New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-12

native place, then tho soul swlms uncon
sc;ouslv in q sea Of memories, and tn
dancing waves dreamily rock it past tn
banks Of times long gone by. The steepl'
clock strikes, and we feel as if We wer'
too late for school, and we recover from
the fright, and are glad that the anxiety
is past. A dog runs across the street; il
is the same dog out of whose way VI
formerly went so far. There sits the Ole
huckster-woman, whose apples heretofore
led us into temptation, and even yet We
think that in spite of all the dust upon
them, they must be better than any Other
apples in the world. There, house
has been torn down and new one
built; it was the house where our old
music teacher lived. He is dead; and
yet how pleasant it was, when we stood
there of summer evening under the
window and listened, as the good soul
when the lessons of the day were over,
INDUCED himself in extemporizing and
like steam engine, letting off with rush
ing and snorting all the superauous steam
which had accumulated during the day.
And here, in this little avenue lit seemed
then so much larger, here it was that one
evening as I came home late met our
neighbours pretty daughter. Yes, at that
time had never dared to look at her or
to speak to her; but We lads in the school
spoke very often about her, and called
her "the pretty girl, and if saw her
from afar ceming along the street was
so happy that would not think of going
near her. Yes, and here in this little
avenue, that leads to the churchyard,
here I met her one evening, and she took
me by the arm, although we had never
spoken together before, and said she
wanted to 60 home with me. believe
did not speak single word the whole
way, nor she neither; but was so happy
that even now, after many years, when
think of it, I wish that time were come
again, and could once more 20 home
silent and blissful with "the pretty girl"
And thus comes one remembrance after
the other, until the waves close over our
heads and long sigh bursts from our
breast, reminding US that from pure
thought we have almost forgotten to
breathe. Then vanishes at once the whole
dream world, like ghosts at the Growing of
the cock.
As passed by the old palace and by
the linden trees, and saw the sentinels on
their horses, and the high steps, what
memories arose in my soul, and how ev-
erything had changed! 1t was many
years since I had been at the palace.
The princess was dead, the prince had re-
signed the government and retired to
Italy. The eldest prince, with whom I
had grown up, was regent. His court
consisted of young mobiles and officers
whose conversation he liked, and whose
company had estranged him from his
earlier associates. Other circumstances
helped to dissolve the ties of youthful
friendship. Like every young man that
knows the defects in the German national
life, and the shortcomings of the German
governments, I had soon appropriated
few phrases Of the liberal party, and at
court these sounded about the same as
unseemly expressions would in the family
of respectable clergyman. In short, it
was mahy years since I had assembled the
steps. And yet there lived in the palace
being whose name almost daily uttered,
and the thought of whom was almost al
ways present to me. 1 had already long
accustomed myself to the thought that 1
should never again see her in this life.
Yes, she had become to me an ideal being
such as did not exist in reality, and could
not. She was my guardian angel, my
other self, to whom l spoke instead of to
myself. How she had become this I
could not explain even to myself, for l
hardly knew her, and as the eye at times
changes the clouds into forms, so I felt
had my imagination summoned forth this
misty apparition on the sky Of my child
hood, and out of the dim outlines of
reality had made complete, though un-
real picture. All my thoughts had un-
consciously become dialogue with her,
and all that was good in me, all after
which aspired, all that believed in my
better sef-that belonged to her, that 1 |
gave to her, that came out of her mouth
the mouth Of my guardian angel.
I had been but few days at home, |
when one morning I received letter. 1t |
was written in English, and was from the
Countess Mary:
DEAR FRIEND hear you are with us
Tor short time. We have not met for
many years, and if it is agreeable to you,
should like to see an old friend again.
You will find me alone this afternoon in
he Swiss Cottage.
Yours sincerely, MARY.
Immediately wrote to her, likewise in
English, that would wait upon her in
he afternoon. The Swiss cottage formed
wing of the. palace that lay toward the
arden, and which could be reached
Without going through the courtyard. 1t
vas five o'clock as I went through the gar
len and drew near the house. forced
Town all feeling. and prepared for for
nal meeting. Itried to quiet my guardian
nigel, and to convince her that this lady
lad nothing whatever to do with her.
nd uo& fall xo.x. hio h,,A .a.. |