HERMANN AND DOROTHEA.

IN NINE CANTOS.

Elan A. Bouring

I. KALLIOPE.

FATE AND SYMPATHY.

"NE'ER have I seen the market and streets so thoroughly empty!

Still as the grave is the town, clear'd out! I verily fancy

Fifty at most of all our inhabitants still may be found there.

People are so inquisitive! All are running and racing, Merely to see the sad train of poor fellows driven to exile.

Down to the causeway now building, the distance nearly a league is,

And they thitherward rush, in the heat and the dust of the noonday.

As for me, I had rather not stir from my place just to stare at

Worthy and sorrowful fugitives, who, with what goods they can carry,

Leaving their own fair land on the further side of the Rhine stream,

Over to us are crossing, and wander through the delightful

Nooks of this fruitful vale, with all its twistings and windings,

"Wife, you did right well to bid our son go and meet them,

Taking with him old linen, and something to eat and to drink too,

Just to give to the poor; the rich are bound to befriend them.

How he is driving along! How well he holds in the horses!

Then the new little carriage looks very handsome; inside it

Four can easily sit, besides the one on the coachbox. This time he is alone; how easily turns it the corner!" Thus to his wife the host of the Golden Lion discoursed, Sitting at ease in the porch of his house adjoining the market.

Then replied as follows the shrewd and sensible host

ess:

"Father, I don't like giving old linen away, for I find it Useful in so many ways, 'tis not to be purchased for money

Just when it's wanted. And yet to day I gladly have given

Many excellent articles, shirts and covers and suchlike; For I have heard of old people and children walking half-naked.

Will you forgive me, too, for having ransacked your presses?

That grand dressing-gown, cover'd with Indian flowers

all over,

Made of the finest calico, lined with excellent flannel, I have despatch'd with the rest, 'tis thin, old, quite out of fashion."

But the worthy landlord only smiled, and then answer'd:

"I shall dreadfully miss that ancient calico garment, Genuine Indian stuff! They're not to be had any longer. Well! I shall wear it no more. And your poor husband

henceforward

Always must wear a surtout, I suppose, or common. place jacket,

Always must put on his boots; good bye to cap and to slippers!"

See," continued his wife, "a few are already return ing

Who have seen the procession, which long ago must have pass'd by.

See how dusty their shoes are, and how their faces are glowing!

Each one carries a handkerchief, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

I, for one, wouldn't hurry and worry myself in such weather

Merely to see such a sight! I'm certain to hear all about it."

And the worthy father, speaking with emphasis, added:Such fine weather seldom lasts through the whole of ne harvest;

And we're bringing the fruit home, just as the hay we brought lately,

Perfectly dry; the sky is clear, no cloud's in the heavens, And the whole day long delicious breezes are blowing. Splendid weather I call it! The corn already too ripe is, And to-morrow begin we to gather the plentiful harvest."

Whilst he was thus discoursing the number of men and of women

Crossing the market and going towards home kept ever increasing;

And there return'd amongst others, bringing with him his daughters,

On the other side of the market, their prosperous neigh

bor,

Going full speed to his new built house, the principal merchant,

Riding inside an open carriage (in Landau constructed). All the streets were alive; for the town, though small, was well peopled,

Many a factory throve there, and many a business also.

Long sat the excellent couple under the doorway, exchanging

Many a passing remark on the people who happen'd to pass them.

Presently thus to her husband exclaim'd the good. natured hostess:

"See! Yon comes the minister; with him is walking the druggist:

They'll be able to give an account of all that has happen'd,

What they witness'd, and many a sight I fear which was painful.

Both of them came in a friendly manner, and greeted the couple,

Taking their seats on the wooden benches under the doorway,

Shaking the dust from their feet, their handkerchiefs using to fan them.

Presently, after exchanging reciproc 1 greetings, the druggist

Open'd his mouth, and almost peevishly vented his feel. ings:

"What strange creatures men are! They all resemble each other,

All take pleasure in staring, when troubles fall on their neighbors.

Ev'ry one runs to see the flames destroying a dwelling, Or a poor criminal led in terror and shame to the scaffold.

All the town has been out to gaze at the sorrowing exiles,

None of them bearing in mind that a like misfortune hereafter,

Possibly, almost directly, may happen to be their own portion.

I can't pardon such levity; yet 'tis the nature of all

men.

Thereupon rejoin'd the noble and excellent pastor,

He, the charm of the town, in age scarce more than a stripling:

(He was acquainted with life, and knew the wants of his hearers,

Fully convinced of the worth of the Holy Scriptures, whose mission

Is to reveal man's fate, his inclinations to fathom;

He was also well read in the best of secular writings). "I don't like to find fault with any innocent impulse Which in the mind of man Dame Nature has ever im

planted;

For what reason and intellect ne'er could accomplish, is often

Done by some fortunate, quite irresistible instinct within him.

If mankind were never by curiosity driven,

Say, could they e'er have found out for themselves the wonderful manner

Things in the world range in order? For first they Novelty look for,

Then, with untiring industry seek to discover the Useful,

Lastly they yearn for the Good, which makes them noble and worthy.

All through their youth frivolity serves as their joyous companion,

Hiding the presence of danger, and swiftly effacing the

traces

Caused by misfortune and grief, as soon as their onslaught is over.

Truly the man's to be praised who, as years roll onward, develops

Out of such glad disposition an intellect settled and steady,

Who, in good fortune as well as misfortune, strives zealously, nobly;

For what is Good he brings forth, replacing whatever is injured."

Then in a friendly voice impatiently spoke thus the

hostess:

"Tell us what you have seen; I am eagerly longing to hear it."

Then with emphasis answer'd the druggist:-" The terrible stories

Told me to-day will serve for a long time to make me

unhappy.

Words would fail to describe the manifold pictures of mis'ry.