could not shake off. But as great qualities often announce themselves in youth by something extravagant and awkward, so also was it here. The eldest was the Imperial Court Counsellor Von Senkenberg, afterwards so celebrated. The second was admitted into the magistracy, and showed distinguished talents, which however he subsequently abused in pettifogging, nay rascality, if not to the injury of his native city, yet certainly to that of his colleagues. The third brother, a physician, and man of great integrity, but who practised little, and only in the highest houses, had even until his extreme old age a somewhat whimsical appearance. He was always very neatly dressed, and was never seen in the street otherwise than in shoes and stockings, and with a curled wig, and his hat under his arm. He walked on quickly, but with an odd wavering, so that he was now at one side of the street now at the other, and his course formed a zig-zag. Mockers said, that by this irregular movement he endea voured to avoid the departed souls which might perhaps follow him in a straight line, and that he imitated those who are afraid of a crocodile. But all this jesting, and many jocose stories of him, gave way at last to respect, when he devoted his handsome residence, with court, garden, and all its appurtenances, on the Eschenheirner Street, to a medical foundation, where, beside an hospital de signed only for citizens of Frankfort, a botanic garden, an anatomical theatre, a chemical laboratory, a considerable library, and a house for the director were established, in a way which no University need have been ashamed of. ser. Another eminent man, who had an important influence on me, not so much by his presence as by his effect upon the neighbourhood, and his writings, was Charles Frederick Von MoHe was always talked of in our country for his activity in business. He, too, had an essentially moral character, which, as the vices of human nature often gave him much trouble, inclined him to the so-called pious. Thus, as Von Loen tried to do with the life of courts, so he would have introduced into that of business a more conscientious principle. The great number of small German courts produced a multitude of princes and dependants, of whom the former desired unconditional obedience, and the latter for the most part would act and serve only according to their own views. Thus there arose a perpetual conflict, and rapid changes and explosions; because unrestricted procedure becomes on a small scale much more quickly noticeable and mischievous than on a large one. Many great families fell into debt-imperial debtcommissions were appointed. Others found themselves travelling slower or quicker on the same road, while the agents either dishonestly made their own profit, or honestly rendered themselves disagreeable and odious. Moser wished to be employed in politics and business; and in these his hereditary talent, cultivated to the point of professional skill, gave him a decided advantage. But he also wished to act as a man and a citizen, and to relinquish as little as possible of his moral dignity. His Prince and Servant, his Daniel in the Lions' Den, his Reliques, represent throughout the condition in which he always felt himself-not indeed tortured, yet confined. They indicate also his impatience in a state to which he could not reconcile himself, yet could not get free from it. From this mode of thinking and of feeling, he was often, in truth, obliged to seek other services, which his great ability made it easy for him to find. I remember him as an agreeable man, active, and at the same time gentle. Though it was from a distance, the name of Klopstock had already a great effect upon us. At first people wondered how so eminent a man could have so strange a name. But habit soon got over this, and the meaning of these syllables was forgotten. In my father's library I had found as yet only the earlier poets, particularly those who, in his time, had gradually risen into celebrity. All these had used rhymes, and my father held rhyme indispensable for poetical works. Canitz, Hagedorn, Drollinger, Gellert, Brenz, Haller, stood in a row, in handsome calf volumes. To these were joined Newkirch's Telemachus, Koppen's Jerusalem Delivered, and other translations. I had from my childhood diligently read, and in part committed to memory, all these volumes, whence I was often called upon to amuse the company. A vexatious period, on the contrary, began for my father, when, through means of Klopstock's Messiah, verses which seemed no verses to him, became an object of public admiration. He had himself taken good care not to buy this work; but the friend of the family, Councillor Schneider, smuggled it in, and slipped it into the hands of my mother and her children. The Messiah, immediately on its appearance, had made a powerful impression on this active man of business, who read but little. Those feelings of piety, so naturally expressed and yet so beautifully ennobled that delightful language, considered even as nothing more than harmonious prose, had so won the dry man of business, that he considered the ten first books, of which indeed alone we are here speaking, as the best of devotional works. Every year during Lent, in which he contrived to free himself from all business, he read them through in retirement, and so refreshed himself with them for the whole year. At first he attempted to express his emotions to his old friend. But he was much amazed at finding an incurable dislike to a work of such precious substance, on account of what appeared to him 'an immaterial outward form. It may well be supposed that the conversation on this subject did not fail to be repeated; but both parties separated further and further from each other. There were violent scenes, and the complaisant man at last prevailed on himself to be silent about his darling work, that he might not lose at once a friend of his youth and a good Sunday dinner. the parts between us in the wild despairing dialogue between Satan and Adramelech, who had been cast into the Red Sea. The former character, as the strongest, had fallen to my share. The other, a little more mournful, was taken by my sister. The alternate, frightful indeed, but well-sounding curses, flowed only in this way from our mouths, and we seized every opportunity of saluting each other with those infernal modes of speech. It was a Saturday evening in winter-my father always had himself shaved over night, that on Sunday morning he might have leisure to dress himself comfortably for church -we sat on a cushion behind the stove, and while the barber put on the lather, murmured in a low tone our usual imprecations. And now Adramelech had to seize Satan with iron hands; my sister caught me violently, and recited softly enough, but with increasing passion Help me! thee I implore, I worship, if this thou demandest; Thee, O measureless fiend! thee, darkest worker of evil, Help me! I suffer the woe of avenging infinite death-pangs. Once in the days gone by, with fiercest of hate could I hate thee, This can I now no longer! and this too is fearfulest horror. Hitherto all had gone on tolerably; but loud, with dreadful voice, did she utter the following words : Oh! what torment is mine! The good surgeon was alarmed, and spilled the basin of lather on my father's breast. Then there was a great disturbance; and a severe enquiry was made, particularly on account of the mischief that might have happened if the process of shaving had been actually begun. In order to avert from ourselves all suspicion of quarreling, we confessed our diabolic parts; and the misfortune occasioned by the hexameters was so evident, that they were of course anew condemned and banished. To make proselytes is the most natural wish of every man; and how well did our friend feel himself rewarded in secret, when he discovered, in the rest of the family, hearts so open to his Saint. The copy, which he used for only a week in the year, was devoted to us at all other times. My mother kept it concealed, and we, her two children, took possession of it when we could, that in leisure hours, hidden in some corner, we might learn by heart the most striking passages, and Thus do children and the people particularly might impress the ten- turn the grand, the clevated, into a derest on our memories as quickly as sport, even a jest; and how else would possible. We rivalled each other in they be able to confront and endure reciting Porcia's Dream, but divided it! THE QUEER STICK. A RUSTIC LEGEND. It was very far off, and a long time ago, That there once lived a rustic called Billy the Beau, And Sue was a damsel right pleasant to see, Yet they said that, besides her true lover Beau Bill, That's to say, she'd a spirit that sometimes lay still, Be all that as it might, she'd of lovers no lack, For some were coarse fellows, who had a sad knack And the tall ones would boast of their strength, and look down, For Bill was no giant in height, And then offer to wrestle or jump for a crown; So though oft, in Sue's presence, he ventured a frown, He more often went home in a fright. Still he felt that his heart was as big as the best, Dull and heavily on then he saunter'd, as though He'd no duty on earth to fulfil, Till suddenly some one exclaim'd, "Hip! hallo! But no one could he see, and of course thought it queer So he called out, "Who's that?" and the voice said, "I'm here, I suppose I'm the person you seek." Then Billy, who'd wander'd unconsciously there, With their broomsticks, black broth, and what not. But, like other true lovers in trouble, he thought So he said, "Though this greeting I dare not have sought, I should like this queer speaker to see." Then he went round the corner, and found an old man, And, Beau Billy, I well know thy case. "Thou would'st thrash all thy rivals, and others perhaps : Billy doubtingly smiled, and the odd old man frown'd, Then the lean-legg'd old man danced and laugh'd in high glee, Though the stick was thrown gently, Bill fancied his head Had been hit by a ponderous stone; For his eyes flash'd with sparks, his brain reel'd, his nose bled, He then scratch'd his dull pate, in bewilderment lost, No; I ha'n't! Here's the queer stick that queer old chap tost, And has made me a conjurer-that's clear. "Well, if all that he told me should prove to be true," Thus resolving, he ventured to take up the stick, So that day he dress'd gaily, his hat cock'd aside, Till the evening, and then to Sue's cottage he hied, They met close to the gate of the garden, and then "What! Beau Billy! Be'st thou come here courting agen ? Well, there's nought so conceited as you little men; But thee'dst better be off, or look here!" And while speaking, he shook a stout stick in the face And felt shockingly sheepish, of course, as he'd caught There he lay; but his pride was more mortified still But as they were his friends, he call'd out for their aid, And declared Bill had cowardly crept Close behind him, and struck him two blows with a spadeFor that nothing less pond'rous such marks could have made; And the fallen bully blubber'd and wept. Tim and Robin believed him, because they knew well It was nonsense for Billy to try, In a fair stand-up fight, such a fellow to fell : Then he boldly continued, "You both of you know "I had nought but this stick you see now in my hand: "Or for both, if ye like; so come on! do your worst, The queer stick did its duty. Tim's guard down it beat, |