LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1275, 20 April 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

FRANZ WERNER. A Christmas Tale, Founded on Fact, By Louis Selbon. ( Concluded .) This year, however, a shadow had fallen upon the Werner families. Franz, ins oad of making progress, appeared to get weak r every day. He seemed rsstless and miserable too. Nothing soothed him but sitting at a window, from which the tower of the Hilgendor church could be seen on clear days He had positively refused to make an effort to join his brother’s Christmas party. ‘ You are so good to want me, Francisca, ’ he had said, when she had gently tried to urge him once more, ‘ but I cannot - I cannot do it. You are all so good and patient with me, and yet - yet even you do not understand me !’ and then, as if speaking to himself, he continued, ‘You do not under stand the misery of despairing to forget !’ Then Francisca’a blood had boiled within her as she thought of Rudolph’s injustice, a=» she deemed it, to his youngest brother, and had determined to make one more effort on his behalf.

‘ Rudolph,’ she had exclaimed, the moment she caught sight of him on the following morning, not waiting for Oscar and G'-ctel to be out of hearing; ‘Rudolph, things cannot go on as they go now. You must, you shall do something for Franz 1 He is to ill to go into the world and work, and do what might cure another man. What canyon be all think, ing about here,’ turning to Gretel, ‘to let Franz die by inches without holding up a finger to save him, and all for an idea ! But,' she went on sadly, ‘it maybe too Ute; who knows if even joy could rouse him sufficiently now ?’ Rudolph looked grave, but listened patiently. *Do not judge me too harshly, Francisca. believe me, I feel convinced that when once all this Christmas rejoicing is over, Franz will rally and begin to mend.’ The short December day soon came to a close, and with the first approach of darkness countless tiny rays of light began to dart out from many windows in quiet byst eets —the richer occupants of first-floors in the more frequented thoroughfares beginning their > hristmas revellings at a somewhat more fashionable hour.

The Werner party hurried along, barely giving the children time to exclaim with delight as each new set of twinkling lights burnt upon their gazi, and were reflected a hundredfold in all the frozen puddles and crackling snow. It was very cold, and they were a Ifttle late. The delay was occasioned by Francisca, who was walking some little way behind the rest, and she had hold of Franz’s arm. At the last minute, by a clovei stratagem, she had got him to come, after a 1!. When the rest had been ready to start, Francisca had quietly kept her seat by Franz’s side and continued her work. ‘ You will be late, Francisca,’ he had said. ‘ I am not going,’ was the quiet rejoinder. ‘ Not going !’ returned Franz, in amazement.

‘ You surely did not think I was going to leave you here all alone on Christmas Eve, Franz ?’

Then he had got up without another word and fetched his bat and coat, telling her to be quick, or she would miss the opening of the doors. And so it had come to pass that Fran? was with them. The air and the exertion seemed to do him good at first ; but had it not been for fear of paining Francisca, he would h>ve turned before they reached Lis broiher’s house. Happily for him, they were all ushered into a large room adjoining the great hall, just as the first signal for opening the doors was being given, and everyone was too much engaged to notice the new arrivals.

All the children were congregated around the door leading into the hall They were in a frantic state of excitement, and could hardly be kept from kicking and screaming. Herr Rudolph Werner and his wife were, of course, invisible. True to the old tradition, the “Hausherr” and “ Hausfran ” were giving the finishing touches to their tables, and then lighting the tree together. At last the great moment arrives ; the bell rings a second time; the large folding doors are thrown open by the master and mistress of the house ; a tremendous blaze of light from the tree, reaching from floor to ceiling, dazzles everybody 1 the children give a great shout and make a rush; inextricable confusion prevails for a moment, and then it gradually appears that there is a place prepared for everybody at the great horse-shoe table. Heir and Frau Werner lead each one to his appointed place. Of course the presents are numerous and varied, but one thing is the same for each one there, children and grown-up people ; and that is the orthodox plate-full of ginger-bred, apples, and nuts, and by its side the much-prized ‘ Stolle a plain, oblong cake covered with sugar, and baked for the occasion It would not seem like Christmas in the ‘ Fatherland ’ without these thpe-honored accessories.

And everybody had got settled and glanced at their own peculiar property, it began to be noticed that there were two empty places at the head of the table, without any presents excepting the ‘ Stolle ’ and the gingerbread. People looked at each other and wondered Where is Herr Franz ? Cannot he come ? Will not he come ? was whispered in low tones round the table.

And then, ‘ Where is Franz ?’ was suddenly repeated out loud by Herr Rudolph Werner. Having found his brother standing alone in the next room as if unable to face all the light and joy of the hall, he slipped his arm into his affectionately, and drew him gently to his empty place under the tree. ‘ There is hardly anything here for you, Franz, You have been so little of late, that Gretel and I scarcely knew what would give you pleasure. I have got one present for you, however, but I would not bring it in, lest after all you might not care for it, [so-I left it in the library. Perhaps you will just go in and look at it?’ And before Franz well knew what he was doing, Rudolph, who had never let go of his arm, had drawn him from the table to the studydoor, had opened it, and shut it behind his brother.

Coming out of the glare of the tree, Franz found himself almost in the dark, for the large room was ouly lighted by a single lamp suspended from the >.eiling. He was not aware of the presence of another peson, and a soft voice said “Franz” and a whiterobed figure flitted across the room and stood for a moment under the lamp. Franz felt as if he were dreaming. Could it be, or were the old visions haunting him again ? * Lisa, ’ he cried stretchiug out his arms towards her. ‘ Lisa, ray darling ! You here ! Here in Rudolph’s house. Is it reality—or are the phantoms mocking me again ?’ and he stood as if spell-bound, and very white. * Yes, dear Franz, it is true, thank God, though I can hardly believe it myself !’ And looking towards the door behind which Rud dph had disappeared, she added : ‘He has been so good to me!’ Going up nearer to him, she lightly laid her hand on his arm, looking up at the rigid race a little anxiously. Aij that touch a sense of reality seemed to uome fo him ; be started, took both hands in his, and looked searching into her face.

‘My Lisa still?’ ho asked, ‘come baok never to leave me again ? Will you promise now to be my wife, here under Kudolph’s roof ?’

‘Yes, she answered firmly but so low 'chat he drew her close to him to hear the words better a second time. Then as she hid her face on his shoulder, the tears, kept back so bravely when they parted, came to her relief and kept he? poor heart from bursting in itjs overflow of joy and gladness. ‘ Oh} Lranz,’ she said presently, ‘ I so happy, go happy ! it has been weary waiting 1’ Before he could answer the door opened. ‘ Well children,’ said KudoJpq Werner, glancing in and seeing the complete success of his little plot 3 ‘ here are a number of people waiting to see what Franz’s Christmas present is like. They seem to think that I have behaved very shabbily to hirp this year ; seeing nothing but; apples and

cakes in his place. Come, Lisa, and help me to redeem my character.’ The girl looked up at Herr Werner shyly and inquiringly, but at once took the arm he offered her. He stopped across the threshold into the brightly lighted hall. Close beside the Christmas tree Herr Werner stopped. There was a breathless silence. All eyes were on Lisa’s fair bent head, and upon Franz, who stood close behind her, with bright eyes and figure erect, as he had not been seen to look for in ny a long day. ‘ My fri-mds,’ began Herr Rudolph Wenur, ‘ you have been wondering at my brother’s empty place ? It is filled up at last, and he stands before you ; but his presents,’ and here the clear, strong voice grew husky, ‘he oannot show you. But I can toll you what they are - Love, and happiness, and rest for a wearied heart and mind I Are no-- these worth having, though they make no show ? They have been brought to him to night by this dear girl,’ and he drew Lisa a little forward, stroking her hand encouragingly. ‘lt was not easy work to find her, but thank God I succeeded at last, and then at my earnest request, she and her sick mother accompanied me hither, and Lisa promised never to leave my roof again until she did so as my brother’s wife. ’

This was the signal for a general buzz and hum of congratulation, and Herr Werner spoke once more. ‘My friends, before our lights have quite burnt down, let us sing a Christmas hymn of thankfulness around the tree, according to the time-honored custom of our fathers. Let it be the same oue that our dear Lisa, here, was teaching her little pupils when I was fortunate enough to see her for the first time, and tuen we will all drink to the hea’th and happiness of Franz and Lisa.’ With a trembling voice Lisa began thfe first line of the well-known Christmas hymn— ‘ Heilige Nacht, stille Nacht ’ (Holy night, peaceful night iu which old and young joined. ‘ I owe you a grudge, all the same, Rudolph,’ said Francisca, when he was taking her into supper. ‘ You might have let me into the secret!’

‘My dear Francisca, my pride was bo overcome by your noble generosity that I fe t it a duty to take all the responsibility of the search and its remits upon mys-lf. I have succeeded far beyond what I honed and expected ; and I trust that a look at that sweet, patient young face yonder may always remind me of what my pride m’ght have brought me to. You might not always be by my side to help me, you know,’ he added, pleasantly.

In a few weeks Franz and Lisa were married, Franz did not get well and strong at once. It took Lisa more than a year to nurse him back to that. But, at la't, he was able to return to his old place in the counting house, and his brothers by his steady application to business. He had an aim in life now. His darling Lisa and a little Frauzcheu had to be provided for.