Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-29
THE IMPROVISATRICE:
Or, the Artists Daughter.
A TALE OF RHINELAND

We copy the following from a small volume
| entitled Curioso's Tales, published by Phillips
& Sampson, Boston. 1t is translation from
| the German of Braun, and is beautiful in its
simplicity:
There was once poor artist who lived in
| the village of Ehrenbreistein, on the banksof
the Rhine. He had been married six years to
| a lovely woman, who the Joy of his heart
and the light of his home; sac appreciated
his art and stimulated his exerlions; she
never annoyed him by complaining of power
| ty, but in many a secret hour of labor contriv-
ed to procure means TO relieve their real
wants. The artist loved his wife even more
| than his art, for she seemed the soul that en-
bodied and created his ideas; she seemed to
| lend wings to his genius, which without her
could not free itself from the chilly atnos-
| phere of earth.
| Soon after the sixth celebration of their
! uptial day, the wife was taken i'll and died
] We will draw a veil between us and the sor-
| row OF the husband; ii is too holy to be pro-
famed by curious eyes. He buried his treas
ure in the warm bosom OF earth. and over her
resting place planted loves own flower,
| forget-me-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 his
misery.
L
ming light; the blue waters of the MOselle
united here with her dusky brother, the bridge
OF coats swung to and fro, as stately steamers
or white sailed sloops passed over the proud
river. The Cathedral bell of CoblentZ rang
out the hour for mass, and the boatmen I'M
coverd their heads as the sacred sound greeted
them over the water. But the artist only
saw the river rolling at his feet and thought
how soon il would bear away his liteless
L.,lt a..
plunge when sweet voice rang on his ear,
calling, Father fatherl' He turned to see
his little Julie, his only child, running to-
wards him; her voice won him back to earth;
she had saved him. Her 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 cheeks aud as Julie
stood there with her little arms outstreched
towards her father, his heart was once more
warmed into life by this ray of hope and love.
He caught her to his heart, aud covered her
face with kisses, mingled with tears. Julie
looked up and said.
"Dear papa, | came to tell you n dream |
had last night. i saw my darling mamma:
she came To tell me in dress so white il
dazzled like flame: wings like rainbows were
on her shoulders; she had in her hand crystal
vase filled with little shining stunes; she took
them together, and then | saw they were
beads around my neck, and said, My child.
these pearls are the tears your father has
wept for me, they are holy; | bring them 10
you TO keep you from all bad spirits; while
you wear them you will lie gifted with power
few mortals possess. But you must be good
and true; you must listen 10 the voices sent
TO teach you, and obey without question Ii
you forget my words you will lose both IA
fhsar nd fk.art al. kr.n
mamma, and | slept till late this morning.
When l awoke there was nothing around my
neck. Was u dream, pSpa!p
Il know not, my Julie. Never forget 10,
for II ouiy dream, il was vision of your
mother, aud that is worth nil the reality of
life.'
After this. Rocmmer (for this was the ar
lists name,) permitted Julie 10 accompany
him IN all his wandering; but his melancholy
deepencd; nothing could arouse or interest
him. One day be took Julie TO visit an old
aunt residing at kappellen; the little village
nj the foot III the castle of StolZenfels. Here
he made arrangements for to remain, telling
her be must 60 away for n short time bat
would return again. Julie was left la charge
OF n kind-hearted woman; she lived quite
alone, and was glad 10 have a companion; she
Was poor, receiving from the government a
small pension ~ the widow OF a man Who
held some state Office. Days, weeks and
months were passed by Julie, watching and
waiting for her father; still he did not return.
aud At length the poor child almost ceased
10 expect HIM. She passed her time wand r.
ing over the mountains, among old ruins,
aud wild forests, following the course of the
Rhine IA and out OF the green Islands formed
by It's rushing waters. Every haunt in the
forests, every stone of the ruins were familiar |
70 her. Julie had no companions, but the |
birds sang 20 Der NOR than sweet tones; she |
understood their unrevealed language; they |
told her OF the spirits Of the air. who minister
ID 70 the wants Of she children IL mea; and /
though she could not see these radiant beings. |
he knew they we're aboather. aud she looked /