Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-02-25

running with great speed through the rooms,
from window TO window, the old stranger
pursuing him with hunting whip in his hand,
and often failing TO ovortake him. But it
sometimes seemed to the crowd below that he
had succeeded in catching the young man;
for they could hear, issuing from the rooms
above, cries Of anguish and sounds Of blows.
The ladies of the city took such deep concern
in this cruel treatment Of the youthful strang-
er, that they induced the burgomaster at last
to take some notice Of the affair. lie wrote
letter 20 the strange gentleman, in which he
alluded in vigorous terms TO his harsh treat
mont of his nephew and threatened him, in
case similar scenes continued to transpire,
with taking the unfortunate young man un-
der his especial protection
Imagine the surprise Of the burgomastor
when he saw the stranger entering his doors
for the only time in ten years. The old gem
tleman excused his conduct towards his neph-
ew on the plea Of the peculiar directions of
the parents Of the young man who had en-
trusted him with his education. He stated
that the youth was in most respects clever
and intelligent but that he learned languages
with great difficulty; that he wished so earn
cstly to make his nephew an accomplished
German scholar, that he might afterwards
take the liberty 90 introduce him to the soci-
city of Grunwicse, and the progress made by
him was so dscouraging, that on many oc-
casions there was no better course TO pursue
than to beat it ;ato him by a suitable castiga-
ton. The burgomaster expressed himself
perfectly satisfied with this explanation, rec
commended little more moderation in the in
fiction Of chastisement, and reported in the
evening at the beer saloon. that he had rarely
met in his whole life, better informed and
more agreeable gentleman than the stranger.
"The only pity is, he added, "that he goes
so little into society but think, as soon as
his nephew can speak little German be will
visit our circle oftener
By this single incident the opinion of the
/ city was completely changed. They regarded
/ the stranger as a woll-bred man, felt a desire
20 cultivate his acquaintance, and considered
it 70 be perfectly in order, when now and then
q frightful shrek was heard TO issue from the
dcsoate house. "lIa is giving his nephew O.
lesson IN German. the Grunwesclonians said
and went on without paying further attention
90 the matter Three months passed by, and
the tuition In German seemed 20 have come &,
a close but the old man went a step further
There lived in the city an old, infrm French
man, who gave lessons in dancing TO the young
people. This man the stranger summoned tc
his house. and told him that he desired him
to teach his nephew to dance.
There was nothing, the Frenchman secretly
declared, so wonderful in all the world as
these dancng-lessons. The nephew, tall
slim. young man. with rather short legs, mad
his appearance. he said, in a red frock, hi
hair nicely curled, wide trousers, aud whit
gloves. He spoke little. and with foreigi
accent. and seemed, in the beginning, rathe
intelligent and docile; but he frequentl,
broke out into the most ridiculous leaps
dancing the widest tours in which he madl
entrseiats which surpassed all the dancin.
masters he had ever seen or heard Of Whei
it was attempted TO check his extrayagances
he would pull off the delicate daucing-shoe
from his feet throw them at the Frenchman
head. and run round the chamber on all lours
At the noise. the old gentleman would rusl
out of his room, in large, red bed-gown
and a cap of gold paper on his head. and la,
his whip heavily over his nephew's shoulders
The nephew would at once begin to howl il
the most frghtful manner, spring on the tabl
and high bookcases, and even on the uppe
sashes of the windows, and talk all the tim
a strange, foreign language The old gentle
man would give him no respite. but, soizinl
him by the leg. would pull him down, bea
him soundly. and draw his neck-cloth tighte
round his neck by the buckle; after whicl
the nephew would become mannerly and sobe
again, and the dancinglesson go on quietl,
to its close
These dancing-lessons very nearly kille,
the old Frcnchman: but the dollar which b
regularly received and the good wine whicl
the old gentleman brought out, always tool
him back to his pupil, often as he resolve'
never to set foot in the hateful house again.
The people Of Grunwiesel looked on thes
things very differently from the Frenchman
They settled in their own minds that th
young gentleman possessed great talents 70
society; and the ladies in the place all con
graduated hemselves-sutfering as they die
from great lack of gentlemen--on the acqui
sition of so vigorous a dancer for the coming
winter.
One morning, the maids, returning from
market described to their masters and mis-
tresses singular incident. They had seei
an elegant carriage standing before the stran
gers house, and servant in rich livery hold
ing the step. Two gentlemen had entered tn
carriage, the servant sprung into the boot be
hind, and the carriage-only imagine it :
drove straight off to the house of the burgo
master.
Everywhere people were in raptures will
the two strangers, and regretted only tina
they had not made thoir acquaintance earlier
The old gentleman showed himself to be
wol-bred, sensible man. who laughed little
to be sure, in everything he said, rendering i
difficult to know whether he was in jest o
earnest but who talked of the weather, tn
scenery, and the picnics to the cave in tn
mountain, so politely and shrewly that ever
one was delighted But the nephew IL
bewitched everybody he won all hearts. A
for his exterior, it was impossible TO call hin
exactly handsome The lower part of hi
face, especially his jaw, projected too far, an
his complexion was extremely dark; Will
occasionally he made the most remarkabl
grimaces, shutting his eyes, and swapping hi
teeth together queerly; but people found tn
shape of his features exceedingly interesting
"He is an Englshman," people said they ar
all So We must not be too particular wit
an Englishman.'
Towards his old uncle he was very submis
sive; for whenever he began to jump too vi
vaciously about the room, or, as he SCENE
particularly inclined to do, draw his feet u
,,,dor him on his chair "A single stern planc