Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-21

TALE FROM TIE RUSSIAN.
was at Vienna few years ago. After
trying several ta6leS-ef'hote. L established
myself at hotel in the Judenstrasse, fire.
quented by select society. Mr.. Muller.
master of this establishment, did Its hon
ors with thorough German gravity. Per-
fectorder, extreme and conscientious clean
liness, reigned throughout the house. One
might pass through the servants room,
and even through the kitchens without
meetingwith any thing by which the sight
was in the least offended. The cellar was
as well arranged as bookcase, and the
regulations of the house, as regarded both
the service and the hours of meals, were
rs punctually observed as they could have
been in seminary. II a guest came in
late, though il were but ten minutes he
was served in an adjoining room. that the
comfort of all might not be sacrificed to
the convenience of one.
In the conversation at this table dhote
there prevailed tone of good society
which excluded neither ease nor pleasant
~; but a caustic or indelicate expression
would have Jared on the ear like false
note in awell executed concert. The coun-
tenance Of Mrs. Muller, in which dignity
was blended with beneyolence, was the
barometer by which the young men regu-
lated themselves when the influence OF the
Rhine wine or Stettin beer might lead them
a little too far. Then Mrs. Muller assum-
ell an air of reserve; by few words she
adroitly broke of the conversation, and
turned il into another channel; and she
glanced gravely at her daughter. who
without affectation or pouting, kept her
eyes fixed on her plate until the end OF the
meal
Ellen Muller was the type of those
beautiful German faces which the French
call cold because they know not how to
read them; she was happy mixture oi
the Saxon and Hanoverian characters. A
pure and open brow, eyes of inexpressi-
bic softness, lips habitully closed with
maidenly reserve, atransparent complex
ion, whose charming bushes each mo-
ment protested against the immobility Of
her bearing. auburn hair, whose rich and
silken curls admirably harmonized with
the features, a graceful and flexible form
just expanding into womanhood ;-such
was Ellen Muller.
Acounsellor of the Court, Hofrath Bar
on yon Moth. who had resigned his func-
tons in consequence of an injustice that
had been done him. several students. whose
parents had recommendation to the Wig
ilance Of Mr.. Muller, and few merchants,
composed the majority of the habitual
guests. The party was frequently in
creased ty travellers, literary men, and
artists. After dinner, philosophy, politics.
or literature, were the usual topics of con-
versation, in which Mr.. Muller, man of
extensive requirements and great good
sense, took part, with choice of express
sions and an elevation of views that
would have astonished me in a man of his
station in any country but Germany.
Sometimes Ellen would sit down to the
piano, and sing some ofthose simple mel
odies, in which the tenderness, the gravity
and the piety ofthe German national char
acter seem to mingle. Then conversation
ceased every countenance expressedpro-
found attention; and each listener, as if
he were assisting at religious service.
translated the accents of that universal Ian
guage according to his sympathies, his
associations. and the habitual direction OF
his ideas.
was not long in perceiving that Baron
Won Moth and a young studentnamed Wer-
ter, were particularly sensible to Ellen's
charms and merit. In the Baron, middle