The Wandering Jew, Book I.

cting, travelled on leisurely in the midst of smiling meadows, bounded on one side by a river, the current of which turned a

tream reflected so splendidly the blue heavens and the glowing tints of the west, that, but for the hills which rose between it and the sky, the gold and azure of the water would have mingled in one dazzling sheet with the gold and azure of the firmament. The tall reeds on the ban

completed their fifteenth year-were riding on a white horse of medium size, seated upon a large sa

ned towards the girls, with an air of solicitude at once respectful and paternal. He leaned upon a long staff; his still robust s

l, nearly of the size, form, and hairy coat of the wolf-followed closely in the steps of the l

h her right encircled the waist of her sleeping sister, whose head reposed on her shoulder. Each step of the horse gave a

sary to be in the constant habit of seeing them, to distinguish one from the other. The portrait of her who slept not, might serve them for both of them; the only difference at the moment being, that Rose was awake and discharging for th

ing, as in a frame, their round, firm, rosy, satin like cheeks. A carnation, bathed in dew, is of no richer softness than their blooming lips; the wood violet's tender blue would appear dark beside the limpid azure of their large eyes, in

oth in a large pelisse of reindeer fur, and pulled over their heads the ample hood of this impervious garment; the

cloak hung in folds about the knees of the sister

ontemplated her with an expression of ineffable tenderness, akin to maternal;

affected; the emotion of one was reflected instantly in the countenance of the other; the same cause would make both of them start or blush, s

owers on the same steam, they had drooped, grown pale, and languished toge

which united the twins, could not have been broken without

g in pairs, as if endowed with a common life, pine

rriors of the republic and the empire-some heroic of the people, who became, in one campaign, the first soldiers in the world-to prove

pper lip, and united with a large imperial, which almost covered his chin; his meagre cheeks, brick-colored, and tanned as parchment, were carefully shaven; thick eyebrows, still black, overhung and shaded his light blue eyes; gold

strong-Dagobert, notwithstanding his rough exterior, evinced for his orphan charges an exquisite solicitude, a watchful kindness,

never failed him; and, though few were less given to drollery, he was now and then

sent in hot battles; nor was it without an act of pride that he sometimes shook his old military bridle, the brass stud of which was still adorned with an embossed eagle. His pace was regular, careful, and steady; his coat sleek, and his bulk moderate; the abundant foam, which covered his bit, bore witness to t

reat age-it is chiefly because he often displayed them, for the sole purpose of acting up to hi

nd carried him thus for a moment. The dog, protected by his thick coat, and no doubt long accustomed to the practical jokes of his companion, submitted to all this with stoical complacency; save that, when he thought the jest had lasted long enough, he would turn his

nt understanding that existed between the twin

und him, and seemed to be gathering up old recollections; by degrees, his countenance became clouded, and when he was at a little distance from the mill, the noise of which had a

look sought her sister, on whom she smiled sweetly; then both exchanged glances of surprise, on seeing Dagobert mo

down the slope. Perceiving that Dagobert continued motionless and absorbed in thought, Rose leaned over her saddle, and, placing her little white

they perceived a large tear, which traced its humid furrow d

anche together, deeply moved. "Tell

tell you has something sacred in it. Well, eighteen years ago, on the eve of the great battle of Leipsic, I carried your father to this very tree. He had two sabre-cuts on the head, a musket ball in his shoulder; and it was here that he an

us, and the Poles of the Guard-overthrew the Russian Cuirassiers, after having carried the battery. Ah, my children!" continued the soldier, with the utmost simplicity, "I wish you ha

the horse, and holding each other by the hand, went together to kneel at the foot of the old oak. And there, closely pressed in each other'

anche, still on their knees. "Perhaps we may find General Simon in Paris," added he; "I will explain all that to you this evening at the inn.

think also of our

shall only see again i

contrast of his rude features, "You must not give way thus, my children," said he; "it is true your mother was the best of women. When she lived in Poland

en finger and thumb, as was his habit. "Listen, my girls," he resumed, when he ha

Dagob

ive you before she died? To think

ys good to poor mothers whose children are left on earth

ould be ever fixed u

d hands, raised their innocent looks to heaven, and exclaimed, with that beautiful

aid Dagobert, much moved, "do not grieve

will not cry any more."-And

iberty-the Inquisition had strangled her centuries ago-but, for their monstrous privileges. Yet, in forty years, Dagobert had witnessed so many sublime and awful scenes-he had been so many times face to face with death-that the instinct of n

and yesterday-laughing at times, and answering me when I speak, instead of being so much engrossed with your own talk. Yes, y

tears that yet filled their eyes, and Rose said to the soldier, with a little

s more, and then we must start again; for it grows late, and we have to r

long, long way to

loset for you, a straw mattress and a blanket at your door for me, with Spoil-sport on my feet, and a clean litter for old Jovial, these are our whole traveling

more, you do all the cooking for u

wash almost every evening at our rest

soap-suds! Pooh! don't a soldier on a campaign always wash his own linen? Clumsy as you see me,

can iron wel

will be a little sing

near my cheek as I please; my skin is so tough that I don'

jesting, go

is cheaper; and, on a journey, poor people like us should save where we can, for we must, at all events, ke

to us; mother gave it

you do not lose it: see, from tim

e medal, which she wore suspended from her neck by a chain of the sa

ct

C.

for

P

the, 13

Par

t Franco

ntury a

will

the 13t

AY FO

anche, as she examined the mournful inscr

us be moving. Put up the medal carefully, and away!-We have yet nearly an hour's march to arrive at quarter

which had recalled to their guide such painful re

he somewhat envious eyes of Spoil-sport, who had comfortably established himself in the meadow, with his snout protruding between his fore-paws. On the signal of departure, the dog resumed his post behind his master, and Dagobert, trying the

least expensive inn, and was told there wa

the White Falcon,"