
We will draw veil between us and the sor-
row of the husband; it is too holy to be pro.
famed by curious eyes. lie buried his treas
urc in the warm bosom of earth, md over her
resting place planted loves own flower, tho for
gct-mc-not. For days he remained alone with
his grief; he would take no food, would see
no one; then he resolved he would live no
longer; in his despair he went to the river
side, determined to lay down life and end his
misery.
Tho Rhine flashed and ripplcd in the morn.
ing light; the blue waters Of the Mosellc uni.
ted here with her dusky brother, the bridge
Of boats swung to and fro, as stately steamers
or white sailed sloops passed over the proud
river. The cathedral bell of Coblcntz rang
out the hour Of mass, and the boatmcn un.
covered their heads as the sacred sound greet.
cd them over the water. But the artist only
saw the river rolling at his feet and thought
how soon it would bear away his lifcless body;
his arms were lifted to make the fatal plunge
when sweet voice rang on his car, calling
Father! fathcr!" He turned to see his lit
tic julie, his only child, running toward him
her voice won him back to earth she had sa
we'd him! Hcp face was like her mothers -
the same large hazel eyes beamed beneath the
low brow, over which hung long golden curlS
the same sweet mouth dimpled with smiles
the rosy checks and as Julie stood there, with
her little arms outStretchcd towards her f.
thcr, his heart was once more warmed into
life by this ray Of hope and love. Hc caught
her to his heart, and covered her face with
kisses, mingled with tears. julio looked uI
and said:
"Dcar papa, came to tell you dream
had last night saw my darling mamma
she came to tell mo in dress so white it dag
ZlGd like flame; wings like rainbows were on
her shoulders she had in her hand crySta
vase filled with little shining stones she took
a silver thread from her arm and strung then
together, and then l saw they were bead.
around my neck, aud said" Ny child, thcs,
pearls are the tears your father has wcpt 70,
me; they arc holy; bring them to you t
keep you from all bad spirits; while you wca
theul you will be gifted with power few NOR
tails possess. But you must be good and true
you must listen to the voices sent to teacl
you, and obey without question. lfyou for
get my words1you will lose both father an,
mother" Then cloud fell about mamma
and slept till late this morning. When
awOke there was nothing around my neck
Was it only dream, papaY"
~ know not, my Julie. Mover forget il
for if only dream, it was . vision of you
mother, and that is worth oil the reality o
lifc."
After this, Roemor (for that was the artist
namc,) permitted Julie to accompany him il
all his wanderings; but his melancholy deep
cned; nothing could arouse or interest him
One day he took Julie to visit an old aunt re
siding at Kappellen, the little village at tn
foot of the castle Of Stolzenfels. Hero b
made arrangements for her to remain, tcllin
her he must so away for short time, bu
would return again. julio was left in charg
of kind-hcartcd woman; she lived quit
alone and was glad to have companion; sh
was poor, receiving from the government
small pension as the widow Of man VIII
held some state Office. Days, weeks an
months were passed by Julie, watching an
waiting for her father; still he did not return
and at length the poor child almost ceased
expect him. She passed her time wanderin
4 over tho mountains, among old ruins and vii
forests, following the course Of the Rhine
and out Of the green islands formed by il
rushing waters. Every haunt in the fOrest
every stone Of the ruins were familiar to he
julie had no companions, but the birds san
to her more than sweet tones; she understOo
their unrevealed language; they told her {
tho spirits of the air, who ministered to Ii
wants Of the children of men and though 81
could not see these radiant beings, she knc
they were about her, and she looked into Il
deep blue heavens with reverence and ChildiS
: trust These wcrO jules teachers these Il
voices which her mother promised should d
rect her she learned from them that the noe
lace of pearls still claSped her neck, but 81
could not see it.
The birds taught her to sing, and the AoV
r crs revealed 10 her the powers Of weaving h
8 thoughts into verse; her voice would gu'
out into melodies SO wonderfully sweet al