Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-11-30
II eel Ian v.
TIE iNFLEXEDEE PRIME
MINISTER.

Baron Lobenstein was the great man of
one Of the thirty or forty little States
which compose the German confederation
He held the eminent post of Prime Minis
ter and intimate counsellor Of his ROYAL
IIIghness, the Prince. The personal rep
utation Of the baron was not less lofty
than his position. He had a character
worthy of the purcs: days Of ancient Greece
and Rome. The names Of Aristides and
Cato fell naturally from the lips and pens
Of eulogists. There was nothing talked
Of in the principality but the incorrupti-
bic austerity, the infexible frmness of the
prime minister Of his Highness. This in
vulnerable man, it was said, had been
dipped, like Achilles, in the waters of the
StyX-hee not excepted.
To explain this reputation, it would be
necessary to give the whole history Of the
baron's political life. All that can be done
re is to Illustrate it by single incl
dent.
The prince one day iutimated his inten-
ton to give seat in his council to Baron
Corbach a sk.lful diplomatist, whose tai
ents, he th h,usht, might be usefully en-
ployed. Tne baron had one of the largest
fortunes Of the principalitv: but the source
of it was reported to benot altogether hon.
orable His father who had formerly been
minister Of war, had shown great indulg-
ence to certain suspecte army contract
ors, and this facility, on his part, had coin
cidel with Il great and sudden accession of
wealth The prince had hardly lyannounced
his intention, when the prime minister
rose
Il must beg your Highncss," he said,
"to have the goodness to accept my resig-
nation. | cannot sign an order which will
conf lie the interests of the State to Il man
whose father has become rich at the ex-
peusc of the public treasury"
The prince did not accept the resigna-
ton. lie could not sacrifice to his fancy
lor the Baron Corbach, minister whose
popularity was one ofthe greatest supports
of his government.
Baron Lobenstein had one son, Freder-
lex, not less admired by the female portion
of the community than his father by the
sttraer x Mammas admired him as q
most evccl!cat match-thcir daughters for
H- -dae personal qualities But Frederick
appeared to have no fncy for gay society;
Ns tastes We're for simple pleasures and
country .rs anl whenever he had few
hours 70 dispose OF. be would mount his
horse, anil leaving the city walls behind
him. ride forth to FEAST his eyes for time
on rural scenes. 1t was strange, however,
,aat TINS 'rlenj admirer Of nature should
geiS.s; N contem plating it from single
point, and un or enc aspect only. In all
his excursions he invariably left the city by
tae same gate, followed the same route,
IN never went beyond certain limit.
Il any one had been curious enough to
follow him, the explanation of this unifor-
mtv would have been found at the end OF
IN avenue OF chestnut trees in the garden
Of an elegant manor-house, where young
sir, not less regular in her habits than
himself, was found every day at the exact
hour OF his ride, watching the growth Of
her favorito plants.
Miihe.mine was pretty, graceful, intel
hsent, amiable bat if Frederick had beer
quite aware Of this before seeing her. and
had been informed AT the same tim, that h,
would meet her by riding toward the south
he would have turned his horses head. !.
preference, to any other point of the com
ness-ior Nilhelmine was the daughter o
Baron Corbach.
He was not consulted in the NATTER
They met by accident, and, having onct
ga her, he could not resist the desire t.
her aeain, and after several interview!
r Tl> easy to persuade himself that hi
.,e er would receive her as q daughter a
lis earnest entreaty.
lie tried it one day, and was quickly un
cred The baron informed him thai
'aa lady had been merely poor, he would
aave hesitated a moment. Ifshe haC
Log. bcaa IF humble birth. he might have
--r- his coGsent, out of affection for hi:
but it was Impossible for him to ad
l, into his family any one whose anccs
tors were not all Of stainless integrity
freierici. was not disposed to give uphopC
yet. lie applied to his mother for help
lac DaroneSN tr,e'i her persuasive powers
upon her husband, Who listened to her pa.
ticntly but at the close Of her eloouent
appeal calmly replied that there wa:
nathing he would not yield cut Of rerarl
ipr his piic-exccpt principle"
The atciy cot abroad III thc city, aud
81. noh.c sentiments Of the baron wcy,
rarmly app!audcd by the manlmas, who
5iuc IT their daughters, remarked, tha
Monsieur Frciericl, would take tn
-5e to open bis eyes be might casil,
IL consolation Coz The loss # N2dcmoi
WiAe!mino.
Frederick would not be consoed, ant
-a house OF Baron Lobenstcin, never very
r. become duller than c"ar. The tathci
I'D ...; aul bowed. without cxcAang
-e w--j. The baroness could only sigh
az sympatAize. The faces Of the servants
- IL. - G l..