Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-13
NO. 1876.
Translated from the German of Elise Polko. nv
FANNIE H. bowman OF Gardiner, for the Kennebec
Journal
OUR POOR BOY.

Violet of what remindst thou me?
or the secret love that gathered thee,
learning hearts and modest glance OF grace,
Seeking, finding, and a blushing face.n
-Lemcke.
He had been called so by all the family,
ever since the pretty, thoughtless nurse
let MIN tall from her arms, and henceforth
his left foot hobbled after the right. His
father, mother and brother, as we'll as
the servants of Colonel yon Wellenberg
only mentioned the little Ewald as "our
poor boy" At first this appellation had
no significance for the lad and did not
prevent him in the least from running
around cheerfully and surprisingly quick,
and playing with the other boys not un-
til bis youthful companions began to show
that forbearance which assumes an almost
cruel character among children, because
the little hearts and hand, without any pal
iation, regardless of hinderances, are so
accustomed to push aside everything that
crosses their f1owery, sunny path, did he
begin to understand that he was consid-
cred subject Of compassion. Then the
first shadows fell upon his soul and slum-
bering pride was aroused. Afterward he
became aware Of the comparison secretly
made between himself and his brother, al
NEST five years older than he; the idol of
all who knew him, the ideal of a cadet,
the paragon of an ensign, and finally the
most dangerous, that is to say, the most
agreeable lieutenant OF the Huzzars for
five miles around; SO lighthearted and
amiable, that all the fathers around warned
their daughters of him, and all the moth
ers were charmed with him. II is true
his papa always paid the bills for the
tuition OF this son, under the impulse Of
inordinate anger, and his mamma was in
a constant fear on account of his passion
ate disposition; but the pleasure in the ex-
tremely handsome appearance Of the
young man, and his enthusiastic jest for
the enjoyments of life, always exceeded
rage and solicitude. Our poor boy'
must study philosophy and physical
sciences by and by, in order to enter upon
professorship-but as yet, he was play.
ing in a gymnasium, when Felix, his
brother found himself ensnared in all pos
sible love affairs, and very frequently, he
was begging his younger brother, ardent
~ beloved by him, to answer in his own
name, sundry billets doux, since the '.mili-
tary service did not allow him time for
it. Once for all, Ewald was chosen poet
for the household to write birthday poems
at any time.
When the brave Colonel suddenly died,
even then his last words of consciousness
referred to ''our poor boy" and after his
death, the mothers tears always flowed
afresh, when tire subj ct of this care of
the dead approached her in his timid love.
''But truly, why is mamma so anxious
about me P' Ewald asked his brother one
day. 81 am well. and despite my lame
foot. trust, l shall stand very firmly upon
my own feet. What is the reason she al
ways calls me "our poor boy" with that
plalntive, compassionate expression ?'
"Do you really wish to hear why it ?n
Felix asked, and sat down near the en-
quirer, tlinging his arms around him.
And when Ewald only bowed expectantly,
Felix continued, slowly blowing in the
air clouds of smoke from his cigar. "My
boy, it is only because, thanks to your
careless Babet, you must be deprived of
many pleasures in your future life. There
cannot be much riding, and you will new
er be able to dance, and, therefore, per-
haps the young maidens will not be par
ticularly interested in you. Foryou know,
whoever cannot dance with them, and
does not understand, moreover, how to
perform some neck-breaking hocus-pOcus,
then either they do not notice him, or else
they treat him with contempt. They must
fear US, otherwise we have nothing but
yeXation with them; but nevertheless, take
courage, now and then few sensible ones
are found, who do not admire daring eyes,
but pair of melancholy ones; and if ut
tiist, this only happens from pity, yet, it is
said, love thus inspired lasts more surely
than many others. You know also--r
ut is well,' here Ewald gently inter-
rupted him; 'if there be nothing farther,
then earnestly beseech you to tell mamma
at your leisure, that care nothing for all
these. Riding, dancing, and the love of a
woman from pity, can do without. l
shall succeed! And we will neither of us
talk longer about them will we?"
''Certainl y nor, my boy, if you are un-
willing. Here is my hand, you are even
more reasonable than l thought"
few months afterwards, there was
visit at the usually quiet house. An early
friend OF the widow, and her niece, a slen.
der girl. with light hair, about twelve
years old, whose name was Heloise, but
whom Felix dubbed immediately-.little
Hello" She ran up and down stairs, sing
ing meanwhile, glanced around the room
serenely, but enQuiringly, with her great
blue eyes, let Felix put her on the horse,
trotted around fearlessly and unwearied-
ly,-and yet she could seem motionless. if
Ewald were drawing. Propping her elbow
upon the table, her iull cheeks laid in her
hands. she sat near him, and silently ad-
mired each line. Subsequently, she wished
extremely to learn to draw also, wasted
much paper, and broke many pencils,
which Ewald renewed with infinite pa
tience. He could keep her at the piano
also, not only when he was playing him
self-and he had so remarkable musical
talent, that his teacher thought it would
be wrong not to allow him to be a musi-
cian--he understood how to stimulate her
to practice now and then.
Frow Won Freiwald. her aunt, had come
there, in order to improve and take pos.
session of fine estate. scarcely five
leagues distant, which she had inherited
from deceased relative, intending to live
there during the pleasant season of the
year. She had suddenly become an inde-
pendent woman, who had been hitherto
an humble pensioner OF the State, living
lttv,.N L. a