The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-05-03
THE MUMMY OF GOTTiNGEN.

4 ne new rdlu Oh OOIllnReH sat III Hls
leathern chair, close to the stove. On
a rude table at his elbow were assem-
bled the little appliances necessary to
his comfort, on the evening OF this, his
first day of eilice-a huge jug Of beer
and an ample tobacco pouch.
He wore an easy velvet coat, some
what shabby, loose slippers covered
with roses in carpet-stitch, the work OF
of some good Bertha or Matilda, and a
smoking cap with a long tasse!, which
hung down over a thoughtful, contem-
plative face-a face that should have
belonged to studious professor, rather
than to man whose calling led him
into the busy walks of life.
Rath Marquardsen was young man,
little over thirty; his talent had raised
him thus early to the honorable position
he held in Gottingen. 1t seemed to
him but Yesterday that he was student
in the venerable university, taking notes
of the lawyers lectures in the great SddI
Of the college, or strolling the streets
arm-in-arm with his chosen comrade,
the captain of the Prussian corps, their
white and green caps stuck jauntily on
their heads, and their great dogs follow
ing closely. The streets were as full of
Russians, red-capped Vandals, and vel.
low-crested Swabians as ever; they sang
the old drinking songs, in their rich
voices, bass and alto and mellow tenor
so sweet that the rath was fain TO pause
a moment in his administration of jus.
tice, while the singers streamed past the
windows of the courthouse.
The books he used to study were piled
in confusion on the floor OF his parlor,
where he had tossed them out of his
trunk on the day of his arrival. He
had neither wife nor sister to arrange
them for him, so there they would in
all probability remain.
He was halfminded to refresh him.
self with little reading, but was too
lazy to get up and fetch book.
Just then came knock at his door.
Herein !" called Rath Marquardsen,
and the old clerk of the courthouse en-
tered, staggering under the weight of
pile of old musty volumes.
You babe me clean out the drawers,
and bring you these old books to look
over, Herr Rath," said the clerk.
Here they are, the records of justice in
Gottingen for the last hundred years.
Surely your worship won't be troubled
to read those old things? Better let
me throw them into the stove.n
And he tossed the books upon the
table, with gesture of disdain.
But the rath regarded them with very
different eyes.
pray leave them there" cried he,
IL
though to guard a treasure. "Ah, that
will DO. Wilt thou try my beer and to-
bacco?i
The clerk went away mutteriig, when
the herr rath has been as long about the
court as | have been, he will not care
for law books out of business hours"
Antiquity had an immense charm for
the rath the worm eaten calfskin bind
ings, blackened edges of the leaves, and
musty smell Of the ancient books, helped
him to call up the vanished generations
who had used them. They began to
pass before the eye of his fancy in shad-
owy rows, reacting the tragic or tranquil
scenes of their little day on earth.
Therefore, the moment the clerk was
gone, he drew the lamp near him, and
began to turn over the yellow pages of
the records.
They were not particularly interest
ing. Most of them were meagre notes
OF trials, compressed into as few words
as possible but at length, in examining
the very oldest book OF all, he came
upon an entry which interested him so
much that he read it over and over
again. This page was headed, Trial
Of Jacob Winterwerb for Forgery" and
at the bottom of the leaf was pasted a
sheet of crumpled letter-paper, closely
written in a curious, Grabbed, but suffi
GENTLY legible hand.
Our bookworm bounced upon this
ancient manuscript as gold-digger
might pounce upon nugget, or gour-
mand upon chef d osuvre of Soyer. Put.
ting on his specialization, like many
Germans, he was troubled with weak
eyes-he began to read the faded yellow
writing.
Aug. !, l75l.-I have returned home
after long, tiresome day in the court
house commenced the manuscript,
but, weary although | am, | cannot
sleep; | cannot forget the events of this
day. A strange gloom hangs over me.
A fearful curse, which was uttered in
my hearing, keeps obtruding itself uron
my memory, and some power that | am
totally unable to control or resist, i'm
pels me to write it down.
Yet surely it was enough that the re.
cording angel should mark Jacob Win
terwerb's imprecation must his fellow.
sinner record it, too? AS rath of Got
tingen, have had to try my old neigh
Dor Jacob for the dark crime of forgery.
1t was hard for me TO try him, but the
extreme hardness of my case is, that |
still believe him to be guilty, although
MS countrymen have acquitted him.
have had more opportunity for OBJ
serving his daily conduct than any other
man in Gottingen, and what ! have no
ticed makes me fear he has forsworn
himself to-day, lie would plead his
own cause-he would defend himself"
Yes, he was quite clever enough to do
it well. We were boys together, Jacob
and /, and, wicked though he be, bear
him kindness still. | cannot endure
to let my mind dwell upon his eternal
loss | am impelled to write it down.
Probably every one else who was present