Year: 1874

Communication Springfield Republican,


Every once in while passage in the
history OF life is brought to light which
is strange and more romantic than any
fiction. Notwithstanding the industry
OF the Jenkins family, these do not
always find their way into the newspa
pers. The announcement in the New
York papers few months ago, of the
departure of certain vessel for England
recalled to those who were acquainted
with one of the passengers an interest
ing story. This person was young Ger
man under thirty years old, who had just
completed a period of teaching in a
Berkshire county seminary, and who was
now, with his newly y made wife, on his
way to the fatherland.


Some years before, in his native Ger
many, this young man had fallen in love
with one of the blooming maidens in the
place where he resided, and his attach
ment was ardently returned by the young
woman. A speedy marriage would have
been consummated, had not parental
authority interfered. The father of the
girl objected to the bans, and did every
thing in his power to keep the lovers
apart In this distracting state of affairs
they did not elope, alter the usual fash
ion, but the young man, forbidden the
house of his beloved, bade farewell to
his country and passed over into France,
to forget, if possible, in new scenes and
occupations, his fraulein. Several
wears followed in giddy, fashionable
Paris, ia which the selfexile gained
some knowledge of the world, as well as
made acquisitions to his studies in music
and languages. After time, as he de-
veloped into larger manhood, and his
native abilities, adorned by culture, drew
him into a refined and intellectual soci
ETY., he outgrew his love for the simple
girl at home, and came to consider his
old attachment as a mere boyish passion
This would have been all well enough if
the girl he left behind had only
shared in this growth and change. So
far from that, the years only strength
aned her affection. Her life had been
quiet and uneventful, and she had plenty
of time to brood over the image of the
absent one.


A few years more spent in France,
and then the young man came to Amer
lea to try his fortune as teacher in our
schools. A year or two more passed, in
which he was successfully employed in
the Berkshire boarding school. His
ability, good looks and address made
him a favorite in society, and be on his
part found the American girls quite as
Interesting as their German sisters had
been. Just here, and little more than
a year ago, he received letter from the
father of his early fame, informing him
that his daughter was still deeply in love-
that she Was, indeed, utterly disconselate
and miserable githout him; that she was
likely 10 die of disappointment il she
couldn't marry him, and, most pstound-
ing of all, that she was coming 10
America-that she would embark alone
In a few days for New York, where she
hoped to De met by her old lover. Prob
ably quite different conclusions would be
arrived at by different psrsons es to the
duty of the young man in this most pain
full dilemma. The girls father had de-
nouaeed him, utterly refusing him for q
sonin-law; forced to a separation, he
had gradually outgrown his love, coming
finally to rejoice in the circumstances
that had forbidden hi@ 70 ally himself
with woman untitled to be his llfs com.
panien. What was he to do7 The girl
was already on her way to New York.
Unattended, totally ignorant Of our Ian
guage and customs, the steamer on its
arrival at the city would turn her sdriit.
II took our hero but 8 short time to de-
eide. 0beying a conscience that most
wonld call over-sensitive and morbid, he
vent TO the metropolis to meet the soil.
tary German girl at the wharf where she
landed. and, 10 few days more the long.
separaied aud strangely met pair were
married. Several mosths followed in
the seminary, during which the ignorant
wife gained some practical knowledge OF
English, and then the two sailed away
for the old world, the husband to fulfill
an engagement to teach in German IN
stiiution, and the wife to share her Tor
tunes with his. 1t is to be hoped that
the bride is ss happy as she bad dreamed
and. as for .he 6ne grained and chlyal'
rous groom, our best wishes attend him.


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