The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-15
THE FOUR SUITORS.
BY JUSTIN MCCARTHY.

BY JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
The scene of this story is properly laid
in Germany, Not, however, in the COM
monplace Germany which we have all
visited in the fesh-the Germany OF
Rhine steamers and Of blazing Munich
and sandy Berlin, Of Butterbrod and OF
tobacco and inumerable hotels yum Adler
and yum Anker-but the Germany we
have all visited in the spirit; the Ger
many of Der Freischutz and the Lorell
of forests that echo the horn of the wild
huntsman, and are started by the spec
tire of the Harz; of brooklets that chatter
gladsomely about the "Millers Daughter"
and enter into metrical dialogue with
the poet. All these things are doomed
to 90 down to inevitable death before
Bismarck andt one.Germany. Political
greatness is the death of political legend,
However that may be, this story is
told of quaint little German town stand
ing on the two sides Of n river, and hay
Ing almost as many bridges as streets.
It was IN the north, and not far from the
Baltic shores, and its great occupation
was the working up of the amber which
the Baltic washed up on the strand OF Its
Islands. The best worker in amber in the
town was Herr Johann Dornbusch. He
could make it up into ornaments for the
ears the neck, the bosom, the arms, the
fingers, as we'll as the renowned workers OF
Vienna and such great cities. Any read
er who, having heard even this much,
docs not know that this parsonage had q
pretty daughter, and that that pretty
daughter is the heroine OF the tale, Is so
unskilled in story that it would seem
almost hopeless to think Of raising him
to the story-tellers level at all. This am.
Der manufacturer had a very pretty
daughter, with hair bright as the amber
itself, and eyes that sparkled as no skill
among her fathers workmen could bid
the sea gem to sparkle. lima Dornbusch
was girl who had had some education
and some reading. She had been IN Vi
emma and in Berlin, and even in Paris.
She was girl full of resource and cleav-
erness with quick wit, a keen obser-
walton, and true heart.
Herr Dornbusch one day had quar-
rel with four of his workmen, skilled and
mastery fellows, and they left him. 1t
was not possible to supply their places at
once-perhaps not possible to supply
them at all-and Herr Dornbusch could
do nothing better than take larger
number of less skilled men, apprentices
if necessary, and teach them their trade.
Now he was very particular, indeed,
about the kind of apprentices he took; for
the beauty Of his daughter was the theme
of talk all over the town and for leagues
around, and all manner of young fellows
more or less ineligible-most Of them,
indeed, companions in equal fate OF de-
cided acknowledgements constantly
swarming round the place and trying
to get the speech of the pretty glrl In
that town and in those days the
master and workers lived together in u
familiar domestic way; and an apprentice
would have a. many chances OF fixing
his eyes on the lovely face of his masters
daughter as poor Sam Tappertit had OF
contemplating Dolly Varden's torment,
ing charms. Therefore the shrewd
amber manufacturer was very care
full indeed in making his selec-
ton among a crowd of applicants.
He rejected whole legion, and accept.
ed four who came with special and extra
ordinary recommendations, and whom
he thought positively happy in securing.
As a matter OF course, in the case OF a
man taking such precautions, he selected
Just the very youths of all others whom
he ought TO have kept away. He reject
cd all the good-for-nething fellows, the
scape- grsces, the stupid fellows, the louis
all those, in fact, Tor whom 1t was I'm.
possible the pretty and intelligent girl
lima could feel the slightest psnchdnt-
and he admitted four young fellows who,
strangers to each other, had a common
popularity for good looks, graceful bear
ing, and, to Judge from the recommends.
tions they brought with them, high char.
actsr.
Let us see who they were. First there
was Conrad 1--WE shall only mention the
Christian name of each), handsome,
dark eyed, sentimental young fellow,
with hands and fingers white and slender
as those of girl This was ayouth with
a poetic turn, and he had hardly been a
fortnight in the place when he slyly con-
veyed copy OF love verses to the lar
Fraulein lima, who, however, did not
deposit them in her excellent white
bosom, but in the stove fire. Nothing
discomposed, he produced another and
another and at last Inns
Dornbusch took TO reading them
Some Of them were very pretty and
delightfully."- sentimental. They were
all about spring-time and morning led
and stars and tears and fond true love
Needless 10 say that the poet ought to
have been doing the work of his master
instead OF composing poems addressed &c
his masters daughter; but doubt If the
daughter ever yet lived who would have
rejected the verses merely because the
poet ought to have been doing his own
lawful business instead of doing homage
10 her charms
Then there was Friedrich, manly,
blue-eyed, broad .shouldered young fell
low. who made no psetry, but very SO Z
began to press Ilms's hsni very tender
ly and 10 look love to her out OF his soil
blue eyes. Everybody in the town
knew Friedrich. His father WAS man
Of substance, who nevertheless wished
his son TO learn some reputable art OF
calling, although it was not likely Inc
youth would ever want for gold.
The third apprentice was Theodore
This was tall, bold youth, with an eye
like that of hawk, and an eagle nose
He went into his work with proud
resolute energy, as Of one determined to
master it, and he did very soon begin to
mss,er it. But he could not be got &c
stick regularly to his worn, and indeed
IL WAS some time before his comrades
could get him to understand that II
really was not quite open to him to give
over working and wander out into the
fields whenever he felt 80 inclined; A,
frst he took rebuke very badly, and looked
up in surpassed, indignant imper'ou:
way, which amused and amazed the be,
holders. Indeed, At :all.hmes he wa,
liable 10 break out into sudden burst OF
aisdainful. naughty anger, which Ill De-