International Weekly Miscellany, Vol. 1, No. 2, July 8, 1850

perseverance than themselves, and who really do seem essential to the great mechanism of society. He had from time to time rendered assistance to Dumiger, who, unfortunately at the present momen

d in the ordinary necessity, and he prepared himself accordingly to evade or concede. Some time previously the count had found it necessary to part with a great portion of his old family plate, and as it was during the passion of his son for Marguerite, and after Dumiger had carried off the prize, he had discovered from the loquacious goldsmith all the particulars relative to Dumiger, and amongst other

which are alike unknown to us! As he approached his home it seemed to him that he had profaned his affection for Marguerite by mentioning her name in that rude society, and broken her confidence by alluding to his hopes and his fears. While his secret had been confined to his own breast, or communicated only to Marguerite, his confidence in himself had never for a moment been weakened; but now that others were made acquainted with his convictions and his hopes, they seemed to him

ellow-men flashed upon his soul. If he should fail-. A cold damp settled on his brow at the thought, for in that event all his time had been thrown away, and there was no possibility of his meeting his various engagements. It was not one Hoffman but many that beset him, although Hoffman was truly the most avaricious of his tribe, where all were greedy. And then, as he gazed on the lovely countenance by his side, he thought of the affection which had resigned all luxury, and, far above all luxury, that consideration

ours, however, when Marguerite had taken her place by his side, he forgot Dantzic, Carl, and Krantz, all the annoyances which threatened him. He was absorbed in his pursuit, and Marguerite was loo

ndow with a woman's curiosity flushing her cheek. "Here is th

s on the first-floor yesterday," said Dumiger, scarcely lookin

es for a whole life," thought Marguerite; but she avoided giving utterance to her feeling, lest Dumiger should

the door roused Dumiger from his fit of abstraction, nearly making him jump from his chair. The

ruck without performing any of the usual courtesies of society. Marguerite in her surprise imagined that she must ha

dly, almost familiarly to Marguerite, and without any furth

ppose, however, that you will some day be able to afford a larger. I do not wish to trespass upon your confidence, but as I have the liveliest gratitude for the admirable manner in which you, Ma

t he did not perceive the quiet, cold sneer on the Count's upper lip; but Marguerite remarked it. Moreover, she knew the Count well-his vast ambition, his supercilious pride; she had caught the inflection of his tone when he spoke to Dumiger, and she knew that when he af

tirely forgot the clock and the Dom. Not so the Count, he was curiously scanning all the various parts of the complicated machinery which were lying round him. He waited until Marguerit

, Marguerite felt that the man's presence boded her no good; and it was therefore with a troubled spirit that s

he affected to take in her. He waited until the door was fairly closed, and then drew his chair near to Dumiger's. The latter, quite unaccustomed to the neighborhood of so great a

he had yet used, for he was an impatient and testy old man. "Don't draw your

c Knights have to say to him? for, whatever might be his future gre

the Count. "You went to a wine-shop

heard all that he said. His heart sank within him as he recalled his

n; of obtaining more enduring fame than any of our noblest citizens. By the bye,

said. Two friends led me into this error. I am sure you will forgive me, sir: I was excited; my brain wa

he listened attentively, that is all. But what does it signify? You did just as all young men-ay, and the best of our young men, do-drank deep of the Rhenish. I like you the bett

hope of fame and the prospect of success were mentioned. His whole

is self-sacrifice; and now I draw near the goal my blood is excited-I am fevered by my hopes. Look here, sir," and forgeting all his fears and etiquettes, he took the Count by the a

that it was surprising how they could possibly have been made by a man's rude hand. The movement was perfectly noiseless, so beautifully were the balances arranged around the principal works of the clock itself: the heavenly bodies were moving in harmony and regularity; the face of the clock had not yet been affixed, so the whole of th

able to regain the composure which he had lost by the

a bitter disappointment,-"and when you have succeeded, will you be happier? Do you think, Dumiger, that greatness adds to happiness? A

rcely paying any attention to the Count's observ

you are attached

umiger raised his head and c

better than

er," said

, you would sacrifice everyth

ded his hea

the

hed his own life into its movements,-should he renounce the clock? It, as well as Marguerite, had become a part of himself; it had long stood him in the place of family, of love, of all

repeated t

d to the song she was singing. The Count, as well as Dumiger, paused in his conversation; the color rose again to Dumiger's face as he thought how nearly he was on the point of sacr

ld sacrifice e

" exclaimed

ng from his seat. "Now in what

h little in money. The honor is considered sufficient. Then you are to be given high place a

so impatiently striven for,-for which he had been laboring night and day. These outward signs of the

h trumperies men sacrifice their l

aster had not obtained all his honors without sundry sacrifices of one kind and another. Dumiger had not intended any allusion

wealth, to place her in a position worthy of her high qualities, to be at once on an equality with those of her fellow-citizens, who have hitherto-pardon me the word-tr

the room; and instead of the rudely-carved, worn-out chairs, he pictured the most graceful and luxurious sofas; instead of two small, and, in spite of all Marguerite's taste and exertion, rather dusty and ungraceful-looking rooms, a suite of magnificent apartments, where he could gratify every taste and find people willing to come and applaud it. All t

o you make me such a suggestion, wh

to examine Dumiger's countenance st

in this wealth,

Dumiger, with

w; at a price, however, which I think you will

!" said Dumiger, "wh

ion of another, the value of the great work which he had a

of the citizens. You shall have everything to make life happy. Give me the clock; sign me a paper, making over this clock to me; declaring,

have anticipated, the gratification of my ambition, t

entered. The length of time that the conversation lasted

for he imagined that Dumiger was on

k, and to make us rich beyond all expectation; to have us placed high among the first class of the citizens; in fact to enable us at once to secure all

self up to her full height, her brow contracted, the color gl

of you, M

your life. Part with your clock! no, I would sooner sell this hair which you so prize, part with all those qualities which render me dear to you; nay more, I think I would even be content to sacrifice your love rather than see all the res

es and renews all those noble thoughts which are concealed in the recesses of his mind. Hers is the light to dispel the mists which the chill atmosphere of the world hangs around the brightest portions of the mind: great at all times, greatest of all when, in a moment of difficulty, she is called upon to decide between the good and the evil, the just and the unjust, the generous and the mean, the ingenuous and the sophis

perceiving that a thing is good, but they must learn why it is so. They are not satisfied with knowing that the world is beautiful, that the harmony of this globe and its planets is admirable, but they must know the origin of this beauty, and the cause of the harmony which strikes them with wonder. It is not enough for them to be told they are "fearfully and wonderful

miger's interest would now be thrown away, b

he day will come when you shall repent it. I would have saved you for that woman's sake, from the distress and ruin which are impending over you, but you will

once more:-Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, President of the City Council; magnificent in his promise, fierce in his resentments, unscrupulous in his means. For a moment Dumiger looked at Marguerite as though he were dispos

aid Dumiger, when the

d in your decision. Better risk all and lose all than sacrifice the glorious object which you have in view. Who would not prefer the greatness which must be yours, if you succeed? and the count has at least taught us one thing, that success is a

," replied Dumiger, as he pres

was settling over the town when the last wh