Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1859-11-18
LITcHFIELD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER IS, 1859.

:" Berthalde, remain with me littl
while," the. Kapell meister said, when o
the day succeeding to the Electors visit
the mass was over and the singers were d.
, parting.
Standing beside him. she listened, as wa
often her delight to do, to slow movemen
that he played, until the rest were gone, an,
they two were alone. Then, the Master Gle
sed the organ, and coming to her took he
hand in bis. A small, thin, delicate hand i
, still was. And she herself too was small
but no longer now child, nor looking lik
! one.
Berthalde," the Kapell-meister said, 81
have news for you. Have You no suspicion
what it is ?"
She shook her head.
/ did nothing happen yesterday 2"
Yesterday |" she exclaimed, "you NEAR
the Electors visit 2"
=" do, and what have to tell you nos
is this, that his highness has expressed wish
that you should accept an engagement in
the choir Of his court chapel at Dresden"
He watched her face as he spoke, and 6
look Of almost tender pity beamed from bis
dark eyes as he saw the sudden change
She stood before him pale as DEATH her head
bowed down, her lips quivering no word
broke from her. She stood like one turned
into marble, quite still and calm her arms
had fallen down, and the hands were clasp,
ed. Her attitude was that of one whom
some great Sudden grief had crushed.
My child, what is there in this news SO
much to grieve you? ! thought that you
would have rejoiced at it,"
She was still mute, and he anxiously i'm
plored her to arouse herself.
She did arouse herself, and crushing down
the sorrow within her, tried to speak.
Master, forgive me it came so sudden
ly-I am quite unprepared," she said, faint
DID l then tell it to you too abruptly :?
Sit down and calm yourself little WHILE
Why, Berthaldc," he said, half laughing,
you look as frightened as you did that day,
so long ago, when for the first time | saw
yon at the chuIch door below"
Still she wept.
Berthalde," he continued, "you must
tell me what is grieving you. 1 cannot
comfort you if you will not tell me what
your sorrow is"
Through her tears she tried to answer
him and though her voice was broken, her
tone was almost passionate in its earnestness,
as she said:
90 sir, have lived here all my life.-
All that l have in the world is here. Do
you think that can leave it all and feel no
grief? Do you think that I can bear sud
denly to be told that everything l love is to
be taken from me, and never weep? Do You
think only because | am Blind, that can
grow SO little attached to anything that all
PLACES are the same to me-? O sir, We do
not need sight to love-"
My child, you cannot think that We
alone"
She looked up with one ns.ant's hope
his last words trembling on her lips.
Alone" she echoed
Brrthalde, will not yonr father and your
mother both lie with you p
She stopped her head again to sthe q
deep sob. There was a few moments pause,
then again the Master spoke:
My child, know it is no easy thing to
tear ourselves away from things that we
have grown to love but those who are dear
est to you you take with yon. and if there
be a sacrifice to lie made, will not the
thought that it is made for their sake, to
save them from tie labor that is grown so
hard to them, repay it? 1t is l indeed who
would grieve to lose you, for cannot hope,
when you are gone, to find another who will
fill your place"
His last words botted all the others from
her memory.
"But," she answered, choking with emo
tiop, "who will fill your place to me? Who
will take pity ON the poor blind girl, and
comfort her when she is sorrowlul, and be a
friend to her as you have been? Who will
give her more than life? Do yop tkink that
for all that you have been to me Save no
gratitude to you-no love for you 2"
II do not think 1T, Berthalde My kind,
dear child, my dear little friend 1 know you
love me. and 1 think that you know that
you are dcarer to me than a pupil only
But, alas my child. there are every day
many friends and more than friends who
part
She did not answer him perhaps she
scarcely heard the few last words, for as
he spoke them his voice had grown very sad
and low, and she was weeping. And then
again they both were silent for little while
until she cried with passionate sorrow,
90 Master, must go? ?" and, casping
both her hands together, raised her besecch-
ing eyes up to his face, as though it were
possible for her to see what sentence might
be written there
mo, not against your WILL" he answer
ed but the joy which for a moment had
half broken forth into a cry, was silenced by
the tone in which he spoke, it was so grave
land cold and while she stood abasIed and
EfAlent, he added sorrowially and reproachful-
'Hy, Yosr father--your mother, Berthalde,
are they both forgotten ?"
Forgive me, for did forget thought
only of myself" and she sobbed aloud
" Oh, do not hate me-do not look in anger
on me I"
She stretched out both her hands to him ;
he took them into his, looking with deep
searching pity on her, and with unutterable
melody his rich voice spoke
"My child, you condemn yourself too
mnch II well know there have heen few