That is a handsome boy! exclaimed the two friends at the same time.
And a lovely melody! added Otto.
Yes, but they sing falsely! answered Wilhelm: one sings half a tone too low, the other half a tone too high!
Now, thank God that I cannot hear that! said Otto. It sounds sweetly, and the little one might become a singer. Poor child! added he gravely: bare feet, wet to the very skin; and then the elder one will certainly lead him to brandy drinking! Within a month, perhaps, the voice will be gone! Then is the nightingale dead! He quickly threw down some skillings, wrapped in paper.
Come up! cried Wilhelm, and beckoned. The eldest of the boys flew up like an arrow; Wilhelm, however, said it was the youngest who was meant. The others remained standing before the door; the youngest stepped in.
Whose son art thou? asked Wilhelm. The boy was silent, and cast down his eyes in an embarrassed manner. Now, dont be bashful! Thou art of a good familythat one can see from thy appearance! Art not thou thy mothers son? I will give thee stockings andthe deuce! here is a pair of boots which are too small for me; if thou dost not get drowned in them they shall be thy property: but now thou must sing. And he seated himself at the piano-forte and struck the keys. Now, where art thou? he cried, rather displeased. The little one gazed upon the ground.
How! dost thou weep; or is it the rain which hangs in thy black eyelashes? said Otto, and raised his head: we only wish to do thee a kindness. Therethou hast another skilling from me.
The little one still remained somewhat laconic. All that they learned was that he was named Jonas, and that his grandmother thought so much of him.
Here thou hast the stockings! said Wilhelm; and see here! a coat with a velvet collar, a much-to-be-prized keepsake! The boots! Thou canst certainly stick both legs into one boot! See! that is as good as having two pairs to change about with! Let us see!
The boys eyes sparkled with joy; the boots he drew on, the stockings went into his pocket, and the bundle he took under his arm.
But thou must sing us a little song! said Wilhelm, and the little one commenced the old song out of the Woman-hater, Cupid never can be trusted!
The lively expression in the dark eyes, the boy himself in his wet, wretched clothes and big boots, with the bundle under his arm; nay, the whole had something so characteristic in it, that had it been painted, and had the painter called the picture Cupid on his Wanderings, every one would have found the little god strikingly excellent, although he were not blind.
Something might be made of the boy and of his voice! said Wilhelm, when little Jonas, in a joyous mood, had left the house with the other lads.
The poor child! sighed Otto. I have fairly lost my good spirits through all this. It seizes upon me so strangely when I see misery and genius mated. Once there came to our estate in Jutland a man who played the Pandean-pipes, and at the same time beat the drum and cymbals: near him stood a little girl, and struck the triangle. I was forced to weep over this spectacle; without understanding how it was, I felt the misery of the poor child. I was myself yet a mere boy.
He looked so comic in the big boots that I became quite merry, and not grave, said Wilhelm. Nevertheless what a pity it is that such gentle blood, which at the first glance one perceives he is, that such a pretty child should become a rude fellow, and his beautiful voice change into a howl, like that with which the other tall Laban saluted us. Who knows whether little Jonas might not become the first singer on the Danish stage? Yes, if he received education of mind and voice, who knows? I could really have, pleasure in attempting it, and help every one on in the world, before I myself am rightly in the way!
If he is born to a beggars estate, said Otto, let him as beggar live and die, and learn nothing higher. That is better, that is more to be desired!
Wilhelm seated himself at the piano-forte, and played some of his own compositions. That is difficult, said he; every one cannot play that.
The simpler the sweeter! replied Otto.
You must not speak about music! returned the friend upon that you know not how to pass judgment. Light Italian operas are not difficult to write.
In the evening the friends separated. Whilst Otto took his hat, there was a low knock at the door. Wilhelm opened it. Without stood a poor old woman, with pale sharp features; by the hand she led a little boyit was Jonas: thus then it was a visit from him and his grandmother.
The other boys had sold the boots and shoes which had been given him. They ought to have a share, they maintained. This atrocious injustice had induced the old grandmother to go immediately with little Jonas to the two good gentlemen, and relate how little the poor lad had received of flint which they had assigned to him alone.
Wilhelm spoke of the boys sweet voice, and thought that by might make his fortune at the theatre; but then he ought not now to be left running about with bare feet in the wind and rain.
But by this means he brings a skilling home, said the old woman. Thats what his father and mother look to, and the skilling they can always employ. Nevertheless she had herself already thought of bringing him out at the theatre,but that was to have been in dancing, for they got shoes and stockings to dance in, and with these they might also run home; and that would be an advantage.
I will teach the boy music! said Wilhelm; he can come to me sometimes.
And then he will, perhaps, get a little cast-off clothing, good sir, said the grandmother; a shirt, or a waistcoat, just as it happens?
Become a tailor, or shoemaker, said Otto, gravely, and laid his hand upon the boys head.
He shall be a genius! said Wilhelm.
CHAPTER IV
Christmas-tide,
When in the wood the snow shines bright.
We again let several weeks pass by; it was Christmas Eve, which brings us the beautiful Christmas festival. We find the two friends taking a walk.
Describe to an inhabitant of the south a country where the earth appears covered with the purest Carrara marble, where the tree twigs resemble white branches of coral sprinkled with diamonds, and above a sky as blue as that belonging to the south, and he will say that is a fairy land. Couldst thou suddenly remove him from his dark cypresses and olive-trees to the north, where the fresh snow lies upon the earth, where the white hoar-frost has powdered the trees over, and the sun shines down from the blue heaven, then would he recognize the description and call the north a fairy land.
This was the splendor which the friends admired. The large trees upon the fortification-walls appeared crystallized when seen against the blue sky. The Sound was not yet frozen over; vessels, illuminated by the red evening sun, glided past with spread sails. The Swedish coast seemed to have approached nearer; one might see individual houses in Landskrona. It was lovely, and on this account there were many promenaders upon the walls and the Langelinie.
Sweden seems so near that one might swim over to it! said Wilhelm.
The distance would be too far, answered Otto; but I should love to plunge among the deep blue waters yonder.
How refreshing it is, said Wilhelm, when the water plays about ones cheeks! Whilst I was at home, I always swam in the Great Belt. Yes, you are certainly half a fish when you come into the water.
How refreshing it is, said Wilhelm, when the water plays about ones cheeks! Whilst I was at home, I always swam in the Great Belt. Yes, you are certainly half a fish when you come into the water.
I! repeated Otto, and was silent; but immediately added, with a kind of embarrassment which was at other times quite foreign to him, and from which one might infer how unpleasant confessing any imperfection was to him, I do not swim.
That must be learned in summer! said Wilhelm.
There is so much to learn, answered Otto; swimming will certainly be the last thing. He now suddenly turned toward the fortress, and stood still. Only see how melancholy and quiet! said he, and led the conversation again to the surrounding scenery. The sentinel before the prison paces so quietly up and down, the sun shines upon his bayonet! How this reminds me of a sweet little poem of Heines; it is just as though he described this fortress and this soldier, but in the warmth of summer: one sees the picture livingly before one, as here; the weapon glances in the sun, and the part ends so touchingly,Ich wollt, er schösse mich todt! It is here so romantically beautiful! on the right the animated promenade, and the view over the Sund; on the left, the desolate square, where the military criminals are shot, and close upon it the prison with its beam-fence. The sun scarcely shines through those windows. Yet, without doubt, the prisoner can see us walking here upon the wall.
And envy our golden freedom! said Wilhelm.
Perhaps he derides it, answered Otto. He is confined to his chamber and the small courts behind the beam-lattice; we are confined to the coast; we cannot fly forth with the ships into the mighty, glorious world. We are also fastened with a chain, only ours is somewhat longer than that of the prisoner. But we will not think of this; let us go down to where the beautiful ladies are walking.
To see and to be seen, cried Wilhelm. Spectatum veniunt; veniunt spectentur ut ipsae, as Ovid says.
The friends quitted the wall.
There comes my scholar, little Jonas! cried Wilhelm. The boy was better dressed than at his last appearance; quickly he pulled his little cap off and stood still: a young girl in a wretched garb held him by the hand.
Good day, my clever lad! said Wilhelm, and his glance rested on the girl: she was of a singularly elegant form; had she only carried herself better she would have been a perfect beauty. It was Psyche herself who stood beside Cupid. She smiled in a friendly manner; the little lad had certainly told her who the gentlemen were; but she became crimson, and cast down her eyes when Wilhelm looked back after her: he beckoned to Jonas, who immediately came to him. The girl was his sister, he said, and was called Eva. Wilhelm nodded to her, and the friends went on.
That was a beautiful girl! said Wilhelm, and looked back once more. A rosebud that one could kiss until it became a full blown rose!
During the experiment the rosebud might easily be broken! answered Otto; at least such is the case with the real flower. But do not look back again, that is a sin!
Sin? repeated Wilhelm; no, then it is a very innocent sin! Believe me, it flatters the little creature that we should admire her beauty. I can well imagine how enchanting a loving look from a rich young gentleman may be for a weak, feminine mind. The sweet words which one can say are as poison which enters the blood. I have still a clear conscience. Not ONE innocent soul have I poisoned!
And yet you are rich and young enough to do so, returned Otto, not without bitterness. Our friends precede us with a good example: here come some of our own age; they are acquainted with the roses!
Good evening, thou good fellow! was the greeting Wilhelm received from three or four of the young men.
Are you on Thou-terms with all these? inquired Otto.
Yes, answered Wilhelm; we became so at a carouse. There all drank the Thou-brotherhood. I could not draw myself back. At other times I do not willingly give my thou to any but my nearest friends. Thou has something to my mind affectionate and holy. Many people fling it to the first person with whom they drink a glass. At the carouse I could not say no.
And wherefore not? returned Otto; that would never have troubled me.
The friends now wandered on, arm-in-arm. Later in the evening we again meet with them together, and that at the house of a noble family, whose name and rank are to be found in the Danish Court Calendar; on which account it would be wanting in delicacy to mention the same, even in a story the events of which lie so near our hearts.
Large companies are most wearisome. In these there are two kinds of rank. Either you are riveted to a card-table, or placed against the wall where you must stand with your hat in your hand, or, later in the evening, with it at your feet, nay, even must stand during supper. But this house was one of the most intellectual. Thou who dost recognize the house wilt also recognize that it is not to be reckoned with those,
Where each days gossiping stale fish
Is served up daily for thy dish.
This evening we do not become acquainted with the family, but only with their beautiful Christmas festival.
The company was assembled in a large apartment; the shaded lamp burned dimly, but this was with the intention of increasing the effect when the drawing-room doors should open and the children joyfully press in together.
Wilhelm now stepped to the piano-forte; a few chords produced stillness and attention. To the sounds of low music there stepped forth from the side-doors three maidens arrayed in white; each wore a long veil depending from the back of her head,one blue, the other red, and the third white. Each carried in her arms an urn, and thus they represented fortune-tellers from the East. They brought good or ill luck, which each related in a little verse. People were to draw a number, and according to this would he receive his gift from the Christmas-tree. One of the maidens brought blanksbut which of them? now it was proved whether you were a child of fortune. All, even the children, drew their uncertain numbers: exception was only made with the family physician and a few elderly ladies of the family; these had a particular number stuck into their handstheir presents had been settled beforehand.
Who brings me good luck? inquired Otto, as the three pretty young girls approached him. The one with a white veil was Wilhelms eldest sister, Miss Sophie, who was this winter paying a visit to the family. She resembled her brother. The white drapery about her head increased the expression of her countenance. She rested her gaze firmly upon Otto, and, perhaps, because he was the friend of her brother, she raised her finger. Did she wish to warn or to challenge him? Otto regarded it as a challenge, thrust his hand into the urn, and drew out number 33. All were now provided. The girls disappeared, and the folding-doors of the drawing-room were opened.
A dazzling light streamed toward the guests. A splendid fir-tree, covered with burning tapers, and hung over with tinsel-gold, gilt eggs and apples, almonds and grapes, dazzled the eye. On either side of the tree were grottoes of fir-trees and moss, hung with red and blue paper lamps. In each grotto was an altar; upon one stood John of Bolognas floating Mercury; upon the other, a reduced cast in plaster of Thorwaldsens Shepherd-boy. The steps were covered with presents, to which were attached the different numbers.
Superbe! lovely! resounded from all sides; and the happy children shouted for joy. People arranged themselves in a half-circle, one row behind the other. One of the cousins of the family now stepped forth, a young poet, who, if we mistake not, has since then appeared among the Anonymouses in The New Years Gift of Danish Poets. He was appareled this evening as one of the Magi, and recited a little poem which declared that, as each one had himself drawn out of the urn of Fate, no one could be angry, let him have procured for himself honor or derisionFate, and not Merit, being here the ruler. Two little boys, with huge butterfly wings and in flowing garments, bore the presents to the guests. A number, which had been purposely given to one of the elder ladies, was now called out, and the boys brought forward a large, heavy, brown earthen jug. To the same hung a direction the length of two sheets of paper, upon which was written, A remedy against frost. The jug was opened, and a very nice boa taken out and presented to the lady.