Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 6, Number 29, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 15 January 1876 — Page 6

THE MAIL

'V.i

PArER FOR THE PEOPLE.

Jn ISCOXSTJt UCTION.

Iu ft wajccn made of vrlll» Wheeled I onco a little maiden, Ringlets ahinltig on the pillow.

Rolling homeward, treasons l.Mlen*, Like a boat, fipon the billow. Ten years fled. Ah, how I her

When we left tho village school! But sho «ald she'd be my slater Af we It tigered by the pool, And I passionately fct&sed her. Ten more fleeting years renew i'

Little wagon made of willow Loving eyea are bent to view it, Ixvlng hands adjust tl»« pill J*R, And we've fitted rockers to It.

A MORNING iS UN HE A M.

A nestling In Ihellitlc crib, A sott hand laid upou my head, A gentle whimper In my ear,

Mamma, I'm tummin' into had!" O. no," I sa!:l, ""twill nevordo Now tihut those little pwp'W tl^i't, And slet and dresam till morning treslt!",

Then yon may come, when cooi1* the light." A it st In a nestling fh th«- erlb, $

As do a* Mi' 111 birdie ray, 1 liMem-d, tor thoiiubt sbe Iluddy light," heard her say Then all was still. VW slept again

Till dawn lit up the Eastern sky. Then sang my Birdie, nweet and cle*r. ••Now ligli» linn tu:u, and «o has 1!"

How Won a Wife.

Ttt.VNSr.ATIvD PROM

TtlK

I was still standing there, when suddenly a shiver ran though my limbs, my flesh crept, and I said"to myself,

"Of

course 1 A cold, a bad eo!d! And why aot Mj' boots are worn out, and Jlutoun darns her own stockings with the yarn I gave her, while mino have no foot. It's all porfoctly .natural. I still stood in the same place till it grew dark, and when I wanted to light a lamp could ^nd no match, and when I did find one tho lamp wouldn't burn,— Frau Bntouii hadn't trimmed the wick and when af"4er a great 'al of trouble I mado it kurn freely it suddenly went out,-—Fran

Vtutoun had put in no "oil. Under et ch 'circumstances, it's a fin" •hingtohave somebody at hand to scold but had •o one there, aud what was to do** I looked out of tho window again.

The shoemaker's over the way was brightly lighted, and there was a ranid «asoving to and fro accompanied by mor«*V shouts but I could distinguish nothing, for the curtains were tightl drawn. •'Now just see that shoemaker!" s^td I. •'Heaetudlv has curtain.*!" I had no curtains,—I riu Butoun didn't understand tham sho onco put soma up for •no which looked like "nothing on the earth or under the earth," and I tore them down whsn somebody asked ine fcf I had children's shirts drying at my wtbel w. Of course 1 felt provoked witti ihoshoemakor tho follow hadn't made mv boots and wanted to live like a lord, while I sat in tho dark without curtains and a cold coming on. I started un and wont down into tho street, thinking, •Ju-t. wail! I'll giv the fellow a grod

When I entered tho room, the fir-tree was standing on tho table with lights burning around it, and the shoemaker's lift|rt boys Carl and Christian W»TO blowing a flfo and a trumpet, while tho shouting and screa-ning was done bv Utile Mario, who was stretching her tin in Is towards tho lights and kit-k-ing merrily in her mothers lap. for she wm» not yet able to walk. The shoemaker's wife, who luul put her spinningvyrheel a^Ule. tied ou a clean apron, ami donnsd In" Sunday cap snd Sunday fosv was laughing at the children snd '.-wiping little Marie's month, when she

Slue »'red it with gingerbread. The shoeaii^ver »1 covered up his work-lieneh.

rutth*

|i*»lipre

r«, and was nowstteimr

«tovd with a tong pipe and mug

©t itifr. \\\s\l, iiolwdy oott'd com© in hero wIth m"£fv wor«1s only ssid, Caning," and pretend»d I merely want Cd to what the fan was about. Kvevywiiiu was then sho#n ihe tbeginger|.r. 4d and the apples, ths strings of 1) »hVcol»r*d beans, tho seven wheat B».!K and tho one bit of cmndv that hung the tir-troe. "OoveU»d pri»w," asid lli shoemaker: havo now brought :lim« children sorely, exceptor a ,fc.jfo .• frt.m tha uil of UUSSAT'S hon«e, *hii4» hurt Christian a little, when hts «n ilier Wasn't Uking care—ves, I mean hoaddatl, shaiilng his linger at

Utt!© fellow. won't Uk« my work away ftotn

fcK.w

I xiUd to myaelf, and ftOt very pov, th-«gh I had a most vlole Jt it. \io «e. Bat while Unsen was ahowaspwning th© mmuirpiao^-it 'Ad«ni and iSro before tne ^*1'. 4^ onifullv mode tied In gingerbread oolor -d yellow with «gg* ft n-and tbo two littlo UMeus, wtandot\ tho right and left of our rtwrod.

I I ..4J U6 »m» rigo* ana -4K mr*nU, occin to toot and blow the fc trumpet, I felt exactly cS Vwl maker Langklas waa boring i*: »i hisatlentawl-«fano, forte, plauo, itJCk-iti my bead, till It twaaed aiMl rat-(if-a. asking tne meantime if that wa* ,Mt del^tfolT Th« ahoeuaaker probasaw! illi for, when hla two Ut-

tle cherubs bad trumpeted mo oat of his paradise, he went across the street with me, wanted to light my lamp, and asked whether I bad any matches,

I have everything," I answed, "but only our Lord and Fran Butoun know where anything is to bo found."

The shoemaker took off my boots and said, "Wot feet! And I haven't Unshed yuur other pair of boots!" helped me to bed, and added, "Wait a minute, my wife t, ovi-r und uiukt. you some tea." This was done, but of what happ 'ned during the next lor'.uight I can dl very little.

I lav in a heavy slutvor. It v? if my hol« room w«*s full of fir- es glittering with lights, and on each hung a beautiiul cake representing Vdam and Eve and all paradise and when I stretched out my hand for it I held only a worn-out boot and a footless stocking, while Carl and Chistian, with trumpets blowing and fifes squealing, stood between me and the Christmas gifts, and tho thousand lights danced before my eyes, and when I called out, "J^et me alone! lot me alone 1 I'll let your father make boots for me again!" and held out my hand for tho beautiful cake, the words were shouted and truuipoted into my ears: Make boots, make them, make them, make

UK UI

IM,ATT-1'KUTK.H

OF FIt!TZ ItKtlTKIt, UY M.

After Ui" marriage !tis too Into, Before thj wedding tame your IUJUV Meantime I liad become an old bachelor. I had wandered about tins world hither and thither, had often laid my bead on a soft pillow and often on almadie of straw but as I grew older the straw didn't suit mo so well as at twenty, for one who is glad to eat turnips in childhood doesn't exactly despise roast goose in after years. People said "'Jot married," and I said, ^'Consider," and circled around the holy estate of matrimony like ft fox round a gooso-pen, thinking, "You can doubtless got in you can easily get in! But when you're once there, can ynu get out ngain But then when I thought of tho inrkqepor's eternal roast pork and mutton, and that my room looked like tho world before tho first day of creation, and that one of my confounded old buttons was always coming off. I said "Get married," and then tl/e stupid people said, "Consider." So I still remained between the tree and the bark, tho years of consideration passed by, and my head was beginning to grow grey, when one day 1 stood by tho stove, alter lightning my pite, and gazed at the weather.

The snow fell gently from tho sky everything outside was silent, no c:ir-e-iago wheels were to be heard, only in the distance the ringing of sleigh-bells and I felt so lonely, for it was tho hal lowed Christmas eve. As I stood gazing absently through the panes, my shoemaker Linson stopped before his door •with a sled full of wood ho had gather-ed-in the city forest and on the top of tho sled lay a greon fir-tree. "Now jijst seo that rascal!" said I. "lie otight to fee making me that other pair of boots, *ud instead of that he's gathering \vood 1 I won't let tho fellow work for tne any longer."

Here's the wherewithal to^nake tliem! Hut bachelors like you, old boy. Have naughi to do with I'hristmasjoy. Then tho old red pipkin, that stood at the head of my bod, began to laugh all over its broad, shining taco and the whole room was tilled with worn-out boots, which all thrust out their tonguos, and shoemaker hinsen seized them one after another, tied them up in a bundle, and hung them at my window instead of curtains. At tho foot of my bed two people were perpetually sawing wood,— one sawed lino wootl, the other oak branches and when tho line wood was sawed Frau lJntoun constantly danced her nightcap up and down before my ej'es—up and down, up and down and when the oak timber was sawed it seemed as if I saw a lar^e red strawberry in a green wood, aud 1 was not mistaken, it was my Uncle Matthias' red nose peeping out "over my green dressinggown.

Well, otie night, when the oak timber was again being vigorously sawed, I felt as if I was coming out "of tho darkness into the light, and groped around me to eliseover where 1 was I was lying in my bed, the night-lamp burned dimly, aud in tho arm-chair with the large stuffed back lay my Uncle Mat thias, wrapped to the nose in my picei dressing-gown, and snoring horribly. "Uncle Matthias!" I called.

At first he did not hear, but finally stirred, and rubbed his eyes. "Uncle Matthias," Tasked,"whore is Lin3cn?"

Boy," said my uncle—he always calls me 'boy,' with about as much propriety as old neighbor llamann al\vays calls his twenty-two-\*ears-old horse "that filly"—""boy, are ywu beginning that all over again What have you to do with Linsen, tho shoemaker? The man does nothing for you."

Uncle," said 1, as he stretched himself out again to attend to the sawing business, "is it true, or did I dream, chat old bachelors have nothing to do with CJiristmas trees?" "Stull" ami nonsense said my Uncle Matthias. "Lie still!"

Have I been very sick?" I asked. God knows you have," said my uncle, creeping out of the dressing-gown, taking the lamp, and holding it before mv 05 es. "But really, really, I believe you'll pull through, for you look cjuito different,"—hero he patted me,—"my littlo boy. Can you really see that I'm your Uncle Matthias, and that this is my nose, anel not a strawberry Ami will you stop your strawberry-picking now Last night you dashetl your fist into my face twice, when I was noddingalittle." I promised to behave better, for I now had iny senses again.

And it was even so the sickness was over, but my suffering now first began. I was so tired apd faint that I could not stir and if I turneel my eyes Frau Butoun stood before me. with tho rod glazed pipkin in one hand and a spoon in the other, feeding and stuffing me with some kind of gruel as thick as bookbinder's paste, anel very much like it in tlavt»r, while she said, "Eatit! eat it! If you don't eat, you'll novor get better." And during ail this torment, the kind-hearted old creature had such a pitying look as she gazed over her pot of pasto, that I was forceel to swallow it, willing or not.

Kverything has an end, and a sausage has two. I got out of the bed, and sat for hours talking with Undo Mattbia*, and discussing various subjects. "Uncle," said I one day. for tho dream of tl^e fir-tree and the old bachelor still lingered in,my head, "uncle, we must really both got married."

Nonsense," said my uncle. "I)o yon suppose when I served as an Austrian sergeant in the Imperial army in tho year '13 I ought to have founded a petty Hungarian race?" "No," I replied, "1'in really talking about myself. You see, I think if I had a wife—that is, an orderly wife, and a good, and a—a pretty littlo wife, and you came to livo with ns "And tajio .caro of tho children? Much obliged "to you," said my Un le Matthias.

I didn't mean that. But I want to grt married, for Frau Butoun's nursing in this last sickness

Seems to tne," he intorrnptod, "you were nursed well enough. I myself

I'm not talking abont ttot," I replied, "you did everything in your power but a wife

Well, are you on tho track?" asked mv uncle. £& I know one," said I.

Wdl sho have you?"

rfi

I don't yet know," I replied. 1 I suppose she's handsome," he said, winking one eye at me.

You can see her yourself. Unluedtllv, 1 can't go with you. She passes evei-v afternoon, between three and four o'clock, through the gate near the mill and you can't mistake her, for she's tho prettiest of all who go there."

Of course," said my uncle. And has a tassel on her cloalc. and leads a little boy by tho band,' I added.

Are yon going to marry the child, too*" What do yon mean?" I cried, angrily. "It.s her sister's child."

Heaven preserve ns!" said my uncle, "fton't get ioto a rage. What do I know about it? Xhe might be a young wido*. Well, HI tako a look at her!" 8o saying, he left the loom.

Abont nve o'clock in the afternoon he came in again, lighted his pipe, sat down, and fetid nothing at alL This naturally vexed me, and I also kept silence. We both nmoked like chimneys. Bat I was too onrtous so I rose, and, standing where he could not peer into my faoe, saked, "Hare you been to the gate?"

Thst I have," be replied. "Well?" I asked. I Weil," said he. i. W

Did yon eee ber T" I've seen her—and talked with ber." The deuce you have!" said I, turning. "What did yon have to say to ber I ha vent spoken to ber myself yet."

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING

That's just it," said he. "One of us must make a beginning, and I suppose I can speak to my nephew's betrothed."

We haven't got so for as that yet." But what is not, may be," said he, leaning back in the old leather armchair, and stretching out his legs. "I'll tell you all about it," he continued. "As I was walking along the street, she came behind ine and 1 prepared to take a good leok at her, for she led a little boy by tho hand. I couldn't see the tassel, Vecause it hung on her back

Yes, I understand. I supposo you looked verv hard at her." When 1 want te see anything, open mv eyes." said my uncle, "and I did so, and sne cast hers down with a look as if she wore draw'ing her bedcurtains together at night and when she had passed by I saw the tassel too." "You doubtless stared at her finely, said I.-

That I did, but it's none of y«ur bu clripaa Did von like her?" "Oh, yos! Sho has several ijualitics that please me. In tho first place she hasn't much wound around her head, and secondly she doesn't sweep up the street with her clothes and these are tww virtues, my son, which are of more importanco'than is generally supposed for womon who have so much on their heads usually have very littlo in them, and those who wear long drosses all have Rooked legs, or, which is still worse, their shoes are shabby. My son, in choosing women and horses, you must always look first at the legs if tho gait is gracofnl the ljgs are all right, anel if tho shoes are neat you can depend upon Industry, order, and clctn iueas." "So you think"—I asked. "I think nothing at all," he interrupted. "Let ino first tell what has happened. As sho walked before me towards the mill, and 1 followed her, I could not help saying to myself, 'Really! you are a pretty girl! Very likely your head mav bo a little turned, but that will do no barm that's natural for a woman, but,' I thought to myself, 'how does she talk? That's tho main thing! You must begin a conversation with her.' So, when sho camo back again, I steod with my back against a tree and pretended to bo fining my pipe and when she was only a few paces from me I took my tinder-box from my pocket, and seized tho opportunity to pull out a littlo money with it—de you see, my boy? all done.intentionally—so that the Uvo-grosohen pieces rattleel on the frozen path. I stooped slowly down, as if it wore very hard for me t- collect them, and when she saw it sho instantly told the littlo boy to help me pick them up, and gathered some herself. I thanked her, and we entered into conversation and walked back together to the gate."

What did you talk about?"' I asked. "Oh, nothing of any consequence. I nd I was your uncle, and askeel if sho did not know you—you were always walking up and down here. She said sho had not that pleasure 'pleasuro,' she called it. Then 1 asked it sho had not seen a young man with a yellowgrey skin, a yellow-grey overcoat, yel-iow-grey trousers, anel yellow-grey hair? No, she said but she liael seen an elderly gentleman in such clothes. 'Well,' I replied, 'the elderly gentleman was the young man of whom I spoke that was you.' Then tho little boy cried out, 'Aunt, that's the gentleman you always say loeks like a wheat roll dipped in coffee.' Then sho blushed scarlet, and I could not help laughing, and said, 'Yes, that was you.'

I too blushed scarlet, for I was very angry, and said tot my uncle, "If you had nothing to do except to make your nephew ridiculous in other people's eyes, you won lei have done better to stay at lionn-." "Oh, I had," said he, "but I wanted something more—I wanted to find out whether sho would marry you."

Good heavens!" 1 oxclaimed "j'ou dieln't ask her?" Boy," said my uncle, smoking furiously,"when I taki/ a thing in hand I do it thoroughly, l?ut delicately. So I asked ber whether she knew what you were. 'No,' sho said, 'perhaps you were a doctor.' 'IIe?aven forbid said I, 'how should he be one?' 'A lawyer?' 'Nor that either.' Well, this and that? Anel sho guessed lrotn counsellor to barber but I always shook my head, and at last said she hadn't guessed yet —'He is nothing at all!' This surprised her a little, and sho said yon wore probablv living on your m»nev. 'Yes,'I rep'liod, 'sho was' right in one respect you had always shown most inclination for that kind of business from your childhood, but hat you hael obtained a situation I could not exactly say. You were now thinking of something else.' 'What was that?' she asked. 'Of marriage,' I said, and asked what she thought of it. But first I said to myself, 'If she turns pale at this question, she does not like him if sho blushes, she'll marry him,' Who grew scarlet, stoopeel down anel tied the littlo boy's hat, and when sho roso looked nt me from head to foot, made a sort of curtsy, and away she went. So I lost tho opportunity" to ask a question I wanted to put on iny own account."

That would doubtless have b^en a fine question, too," I said, biting off the end of my pipo in my rage.

Oh, no," replied my uncle, "I onl wanted to ask her whether she can cook fish well," and tho old fellow looked as gravo and important as if my marriage concerned him more than myself.

A few days after, when I could walk a little, I did not go near the mill, for I felt ashamed to see her. "I'll ride up to the lake for a little while," I thought, "and look on at the skating and sleighing." I did so and, as I approached Hhe building where beer, brandy, and pundi were bought, I walked about a short time, and there w»s my Uncle

Matthias putting an eight-groschon pice*) on the counter, anil asking for four gro«chens' worth of cakes and a four-emschen irlaiw of pnnch. This amazed me, for he preferred ram to pnnch, and never tasted cake. "Why, what dofs this mean I thonaht "he i« probably going to treat some chlldtm." But, no Without perceiving me, he went with his pile of cakes and glass of punch to a sleigh in which sat a lady with a jrroy veil, bent his bodv forward as If he w'anted to sprain his back, and slipped about on the ico so comically that I thought the old man would low* hi* balance, and wa« on the point of springing forward to selrc him by the arm just at that moment tho lady threw back her veil, and what did 1 see? My dear sweetheart, the light of my eyes I I frit as if some one bad slapped me in the faoe.

The deuce!" I exclaimed "the old fellow is spoiling the whole courtship," and went home fnriouily angry.

I sat In the dark, fretting internally, when tho door opened and my uncle came in. "Oaod evening," said be. •'Why are yon sitting bore In the dark Light a lamp."

This la tbe only time in my life I ever failed to my good-day to iiy mother's brother bnt froee and lighted a lamp, lookiog like aalt herring that bad lain a fortnight in vinegar.

What alls yon?" he aaked. Nothing," I answered curtly, bnt

thought, "He is my mother's brother," and addeei, "I don't feel well." I do," said he, looking as jolly as an old donkey which has been standing in his stall a fortnight eating oats. "I've been talking with her again," he added.

I don't care," I replied. What am I to understand by that?" ho asked, with a very solemn face.

I've done with the dream," said I. You don't want to marry ber?" he asked, pntting both arms on tbe back of the arm-cbair, and lextking me sharply in tlfe face. "I've managed the matter so delicately—so delicately that a dog might howl if nothing came of it— and now you won't marry her!"

No, uncle, I won't. Do you suppose I'll let you take the cream, and be satisfied with the sour milk? For in this they all agree—seo here! Amalie Schoppe, nee Weise, and Elise von IIohenhHusen, nee von Ochs, and all the rost who have written about this relation—the fairest part of marriage is the intercourse of betrotheel lovers anel this you are monopolizing yourself, and I must look on anu see you treat my berothcel to punch and cakes." My uncle teiok the books, tossed them on tho sola, planted himself in front of mn, and said,—

I ask j'ou for the Inst time, w.ll you marry the girl ol* ne»t?" No," said I.

Well," ho replied, gazing steadily at .me with a vi-rv grave face, as if he had just miido his will and was going to sign it, "well, tho girl shall come to no harm through me, for I'll marry her myself!" and with these words stalked prouelly out ef the reiom.

This was a pretty piece of business. At first I stood bewildered, then threw myself on the sofa and bu-st into a hearty laugh. My undo. wi,.» was at least twenty years older than I, would marry, while I at my ago had not courage I tried to laugh again, but did not succeed very well, /or tnv heart was not untroubled and though I made my lace broad enough tho laugh stuck in my throat, and when I caught, in the looking-glass, a glimpse 6f myself with tbo stupidest expression in the World, I started up, paced up and down the room with long strides, raged against myself, struck the table with my fist, and said, "He'll elo it—he's capable of it!"

When Frau Butoun came, sho of course gave mo many occasions for scolcling and when I had put things to rights I went to tho club, and played ombre, constantly saying to myself, "Yem can't allow that," .and lost, and thou murmured, "You would not let that heart be bought!" and was beaten. I went sulkily home, threw myself down and tried'to sleep, but could not. I raged against myself all night, for I could not give up that sweet child—she had eiono me no wrong—and was I never, in ajll my life, to adorn a fir-tree on Christmas eve? If I said to myselr, "Why not?" all my scruples darted through my brain like a swarm of bum-ble-bees and before my eyes appeared a huge interrogation point, which, if I interpreted it, always said, "But will she marry you

Well, tnat no ono can answer belter than she herself—that I perceived and when the grey winter morning shone into my cold reom and chilleel KIO to the bones,"as I made my coffee, I murmured, "Now I have decided. What music must be, must be," and said to frau Buton, "Frau Butoun, go to Bohnsacken's shop, and buj' mo a pair of the nice yellow gloves young lawyers always wear, when they are on some important business. They must bo very yellow."

About eleven o'clock I put on my black frock-coat, black pants, shining boots, and new yellow gloves, placed mv hat above the whole, went to tho looking-glass, and said with good reafon, "Is it possible—I shouldn't have known myself!" Then I glanced around the room', anel added, "Things won't probably remain in this state long." I looked at my old slippers, which stood before tho bed, saying, "You'll bo astonished if all goes well, and in a few weeks a pair of pretty little shoes coine to visit you." 1 walked down the street, reached my Uncle Matthias' door, and thought. "One should bo at peace with all tbe world, befeire he takes such a step for I felt as if I were going to execution. So I knoeiked and went in.

Well, I've seen a great many things in this world I once saw a fellow eat fire I once saw a man eat tow and draw a beautiiul silk ribben out of his mouth but never was I so astonished as at the moment I beheld my Undo Matthias that morning.

There ho stood in his room in tho selfsame costume as I, only that his black coit was a green hunting-shirt, and his yellpw gloves were of buckskin, while mine were kid, and his white mous tacho hung over his mouth like a pair of idcles, and mino twisted upward, and was all sorts of colors. "Undo!" I cried, as I camo in, anel my hat rolled off on thelloorinmy amazement.

What do you want, my boy?" he replied. What do you want?" I shouted.

I want what you don't," he replied. But I elo want it. And," I added, "I on 1/camo here in this dress, to tell you that I was too hasty, and ask you to bo my elear old uncle again."

Is that what you want?" he said, sitting down in his arm-chair and looking me steadily in the face. "Well, then, I'll toll you that I was going to your house in this drews to give you a little fright. I learned while I was a soldier that a littlo fright does men good, for then shame comes in. And, mv boj*," he said, rising, and laying his hand on my arm, "I won't stand in your way, and make a wrinkle on the white sheet of your happiness, for the little girl is born for you, and sho is a geKMl girl.", With these words he gave my arm such a pinch with his huge old fist that I thought, "If sho is like (An(, she is more than good."

My uncle now oronght out a glass of his old port %vine, saying, "Here, my boy, take something to strengthen you first. Where are you going to becin?"

Ah I" said I, "fl I only knew/' Put yonr leg on tho chair," said he. Why?" I asked. Nothing," lie replied, unbuttoning the straps of my pants, "only you must begin by falling on your knees, and these might be in your way."

Well?' said I,"you commence well." What is proper, must be done," said he. "I never went through tho aftair myself, but I've always seen it in pictures. What do you say? Stop! I'll help you!" and with these words he hastily pulled out his chest of drawers and rummaged in the one that contained his most sacred treasures. Yes, bo appeared with his book of genealogy. This was rarely touched, and, wheh he did move it, only in tbe evening when everything waa still. Then he first put on clean linen and bis best clothes, placed two lamps on tbe ta le, one on each side, pondered over every page, r«sd all tbe verses, and marked the death-record with black crosses. The following morning be was always very melancholy and tbe last time he bad looked at it he came to me the next morning, and said, "So far as I know, there is one alive still, Christian Bu tiger, tbe seo of old Banger, tbe tailor,

who used to live next door to my parents. If God spares my lite, I'll visit him this summer."

Here!" said he, when he had taken out the book and laid it on tbe table, "sit down here and look out a verse and team it by heart. Thore are some which pray to onr Lord in heaven,—no doubt you can also find one for the best girl on earth."

Uncle," said I, taking tho beok and turning the loaves, "I know what to do: I will say what my heart dictates, aud there is a great deal in my heart to-day."

That's well, my boy," replied my uncle, "nay, perhaps, still bettor. Stop!" ho added, as I'was turning to leave the room, "the white string on your shirt is hanging half a yard dwwn your back," and he fastened It under tbe collar. "There, nofc, ge) in God's name."

I went but as l*left the house I heard a noisoover me, and when I lookeel up there was Uncle Matthias stretching himself half out of the window, nodding and winking at me, and wbeuever I looked back on my way down the long street he nodded, and waved his red pocket-handkerchief, till I was afraid people might guess what secrot we haex between us.

I might tell a tale, but shall avoid doing so. Such affairs don't go as smoothly in real lifo as in novels. Ninety nine out of every lnnidred make tho most absurd blunders on thjs occasion and, even if the whole hundred return as the happiest betrothed bridegrooms, the ninety and nine would still say to themselves, Jew! grant that wo may never be in that fix again, but, if we do undertake the business, we'll manage more cleverly." God grant that I may never bo in the position again.

At the end of an hour and a half I came back, the happiest of men, and I probably looked so and, as in my lonely bachelor life I bad acquired tho foolish habit oftalking to myself, I cannot,on calm reflection, blame people for moving out of my way as I came down the street and looking somewhat sharply at me. When about three rods from my uncle's house, lie rusheel forward to meet me, thri his arms around my neck—li had beon staneting outside tho door the wholo hour and ifhalf, watching for me —and cried, "Hold your tongue! hold your tongue! I know all, and when will the wedding be?"

I silenced him, saying, "flush! At least wait until we are out of the street," teok him by the arm, and dragged him him with me but when we came in, though Frau Butoun was setting the table for dinner, he could control himself no longer, but poured out his wbole heart, and, when the woman stared at him, printed over his shoulder at me, saying, "Look there, Frau Butoun,there he' stands—my sister's son. He's a betrothed bridegroom." And when Frau Butoun congratulated me, and wished to .know who the fortunate lady was, I had to hush hiui again and when she had gone be talked anei looked at me very indignantly. Ievas a hypocrite, a very obstinate fellow, anel I had a black heart if I could conceal such happiness so long.

I was obligeel to sit down and tell him the whole story, after which he 'came a little more friendly, nodded, and said, "Excellent then shook his head, remarking, "That was not exactly to his mind." When I had told the whole, he rose with a face like the sky in hayingtime, when it is unererthin whether to rain or lot the sun shine he shook his heael and nodded, noeldedand shook his head, and at last said, "For his part, he would have done better and then asked at which verse of this chapter I had gone down on my knees. I was obliged to confess that I had not come to that at all. Uncle Matthias took his bat saying, "Well, then, I wish you a good appetite. Hold

fast

to what yon have, the wolf

will eat what comes after. You crowded too soon the affair is still along way from being settled kneeling is apart of every betrothal, and the ngreemeht is irood for nothing if it isn't sealed on both knees. I shouldn't be in tho least surprised if the engagement was olf tomorrow. Another time take my advice!" With these words he left the room.

Nevertheless,wonderfully happy days now dawned for me—wonderfully happy daj-s. Onco more I might find much to tell, but will refrain. Tho greatest joys anel deepest sorrows must not be public to every one and, although I am-ready to believe that all who read these lines are well-bred, worthy people, some Hatis Quast might slip in among them and make jokes at my expense, and that would be extremely unpleasant to me.

But every good honey-cake needs a small sprinkling of pepper, and I, too, did not fail to receive it. Iu the first place, iny Uncle Matthias scattered a fewgtains but when ho saw that tho alfair was likely to last, and had himselfpaid a friendly visit to my betrothed, and ascertained her skill in ceioking fried fish to hissatisfaction.be dropped his spire and dipped deep into his hon-cy-pot—too deep, I said, for be described my happiness to everybody who would listen to him in such glowing terms, that so many flies were soon buzzing in my lioney-moon that I diel not know where to hide myself, and as many comical stories wero in circulation coucernin me as if I had become not only a bridegroom, but a butt for evcryboeiVs amusement. I was the object of jests whenever I appeared. At every fifth step in the street some fool grinned at me, anel if I askeel what there was to laugh at all saiel, as if they had made some agreement, "Oh! nothing, nothing!" If I wont to my club in the evening—for that I had instantly announced my intention of doing, I would not have given it up under any circumstances, In'the first placo because it was, so to speak, the home of my mind, and secondly becauso I thought it conducive to my culture—well, when I went there, there was a whispering and hushingand nudging stories were told of what such a person had sdd before mar»iago, and what he had said ajter marriage, -md what the shepherd had said to his dog and if 1 grew angry and askeel what they meant,and how the point-concern*' CHI hie, all said, "Heaven orbid! We nv ati nothing." If for these reason I did not go to the club in the evening, Frau Butoun oponed her littlo peppermill, and scattered the fine dust in my nose and eyes. Should this thing bo &of or should it be so? She didn't know where I wantod this now. She was an olel woman, and had taken care of a great many gentlemen in her lifetime, out none who were "betrothed. I must have patience with her,for things would soon be very different. And as for removing all this stuff sho thought I was perfectly light, it waa not good enough for my betrotbod bride,

who,

nho bad

heard, had been reared like a princes and never dipped her fingers in cold water but her eyes were too old to see every spot on the coat. And If my botrothed wanted to visit me soon she might do so for ber part she had no objections, and if the linen and tho floor and the burean-cover didn't suit ber, or the little enpboard she had put in one corner of my room for hpr convenience, she wasn't going te wear herself out. And if I wanted a fire in the evening I might say so—abe didn't know. I al way* used to goto tbe club, why didn't I now And then she aat down before

the stove, and puffed, and puffed, and the coals glowed on ner fat red cheeks so that I could not look at ber without thinking,"God forgive me for my heavy sins! iknow very well that this is my Frau Bntonn, and a Christian widow— why must I always think of tho distinuuisheel peoplo who dwell in a place that is said to be very hot? And when she blows the fire why do I always think that possibly in that place somebody is sitting, blowing roals to warm up mv beautiful marricel happiness a littlo."

From this any one may suppose that my scruples were not all thrown out of the window and they heramo still worse as I walked down tho stroet ono atternexm on my way from a visit to my betrothed bride.

As I walked along the street on this day, I heard a lond noise in the elistance tho people lexked out of the windows, and before one of tbo doors a littlo group had assembled. Just as I was passing tho deor, the furrier Obst shot out of his shop ami landed in tho gutter. "Uoexl heavens!" said his neighbor Graun, ."what are you doing there?"

Oh! that's easy to tell," said the furrier, "my womenkind pitched me out."

But why?" askeei tho other. I'll tell you," said tho furrier, rising: "my wife wants what want, and 1 don't want this."

As this story gave me no information, 1 walked on, thinking, "It's some foolish proverb. What does the fellow mean? 'My wife wants what I want, anel I don't want this.' Yon must ask Uncle Matthias about it."

So I wont to his house, relateel tho incident, reprateei the words, anel asked, "Uncle, what does the fellow mean by it?" "Why?" said he, walking thoughtfully up aud down the reom, "and the fellow was thrown out by his womenkind, you say "Yes," I replied, "h* said so himself." "And he was sitting in tho guttor?"

Yes."

"Well." said my undo, after a few moments' reflection, "then this was probably his meaning, for his wife throw him out, and tliat w&uld agree with this proverb, for it runs, 'My wife wants to be master in tho house*, and I want to be master too and my wife wants her way, and I won't ceinsent.' But," he addeei, "if'she was in the house and he sitting outside in the gutter, sho was doubtless master."

I don't know why this conversation made mo feel so troubled anei anxious. I had never looked at my dosign from, this point. "Uncle," said'I, "you know me, and know her too. Which of us do you think will bo master in the house?"

Whv," said lie, "she doesn't seem to me at all as if sho would liko to sit outside tho house in the gutter. I beliove she would rather remain indoors."

The devil!" I exclaimed. Oh she probably wouldn't make it so bad as that," said Undo Matthias "sho would doubtless exert a gentle, lemininc rule, as peoplo call it. over you —you oulei bo somewhat tightly tieel to her apron-string."

I'm not afraid of that," said I "after tho marriage I'd soon get her out of tho habit of having tho first bushel ol rvo."

Don't rely upon that," said my Allele. "You know tho proverb: JJ^furr tho wedding tame your mate,

After the wedding 'tis too late. "No," I replied, "that's something new," and looked as if my undo had told mo I had been made pope.

Well, thon, sit down," said ho, "and I'll tell you a story." "Go on," I replied, "but don't try to give it a useful moral. I'm too ola for that."

Don't worry," saiel he, "your dear wife will apply tho moral, if you don't follow my advice."

I sat down in 1113' uncle's room and ho began the story. "In Itump-dmannshagen, where I spent tho first years of my apprenticeship, lived two lino young fellows, one named Wolf, who was a blacksmith in the village, and the other named Kiwitt, who was a miller. Tho smith was smart and knew what lie was doing, tho miller was stupid, but hael money. Woll, in due time a rumor ran through the village. Gossips, have you all heard? The smith and tho miller are courting tho magistrate*^ Sophie and Mario, «nd they say tho weddings will como off at Martinmas. And it proved true. They were both married at Martinmas, and the old father gave a splendid wedding, and we young peoplo were invited and I remember to this day what jolly times we had, for towards morning Ludwig Brookimmu turned a mug of beer over my head, aud when I was angry said, 'One surely oinrlit'to tako a joke.' After the wedeiing everything went smeothl3' for a time, but ere long there w.s a whisper in the villago 'Gossips, have yem all heard tho news Tho miller's wile beats her husband.' And this was true. Ono Sunday afternoon tho miller camo to the smiih, who wassittingin the inn playing solitaire. •Well,' said tho former. know what has happened to you ro-elay.' "IIow so?' asked the etnith, rising and going out with his brother-in-law. 'Why,' said tho miller, 'don't try to humbug me! we liavo both gone into fine sorvico.' '"If you mean my wife,' said the smith, '1 must tell you I have gone into excellent service.'

Yes, said tbe miller, 'when she isn't in tho h»use.' 'Como with me,' replied tho smith. 'I killed a hqg yesterday, and you know my wifo is very fond of black sausage. I'll givo ysu a prejofof it." 'They went to the smith's bouse, anel sta .ding before the door tho latter eaillod,'Sophie!'

His wife looked out of the window, and asked, 'What is it "'Sophie,' saiel tho smith, 'tako the dish 01 black sausage find throw it out into the street.' 'What?' cried his wife. 'Throw the dish of black sausage in- ..... to the street.'

Dircctly,' said Sophie, find t^e dish whirled through the eloor as the furrier did this morning. 'That's right,' said tho smith. 'Anel now, Sophie, throw out the pe»t with tbo rest of the black sausage, too.' This was all done, and tho smith said, 'Very well, Sophie. Don't get tired, if I cjomo borne late this evening.' lie then went back to the inn with^ the miller, and asked, 'Well, havo yon^ seen?" 'Yes, said the miller, 'that's splendid. How did you begin this?' «In a very simple way,' replied tbe smith. 'Did you lock her up?' '"NO.* it A '•'Dicl you beat her?" "'No.' "'Well, what did you do then?' .J"M 'I'll tell you,' said thesmltb. 'When we were betrothed, watched to discover what article of drew she liked best, and I found it was a pretty little red silk handkerchief so I seized the oppor-, tunity when we had had breakfast and tbe tablf was smeared with goose-greases towlpoitofT with ber beautiful bandkerchief. Well, you oan imagine how be stormed at me! But I clasped her aying, "Sophie, you rarely hare me.