The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-01-31
Dantatk Jefftrsoniar1.
ThorValdSen's First Love.

.
}, ThorValdSen's First Love.
/ Some fifty years ago, q young VIC
n man OF progressing appearance wa
seated in small back room of
house in Copenhagen, weeping bitter
iy. In her lap lay few trinkets an,
other small articles, evidently keep
sakes, which she had received fror
;. time to time. She took up one afte
the other, and turned them over, bu
j she could scarcely distinguish then
through her binding tears. Thel
= she buried her face in her hands, ans
rocked to and fro in her agony.
"Ohr moaned she, "and is it com,
to this! All my dreams of happines,
are vanished--all my hopes are dead
He will even go without bidding me
farewell. All, Himlen! that have
lived 10 see this bitter day! Love
ware Gud"
AT this moment a hasty tap at the
door was followed by the entrance oi
the object Of her grief He was 8
young man about twenty-five years
of age, bis person middle sized and
strongly built, his features massive
regular and attractive--his long haiI
fiaxen, his eyes blue. This was Bertel
Thorvaldsen-a name which has since
been sounded throughout the world
as that of the most illustrious sculp-
tor of modern times. His step was
firm and quick, his eye bright, and
his features glowing as he entered
the room but when he beheld the
attitude of the weeping female a
shade passed over his countenance
as he gently walked up to her, and
laying his hand on her shoulder, MUIR
INJURED "Amalie !"
"Bertel!' answered a smothered
voice.
The young Dane drew q chair to
her side, and silently took her tear
believed hands. "Amalie % said he
after a pause broken only by her
quivering sobs, 81 am come to bid
thee farewell. go in the morning"
She ceased weeping, raised her
face, and, releasing her hands, pushed
back her disheveled hair. Then she
wiped her eyes, and gazed on him in
way that made his own droop.-
"Bertcl," said she in a solemn tone,
but void of all reproach-"Bertel,
why did you win my young heart P
why did you lead me to hope that i
should become the wife of your bo-
som 90
"I-I always meant it; mean it
now"
She shook her head mournfully,
and taking up the trinkets, continued:
"Do you remember what you said
when you gave me this--and this
and this p
s'Wbat would you have, Amalie !?
] said l loved you; L love you still
but
'sBut you love ambition, fame, the
praise of men far better !" added she
bitterly.
Thorvaldsen started, for he felt &C
tually the truth of her words.
"Yes, you will leave gamle Den
mark-you will leave your poor, fond
old father and mother, whose only
hope and only earthly joy is in you
you will leave me, and all who love
the sound of your footsteps, and go
to the distant land and forget US
all r'
"Min Pige. you are cruel and un-
just. / shall come back to my old
father and mother-come back to
thee, and we shall be happy again."
''Never, Bertel never! When
once you have gone there is no hap
piness for US. In heaven we may all
meet again on earth neverl o, no;
never will You see in this life either
your parents or your poor, broken
hearted Amalie!" and again her sobs
burst forth.
Thorvaldsen abruptly rose from
the chair, and paced the room in agi-
tafion. He was much distressed, and
once or twice he glanced at Amalie
with evident hesitation. His past
life, the pleasures of his youth, the
endeared friends and scenes Of his
childhood, the affection of Amalie,
the anguish of his parents at the ap-
preaching separation, all viyidly
passed in review, and whispered him
to stay and be happy in the city of
his birth. But vision of Rome rose
also and beckoned him thither toI
earn renown, wealth and immortality
The pride of conscious genius swelled
his soul, and he felt that the die was
cast forever.
He reseated himself by the side of
and once more took her
hand.
She looked up, and in one glance
read his inmost thoughts. "Go,"
said she, sand fulfil your destiny
You viii become a great man-youi
will become the companion of prin-
ces and kings, and your name will
extend the fame Of your country to
the uttermost parts of the earth. /
see it all; and let my selfish love
perish! Only promise this, when
you are hereafter in the full blaze of
your triumph, sometimes turn aside
from the high born, lovely danes who
are thronging around, and drop one
tear to the memory of the lowly DAN
ish girl who loved you better than
herself. Bertel, FAREWELL"
The next day Thorvaldsen quilted
Copenhagen for Rome, where he re-
sided nearly the whole remainder of
his long life, and more than realized
his own wild aspirations for fame
But the prophesy of poor Amslie was
literally fulfilled-he never more be-
held his parents, nor her his first true
love!
Nearly half a century had elapsed,
and again the scene was Copenhagen.
The streets were densely crowded
with eager, sorrowiDg spectators, and
every window of every house was
filed with sadly expectant faces. At
length a cry, "They come! ~ was
echoed from group to group, and the
crowds swayed to and fro under the
sympathetic swell of common emo
ton.
A withered old woman was seated
at the upper window of house.
When the cry was taken up, she
raised her wrinkled countenance, and
passed her hands over her eyes, as i'll