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He then turned and addressed the com- liating posture, Arnold touched him conpany: temptuously with his foot. Groans and hisses now began to be mingled with divers missives. Mentz covered his face with his hands, and rushed from the room. He was never subsequently seen among us.

Gentlemen," he said, ,,deem me not either savage or insane, that I sacrifice myself and this brutal wretch thus before your eyes, and to certain and instant destruction. For me, I confess I have no value in life. She whom I loved, I have sworn to forget; and if I existed a thousand years, should probably never see again. This ruffian is a coward, and fears to die, though he does not fear daily to merit death. I have long heard of his baseness, and regard him as an assassin. The enemy of the human race - and of God a dangerous beast, whom it will be a mercy and a virtue to destroy. My own life I would be well rid of, but would not fling it away idly when its loss may be made subservient to the destruction of vice, and the relief of humanity. Here then I yield my breath, and here too this trembling and shrinking craven shall close his course of debauchery and murder. My companions, farewell; should any one hereafter chance to meet Gertrude de Saale, tell her I have flung away a life which her falsehood had made me despise; and now, recreant," he said, in a fierce tone, turning towards Mentz,,,plant thy pistol to my bosom I will plant mine to thine. Let one of the company tell three, and the third number be the signal to fire.“

--

With an increased paleness in his countenance, but with even more ferocity and firmness, Arnold threw off his cap, displaying his high brow and glossy ringlets his lips were closed and firm and his eyes, which glistened with a deadly glare, were fixed on Mentz. He then placed himself in an attitude of firing, broadened his exposed chest full before his foe, and, with a stamp of fury and impatience, raised the weapon. The brow-beaten bully attempted to do the same; but the pistol held loosely in his grasp, whether by accident or intention, went off before the signal. Its contents passed through the garments of Arnold, who levelling the muzzle of his own, said calmly On your knees base slave vile dog

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down, or you die!"

Unable any longer to support his frame, the unmasked coward sunk on both knees, and prayed for life with right earnest vehemence. Again, wild shouts of applause and delight, and peals of riotous laughter stunned his ears. As he rose from his humi

,,And Arnold?" enquired Norman.

,,Had been jilted, like many a good fellow before him, and as most men are, who have to do with women. He was but a poor artist after all; and though my pretty mistress encouraged him at first, taken by his person and manners, yet he was not high enough for the daughter of a baron.“ ,,And what became of Mentz?"

,,That I know not. He too, soon afterwards, vanished. Thus we meet and thus we part in this world. But I shall never forget the shout when Mentz's knees touched the floor. It seems to me that the echoes may scarcely yet be quiet in the woods of Saxony."

,,I understand the import of your story, Kreutzner," said Norman, after a moment's pause; ,,and am glad to find you coincide with my own views. It is my only chance

fall

though a slender one. Fall one both. I will not be shot down with impunity by this professed cold blooded duellist.“

Kreutzner received his instructions accordingly.

THE OPINIONS OF A TRAVELLER.

FRANK was aroused from his reveries by a touch on the shoulder. On turning he recognised Mr. Earnest, a young lawyer with whom he had a slight acquaintance. As the act curtain fell, though Frank was scarcely conscious it had been up, this gentleman addressed him to beguile the interval. He was a little fellow, with large black whiskers, piercing eyes, over-dressed, over-perfumed, with a variety of rings on his fingers, and a rather startling brooch in his cravat, which was spread voluminously out over his breast. Although Frank had met him once or twice at his father's house, where he occasionally presented himself, he scarcely considered him among his friends, and he was rather surprised at his perfect familiarity of manner.

,,Hallo, Frank! that you? How are you? How do you come on? What a devilish stupid thing this opera is? How disgustingly Horn sings! Isn't it very odd that the public allow themselves to be gouged in this way?

Frank did not think the opera stupid, and he admired Horn; but, not disposed for a dispute, replied only in general terms.

,,If I couldn't sing better than that, I would not sing at all," resumed Earnest.

,,And do you sing?"

"Why yes, a little! at least, I know enough of music to know the difference between what is bad and what is good. Since I have returned from abroad, I can't put up with the same fare as others. I'm not to be fobbed off with such trash as this." ,,Were you long abroad?"

schoolboy speeches, and take two days to say what a clever member, what, indeed, any member, of the House of Commons would say in ten minutes."

Why, it seems to me," said Frank,,,that such men as Webster and Clay are as good as others. I would not do our distinguished men such injustice as to attempt to enumerate them in a short conversation."

We have had one or two clever fellows, but I think our greatest men of the present day would be only fifth rate in England."

,,Well, I won't debate with you," said Frank, not sympathizing with the blind admiration of foreign things, which rendered his companion unable to see excellence abroad without denying its existence at home the sure indication of a small mind.

,,Then look at our society," continued

,,Six months. I made the whole tour: Earnest.,,What a mere trumpery collection I saw everything and everybody."

,,Really!"

,,Oh yes. I went to see, and did see. I found the character of a stranger, a traveller, and an American, a passport everywhere."

,,Indeed!"

of heterogeneous material, a mere mélange, without a standard of manners, or any systematic principle of exclusion or organization.“

,,As to exclusion," said Frank,,,if report and books speak truth, the highest society of Europe is not, with all its exclusiveness, free from vulgar people."

,.There is scarcely a thing worth seeing ,,But then I feel here, as the saying is, that I haven't seen, a great man I haven't like a cat in a strange garret," said Earnest. spoken with or a sovereign I have not been,,I see nothing of the splendour and georgepresented to."

Well, as for me," said Frank, ,,I confess that, although I am interested in seeing great men, I have no desire to know them."

,,Ah! bah! they like it; it is incense to them. Besides, they are as much interested in us as we are in them, and are always glad of an opportunity of procuring living information. A conversation with an intelligent man just from the spot is worth to them a pile of musty folios or pert books of travels. Why, the kings of France and of England talked with me a good half-hour. Metternich kept me chatting till I was tired to death. I dined with Scott; and as for Moore, Byron, Rogers, and those fellows, by Jove! we're hand and glove together." ,,You must have some delightful recollections?" said Frank.

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ousness that I've been in the habit of being surrounded with. Where are our public walks? our magnificent, shady parks? our picture and sculpture galleries? Where our stately equipages? our chasseurs? our footmen with powdered hair and gold-headed canes? our men of science? our beautiful women? Going abroad has ruined me for ever as an American."

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Then I think," said Frank gravely, for his love of country was not only a principle but a feeling,,,it is a great pity you did not remain at home. As for our comparative inferiority in some things, it is undeniable. In others our superiority is equally apparent. Royal parks! there are none, because there are no kings, expensive governments, and wealthy aristocracy. I cannot feel less happiness because I don't see chasseurs and footmen with powdered heads and gold canes! I believe Providence means the English should love their country and we ours, and if travel only impairs our patriotism, then travel is an evil."

,,I don't agree with you at all," said Earnest.,,I go for truth, and I embrace

the truth, wherever I find it. Society exists as it is, and man, if a philosopher, wishes to see it as it is, and not under any delusion or prejudice, amiable or unamiable. There are people who talk in the same way of religion. They believe because they wish to believe! If Christianity be not true, I don't wish to believe it. Do you suppose the great characters of antiquity believed in their gods, and miracles, and all that? Certainly not. Give me truth! I set up for a man of sense, and I don't care who knows it. I also set up for a man of courage, moral as well as physical. I wish to see things as they are, whether the discovery be pleasing or not. I seek truth even before happiness; truth, if it mean death, or annihilation after death." ,,Certainly," said Frank, who, during this harangue, had been leaning his face back and away as much as possible, but who was followed up by the youthful philosopher, and greatly annoyed at finding himself entrapped into a metaphysical dispute with a person whom travelling and his own selfsufficient mind had rendered rather disgusting:,,certainly, truth is the object of life, but one cannot be too guarded against illusion." ,,Oh yes, but I am sure I have found manner was usually cold and haughty, truth."

fifty), his character was cold, pompous, and arrogant. While his understanding was small, his opinion of it was immense, and nothing could exceed his vanity, unless, perhaps, the vindictiveness with which he revenged any offence that wounded it.

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A coward in secret, his cowardice was overmastered by his self-importance; but while even in his overbearing manners he studied his own safety, he was indifferent to the danger of others. A toad-eater where his fears or his interests required, he was a relentless tyrant to those beneath him. Although invested by his rank, connexions, and wealth, with a certain consideration in the eyes of the world (for how few are not worshippers of these things?), his real character was cruel and despicable. His stature was tall and commanding, and an erect and military air added to the impression of a countenance which announced not only the habit, but the determination of command. In birth and education he was a gentleman, but fashion, unfortunately, considers compatible with that character qualities which are in themselves not desirable. His own passions were his only law, the world his only thought, and himself his only god. His

but

when among persons he considered his equals, it became free and agreeable, and he possessed the power, in the society of his immediate associates, of veiling his darker peculiarities beneath an appearance of military frankness, and a certain air of bonhomie which enabled him to make plenty of friends when he desired to do so. If nature had bestowed upon him any good quality, it was, perhaps, a spirit of hospitality, of which the marked magnificence was visible in the splendour of his balls, the elegant taste which presided at his dinners, and the hearty welcome with which, at his own table and in his own house, he received all whom he had deemed worthy the honour of an invitation. But even this originated in his love of ostentation and the vulgar ambition of selfdisplay; for, while giving a ball, for the perfect brilliancy of which no expense was spared, he would stint a deserving servant even of his just dues, and turn with the coldest indifference from the most touching case of homely distress. To these sharp, but not uncommon features, let it be added, that Colonel Nicholson's supreme delight was to thwart everybody, to make all around

him uncomfortable, to wound the feelings of his wife, and friends, and servants, to touch sore points, to entangle everything, to distress and insult everybody, and to keep people at a distance, and the reader has as much of his portrait as is necessary to the development of our story.

Yet, such are men, such is the wordly, and such is public opinion, it was not easy for any, except those immediately in contact with him in a subordinate station, to say whether Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholson was an extremely good or a very bad man. There is no despicable quality which may not be called by a graceful name, and there is no despicable man either, who may not find a clique to praise and whitewash him. The choice few among whom this great personage thought it not beneath him to unbend, meanly flattered by his selection, and deriving various advantages from the intimacy, feeling all the little good of his character, and, of course, not brought in contact with any of his bad points, sturdily defended him against the just indignation of those who had smarted beneath his arrogant insults, and seen the malignity of his heart and the smallness of his mind. From these the world at large learned that his despotism was a mere necessary habit of command; his vain hospitality was generous kindness; his cunning, sagacity; his cowardice, prudence; and his stinginess, wise economy. Thus, by dwelling upon and exaggerating his better peculiarities, by deny ing or explaining away the worse ones, he was made out by them to be a meritorious person; and the world, who heard him execrated by one set, adulated by another, decided, when they took the trouble of deciding at all, that he was probably a severe disciplinarian, and therefore an excellent commander, and that the accusations against him arose from the unbending haughtiness of his disposition, which, although it made him unpopular, was but the repelling cover of

a magnanimous heart. As he had executed his sometimes unpleasant duties with unscrupulous fidelity and impartiality, too noble and careless to consider consequences, or to descend to arts of conciliation, he must be a superior officer and a worthy man. Thus, in this strange world, the purest person is often weighed down by misfortune and blackened by calumny, while a scoundrel in the perpetration of unprincipled actions, not only often escapes free from public reprobation, but receives the public applause, particularly if Providence have placed him in an exalted position.

But, though the world at large would not take the trouble to decide respecting Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholson, the officers who served under him had too often felt his ungenerous arrogance and paltry insults not to hate him with all their hearts. His complete power to worry those under his command was practised without restraint from mercy or generosity. They had long smarted under a thousand vague and unamiable pieces of oppression, each one of which, to a gentleman, is more galling than broader insults. If there are few who know how to obey, there are still fewer who do not betray the innate depravity of human nature when called upon to command. In the history of absolute sovereigns, and particularly of the Roman emperors, that human character is sculptured in colossal forms, and we there see man intrusted with power. Rome is fallen through the infinite mercy of Providence, and the world is cut up into small states; but the human heart, only narrowed in its sphere, remains essentially the same, when religious influences have not rescued it from itself; and how many an inglorious Roman emperor is there on the deck of a ship, at the head of a regiment, in a schoolroom or a workshop, who, if he dared, or if he could, would place his statue in the temple of God.

Herrig, American. Literatur. II.

23

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

Born 1807.

THE SNOW-IMAGE.

A CHILDISH MIRACLE.

ONE afternoon of a cold winter's day, when the sun shone forth with chilly brightness, after a long storm, two children asked leave of their mother to run out and play | in the newfallen snow. The elder child was a little girl, whom, because she was of a tender and modest disposition, and was thought to be very beautiful, her parents, and other people who were familiar with her, used to call Violet. But her brother was known by the style and title of Peony, on account of the ruddiness of his broad and round little phiz, which made everybody think of sunshine and great scarlet flowers. The father of these two children, a certain Mr. Lindsey, it is important to say, was an excellent but exceedingly matter-of-fact sort of man, a dealer in hardware, and was sturdily accustomed to take what is called the common-sense view of all matters that came under his consideration. With a heart about as tender as other people's, he had a head as hard and impenetrable, and therefore, perhaps, as empty, as one of the iron pots which it was a part of his business to sell. The mother's character, on the other hand, had a strain of poetry in it, a trait of unworldly beauty, a delicate and dewy flower, as it were, that had survived out of her imaginative youth, and still kept itself alive amid the dusty realities of matrimony and motherhood.

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So, Violet and Peony, as I began with saying, besought their mother to let them run out and play in the new snow; for, though it had looked so dreary and dismal, drifting downward out of the grey sky, it had a very cheerful aspect, now that the sun was shining on it. The children dwelt in a city, and had no wider play-place than a little garden before the house, divided by a white fence from the street, and with a pear-tree and two or three plum-trees overshadowing it, and some rose-bushes just in front of the parlour windows. The trees

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Accordingly, the good lady bundled up her darlings in woollen jackets and wadded sacks, and put comforters round their necks, and a pair of striped gaiters on each little pair of legs, and worsted mittens on their hands, and gave them a kiss apiece, by way of a spell to keep away Jack Frost. Forth sallied the two children, with a hop-skipand-jump, that carried them at once into the very heart of a huge snowdrift, whence Violet emerged like a snow-bunting, while little Peony floundered out with his round face in full bloom. Then what a merry time had they! To look at them, frolicking in the wintry garden, you would have thought that the dark and pitiless storm had been sent for no other purpose but to provide a new plaything for Violet and Peony; and that they themselves had been created, as the snow-birds were, to take delight only in the tempest, and in the white mantle which it spread over the earth.

At last, when they had frosted one another all over with handfuls of snow, Violet, after laughing heartily at little Peony's figure, was struck with a new idea.

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