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shine, and that there was no snow, and gave him
the name 66
Spring," and then taught him
"Leaves come out in spring." He caught a glimpse
of the use of the abstract term, and in great agi-
tation turned the phrase to: "In spring, leaves
come out." He looked brighter than ever when
he said, with his fingers, that: "One word means
many things," and he actually capered with joy.
It was curious to watch his apprehension of
another abstraction. He told a falsehood once, -
said he had had no wine, when the housekeeper
had given him a glass, pleading that she ought to
have been questioned and blamed, as she gave
him the wine. Great pains were taken to impress
him with the meaning and consciousness of the
lie; but it was uncertain with what effect. A few
days after, the pupils told him at bed time that
there was snow. In the morning, he went out to
ascertain for himself, being fond of verifying
statements. The snow was melted; whereupon
he cried out very loud: "Lie! no snow." Thus
it was clear enough that he knew his fault, and
the name of it.

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in that time, speak, read, think, and inquire; he was a subject of moral discipline, and was capa ble of an energetic industry. His work at the turning-lathe was excellent, and he had employments enough to fill up his time innocently and cheerfully. A cheering thought and image to all who had heard of him, what must he have been to his guardian, the patient M. Hirzel! His family were proud of him, even to the deaf and dumb brother, and he lost none of his attachment to them.*

Even greater progress has been made in the development of the American girl, Laura Bridgman, whose case is happily so well known as not to need to be here detailed at length. In her case, too, the sense of touch was the only resource at first; and in her case, too, there was the advantage (how great we cannot know) of her having enjoyed sight and hearing till she was two years old. At the age of eight, Dr. Howe, who was to her what M. Hirzel was to Edw. Meystre, took her under his charge in the Blind Asylum, at Boston, Massachusetts, and taught her as The fourth great event was the clear forma- much as Edward was taught, except that actual tion of the religious ideas that were presented to speech was not attempted. Poor child! When him; and this kind of teaching began as soon as informed that the sounds she made were too loud the affair of the lie showed him to be capable of and frequent, she asked: "Why, then, has God moral training. It is probable that his recollec-given me so much voice ?" The pathetic, uncontions of light, and all the beauties that it reveals, scious hint was taken, and she was then permitdetermined his first superstition. While strongly ted, for a certain time every day, to exercise her disposed to fetishism in general-venerating the lungs freely,-making as much noise as she wind, for instance, because it was not tired after pleased, in a room where she could disturb noblowing strongly for several days, his particu- body. When alone and watched without her lar disposition was to worship the sun. The first knowing it, she soliloquizes in the finger-speech; religious sentiment that he expressed was that it and, what appears still more strange, she uses it does not do to shake one's fist at the sun. He was in her dreams. The governess who visits her deeply impressed, when told by his companions bedside, can tell, by watching the motions of the that the Maker of the sun was like a man, only hand, what she is dreaming about. She writes so wise and powerful as men cannot imagine. freely now, and her mind communicates very As a necessary consequence of this way of teach-largely with others. Her diary, which she writes ing him, he was uneasy about what might be-in a clear free hand, without the guidance of lines, come of everything when God was asleep. To remedy this, his teacher took him quietly round the house when the inmates were asleep, and made him softly touch their heads, and told him (by the finger-speech) that they were now as if they were dead, being unable to think; whereas God was always thinking. He now, of course, took up the idea that the dead could dream; but he became deeply impressed with the dignity of being able to think. When he wanted to play with the pupils whom he found at prayers, and then to know why they joined their hands, he was told that they prayed, and that praying was thinking of God. It was after this that his teacher heard that strange and heart-moving sound from the dark bed-side,- the loud uncouth voice, saying over and over: "I am thinking of God!" One consequence of his new notion of the dignity of thought was his feeling about the deaths of persons of different ages. He felt the corpse of a child of two years old, and asked a woman in the room if she cried for its death; but, without waiting for an answer, he added that that was not possible, for the child was too young to be able to think much, or therefore to be worth crying for.

These results are surely wonderful for a period of eighteen months. This desolate creature could,

tells how her days pass,- among books and work,

books in raised print, and neat sewing or knitting of her own, and lessons in geography, history, and algebra, among other things; and about her walks, her visitors, the letters she receives and writes, and the news from all parts of the world that her friends report to her. She is regular in all her doings, neat in her dress, always busy in one way or another, exceedingly inquiring and intelligent, and remarkably merry. Her turn has come, even hers, for benefiting a fellow-being. Oliver, a boy in her own plight, was brought to the institution as she had been, and she assists materially in his education, and must be an inestimable companion to him.

and I presented him with the cigars he smoked This youth is an old acquaintance of mine, (he has a great delight in smoking) for some months, when I lived at Lausanne. For a long time after left that place, he always associated my name with a cigar. Being there last October, after an absence of five or six years, I went to see my old friend. M. Hirzel could not then, by any means, induce him to associate me in the right manner with a cigar, though Edward was painfully anxious to un

erstand. I left some money for him, to be exally smoked me back into his remembrance. pended in the old way; and I believe he has graduC. D."

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There was once seen, we believe in France, an awful and heart-breaking spectacle, when, for purposes of philosophical observation, the inmates of a blind-school and a deaf-and-dumb asylum were brought together. At first, they tried to communicate the deaf and dumb being permitted to feel the lips and throats of the blind; but a dreadful scene ensued. Their strong and scarcely disciplined passions became furiously excited by the difficulty of communication, which each supposed to be the fault of the other, and they sprang at each other's throats

From Chambers's Journal. THE WHITE LADY OF BRANDENBURG.

DURING the eighteenth century the house of Brandenburg, like nearly all the other royal houses of Germany, experienced numerous vicissitudes; but, worst of all, was constantly divided against itself, and agitated by domestic tragedies which may be said to have shed a gloom on its fortunes forever. From time immemorial the superstitious belief had prevailed in the family that, as a prelude to each successive catastrophe, a female spectre, habited in dazzling white, appeared in some dreary place, and at some gloomy hour, to the principal sufferer. With this tradition every one of the princes and princesses was familiar. They regarded it as part of their destiny, and looked forward to the advent of the apparition almost as a matter of course.

like wild beasts, and fought so desperately that there was great difficulty in parting them. The two classes spoke of each other afterwards with bitter hatred. How different is now the scene, when the merely blind pupils help and serve Laura and Edward, and are beloved by them; and when Laura, with flushed cheeks and tremb ling fingers, labors to convey some of her knowledge and her intellectual pleasures to Oliver, and succeeds, and he is happy in consequence ! How are times changed since the helpless were cast out to perish!

and enthusiastic, the reputation of the philoso pher of Sans Souci might have escaped many of those stains which now lower and deform it.

As the Prussian monarch, through unaccountable caprice, or the desire to wound as much as possible the feelings of his children, occasionally forbade the prince and princess to see each other, Kat was often, at such times, intrusted with mes sages from the brother to the sister. Misfortune almost invariably disposes people to think kindly of those who sympathize with them, no matter what may be their rank or station. Wilhelmina beheld in Kat only her brother's friend; and as, besides being handsome, he was gentle and winning in his manners, it is not very surprising that, seeing few other men, and none that showed any deference for her, she should have experienced a secret preference for this young officer. Sometimes, when circumstances permitted, they The young Prince Frederic, and his eldest sis- all three met together in friendly enjoyment. ter Wilhelmina, entertained a strong mutual Fearing to be free with others, they on such ocaffection, which induced them to communicate casions made up for their general reserve by intheir thoughts freely to each other. This, under dulging in the most unbounded confidence, passother circumstances, would have been a source ing in review the whole court, from the king and of happiness to them. But in the palace of queen to the meanest gentleman in waiting. Berlin happiness was a thing not to be thought It soon became evident to Frederic that Kat of, for their father, Frederic-William, appeared loved his sister, who, without the slightest reto exert all his power and ingenuity to render gard to royal conventionalities, returned the its presence impossible. Every day he loaded feeling. An ordinary prince would have resented his wife and children with imprecations, threat- this, but he was not an ordinary prince, and, ened them with imprisonment and death, spat in therefore, regarded not merely with approbation, the delicate dishes after he himself had been but with delight, the mutual attachment of the served, that they might not eat of them; at- individuals he loved best in the world. The intempted occasionally to commit suicide, and then telligence came to him with disgust that plans, took refuge in brutal drunkenness, which only meanwhile, were in agitation at court for dispos rendered him still more furious and dangerous.ing, in the common way, both of his sister's Frederic, afterwards, by the adulation of man- hand and his own. Contemplating marriage kind, called the Great, was naturally driven by from an extremely unfortunate point of viewsuch paternal indulgences to seek for consola- that is, in connection with his own father and tion in friendship. It may easily be supposed mother-it can scarcely be a matter of surprise that he was not led by his experience to put his that it should have inspired him with disgust. trust in princes. He looked for an intimate His French studies, also, and the practice of among the middle ranks of society, and the per- Germany, where nearly all princes contract what son he selected to be his Pylades was a young they call left-handed alliances, tended to produce officer rejoicing in the euphonious name of Kat. the same effect. When his father, therefore, set But we must not suffer ourselves to be deceived on foot any scheme for bartering away himself by sounds. However unpoetical may have been or his sister, in exchange for political influence, his family designation, he was in himself a per- he exerted his utmost ingenuity in thwarting son of noble soul, equal to the duties of any sit-him. Kat, likewise, it may well be believed, made uation, brave, romantic, generous, ready at all the best use of his power over the mind of Wiltimes to sacrifice himself for the good of others. helmina to deter her from entering into an enThe choice of such a friend was honorable to gagement which would have been fatal to his Frederic's judgment, and had fate permitted their happiness. These facts the Prussian king could attachment to become as lasting as it was strong not exactly know, though his suspicions were

WHITE LADY OF BRANDENBURG.

awakened. He had recourse, therefore, to his | and even servants contriving not to hear his vosystem of espionage. Courtiers of both sexes ciferations. If we had not the most unimpeachwere instructed to keep watch over the move-able testimony for the scene that followed, we ments and communications of the trio, who, be- should regard it as an extravagant fiction. When ing young and ardent, were not much upon their the prince entered, his father, fixing upon him a guard; and, at length, the conviction became demoniacal look, accused him of entertaining ed the poor young man's imagination, even in rooted in his mind that their singular friendship some monstrous designs, which had never enterobstructed the development of his policy. Wilhelmina had very few thoughts or feelings his dreams. He, therefore, repelled respectfully which she did not frankly communicate to her the charges made against him. This was too brother, but she had some, and among these was much. Anger, amounting to absolute rage, overthe strong love she felt for his young friend. He came the sense of pain. The king sprang could not, indeed, fail to know that some attach- from his chair, and seizing his son by the throat, ment existed between them, but she shrank from dragged him with all his force towards the winconfessing the extent of it, and often arranged, dow, where, with the strong cords of the blinds, clandestinely, interviews with her lover. One he attempted to strangle him. He was a large, morning, when she had just promised to meet powerful man; the son, weak and delicate; and Kat at dusk in the long elm-walk at the extrem- the parricide was nearly accomplished before any ity of the royal gardens, her father sent for her of the courtiers would venture in to preserve into his apartments. He was suffering from their master from the commission of a crime gout, and sat in a great arm-chair, against which which would have cast a blight over his whole face when disentangled from the cords and borne two heavy crutches, by the assistance of which life. Frederic, however, was nearly black in the he walked at times, leaned ominously. queen stood trembling at his side, afraid to speak, fainting out of the apartment. but casting deprecating and imploring looks at her daughter. Wilhelmina shuddered and turned pale.

The

"I sec," exclaimed the king, "that you are sinking under the weight of a guilty conscience. You know you are deceiving me, in conjunction Wilhelmina .with your mother and brother." thought of her assignation with Kat. "I say, you are deceiving me, or at least attempting to do so.. But there are more eyes upon you than you imagine. You should remember the old saying: "That walls have ears;" and that when children enter into plots, to bring trouble and disgrace upon their parents, it behooves them to display more prudence than you and your rebellious brother exhibit. But I have discovered all your schemes, and know how to punish you."

An unintermitted system of persecution was queen and his two eldest children, whose now pursued by Frederic-William against his lives were thus rendered nothing but one tissue of gloom and wretchedness. His majesty's matrimonial schemes, however, suffered no interruption. As if he had been the best of fathers, he exerted himself vigorously to obtain a wife for his son, and a husband for his daughter, which he persuaded himself was all that could be desired to render them perfectly happy. His own experience of wedlock had doubtless led him as well as his queen to this conclusion! But their children remained steadfast in their unbelief, and looked upon the marriage-ring with little less was more especially the case with Frederic, who, horror than a compact with the Evil One. This The poor princess almost dropped to the floor. in an unlucky hour, came at length to the deHe turned flying into France. This resolution he commuHer father she saw, was in a paroxysm of anger, termination to put an end to his own misery by almost approaching to madness. now and then fierce and threatening glances nicated to Wilhelmina, with the strictest injunctowards the queen, who looked aside to conceal tions to keep the secret from her mother, who, He bly have betrayed his design. All the necessary her tears, and was only restrained by terror from through a mistaken sense of duty, would proba throwing herself into her daughter's arms. bade Wilhelmina draw near, but she was over-preparations were undertaken by Kat, who, in whelmed with fear, and could not prevail on her- the devotion of his friendship, braved, with his He then attempted to eyes open, the danger that impended over him. self to approach him. rise in order to seize her, as he had often done, The slightest accident might shipwreck their by the hair of her head, but a sharp twinge of project, and he knew the old king too well not It boots not now to inquire into the means by the gout supervening, he fell back in the chair to foresee that he would take a terrible revenge. writhing with agony; in the midst of which he seized one of the crutches, and hurling it with which they raised the necessary funds for defrayall his might at his daughter, would certainly ing the expenses of their journey, how they prohave brought her days to a sudden conclusion, cured passports, and succeeded in lulling to sleep but that, bending down her head, she suffered the suspicions of the monarch and his courtiers. the missile to fly unimpeded towards the window, Kat contrived, an hour or two before his departhrough which it made its way with a crash into ture, to obtain an interview with the Princess Every footstep that moved the court below. This was the signal for flight; Wilhelmina, who received him in her own apartand both queen and princess ran shrieking into ment, though trembling all the while with anxitheir own rooms, followed as far as they could ety and terror. yard below, every whisper of the wind through hear by the most frightful imprecations and through the corridor, every voice in the courtanathemas. crevice or cranny, represented to her in fancy the approach of her terrible father. In fact, before the young officer could make his escape from

As ill-luck would have it, Frederic soon after came to pay his respects to his father, whom he found entirely alone, all his ministers, courtiers,

1

her room, the queen came rushing in to say that as well as with that of M. Kat, who was, for she was inquired for. Kat hid himself behind a some years, my companion in arms." screen, and when the mother and daughter had To this, Frederic made no reply, but redeparted, stepped forth into the corridor, de-quested to be conducted to the dungeon asscended a narrow staircase with which he was signed for him. He was perfectly right; it was infamiliar, and hurrying along the streets of Berlin, deed a dungeon; but at first Kat was allowed to joined the young prince in a small grove beyond be his companion. Prussian despotism, however, the walls, where, without companions or attend- did not disdain to have recourse to those arts ants, Frederic awaited his coming with two and contrivances which the princes of the house horses. These they mounted, and, making the of Hapsburg have since practised with so much best of their way towards the frontier, indulged skill and credit against state-prisoners. By in the flattering hope that in a few days they means of a small cell constructed in the thickshould be beyond the reach of Frederic-William's ness of the wall communicating through a narpursuit or vengeance. row aperture with the dungeon, the conversation of Frederic and his companion was overheard, and carefully entered in notes, which were immediately transmitted to the king. Considering their position and their disappointment, it was no matter of wonder that they expressed themselves intemperately. Frederic did not spare his father, and Kat, unmindful of the reverence which Germany inculcates for crowned heads, indulged likewise in very strong language. When their first burst of indignation was over, they appeared to derive hope even from despair, and resolved to devote all their resources of mind and body to deliver themselves from the power of a sovereign whom they now designated as a cruel, crafty, merciless despot.

The Prussians, even then, had been drilled into tameness and submission; otherwise, as several gentlemen whom they encountered on the road knew the young prince perfectly well, they might have offered him an asylum, or aided him in effecting his escape. The utmost they did was to allow him and his companion to pass on without obstruction. This they were enabled to do during two days; but the great trial they knew would be on the third, when they should have to pass, of necessity, through a fortified town on the banks of a river which they could not traverse by swimming. It was with sinking spirits and the most gloomy forebodings that they approached the gates and beheld the walls and turrets, rising like sepulchral edifices, in the even- With the Princess Wilhelmina, matters were, ing air. Frederic from time to time clasped the meanwhile, little better than with them. She handle of his sword, and once inquired of his was under no necessity of feigning illness; for, companion whether, in case of discovery, it having lost at the same time both her beloved would not be the most advisable course to imi- brother and her lover, her agitation, fear, and tate the ancient Roman, and put an end to their grief threw her into a fever, during which she fell embarrassments by suicide. At the moment, he more than once into a dangerous delirium: we would have thought even this preferable to being say dangerous, because, under its influence, her dragged back to Berlin and delivered as a priso- tongue lost its guidance, and syllabled perpetuner into the hands of his father. As they drew ally the names of Kat and Frederic. In one of near the gates, they instinctively slackened their the intervals between one of these paroxysms, pace, and all the philosophy of which they were when, as it appeared to her, she was wide awake, masters could not prevent them from regarding the White Lady of Brandenburg, with a very each other with an expression of extreme alarm. dignified air and attitude, approached her bedBut no choice was left but to demand admittance side. The candles had burnt low, her only ator to turn back. Of course, they resolved on the tendant was fast asleep, the wind roared fiercely former; and to their surprise, the sentinels at the in the chimney, and the hootings of the screechgate suffered them to pass without the slightest owl from a neighboring turret mingled terribly inquiry. Overjoyed at this piece of good fortune, with the night-blasts. She attempted to address they resolved to make the best use of it, and the spectre, which leaned compassionately over pushed on to the further gate, leading over a her; but no words passed between them. In a long bridge into the open country. No one stop- few seconds, the White Lady turned away her ped them in the streets, or appeared in any way face, and appeared with one hand to be shroudto regard them. They therefore entered the corps- ing her eyes from some appalling spectacle, while de-garde, through which lay the approach to the the other was pressed closely against her bosom. gate, with reviving confidence, but in an instant Wilhelmina, in agony and trembling, watched its were surrounded by a body of soldiers, who, be-movements with intense earnestness. Presently, fore they could even think of resistance, had dis- the tapers threw up a bright glare, then sank, armed and made them prisoners. Frederic, al- flickered for a moment, and the chamber was most frantic with excitement and disappoint- wrapped in total darkness. Sleep then came to ment, demanded of the officer who regulated her relief; and when, late on the following mornthese proceedings, by whose authority he was thus arrested.

By your father's, prince," replied the major. "An hour ago, you might have travelled the frontier unmolested; but a courier has just arrived from Berlin, commanding me, on pain of death, to detain your royal highness and your companion. Having myself served in the royal guards, I was well acquainted with your person,

ing, she again opened her eyes, the rain was beating against the casements, and her beloved friend and governess, almost in the very attitude of the White Lady, leaning over her, and wiping the perspiration from her brow.

In the course of the day, her unhappy mother, bending beneath the weight of her affliction, came by stealth into her chamber, and throwing her self into a fauteuil, hid her face in the bed-clothes,

and sobbed long and bitterly. With her habitual | French capital, where they meditated only a short imprudence, she disclosed to Wilhelmina the fate stay, after which it was their intention to return of Frederic and his companion, and by so doing to Berlin, even before their absence should be brought on a fresh attack of fever, which nearly discovered. put a period to her daughter's life. When she saw the mischief she had caused, her regret and sorrow knew no bounds. Under the force of maternal instincts, the natural weakness of her character disappeared, and, setting her tyrannical husband at defiance with the courage of a heroine, she remained day and night by her daughter's bedside, regardless of his menaces, and for the time making light of death and life.

Everything in Prussia was then conducted through military agency, chiefly because men connected with the martial profession were supposed to be less accessible than others to the weaknesses of friendship or affection. The hope of promotion, moreover, was expected to quiet any scruples which might arise in the mind respecting the humanity or justice of any transac tion. Accordingly, an officer was sent to Frederic, who, having first examined Kat, came into the prince's apartment with mock humility, but with real insolence, to interrogate him respecting his views past and present -to utter the most atrocious accusations against his friend, and to extort from him, if possible, a confession of some rebellious project, which would appear, at least, to justify his father in taking away his life.

Through this ordeal, Frederic passed with great intrepidity and success. He repelled, with scorn and indignation, the calumnies attempted to be fastened on Kat, and maintained unflinch

To describe the state of mind into which the king was thrown by his son's act of disobedience, would exceed the powers of language. It cannot be doubted that for the time at least he was mad. Encouraged by his flagitious minister, Grumeon, he resolved upon the exhibition of an awful fragedy, which should inspire all Christendom with horror. Nothing less than the blood of his son would appease his paternal resentment; and openly, in the face of day, he published his determination, and made preparations for his execution. It is believed that the Austrian ambassador, Seckendorf, a man of the most profli-ingly that the error of that gallant young officer gate principles, likewise favored secretly this infamous design, though all the sovereigns of Germany, as well as the king of England, exerted their utmost influence to deter the Prussian monarch from the perpetration of the crime he meditated. The greater their exertions, however, the more obstinate he became, as he appeared to regard it in the light of a victory over all the pow-run his interrogator through had the trusty wea ers of Europe to put his only son to death, that he might establish universally the conviction, that he could do in Berlin whatever he thought proper, in spite of Germany and the world.

arose solely through mistaken friendship and affection for him. The spy, who had evidently been drilled at court, now adroitly threw out certain hints respecting the feelings of Wilhel mina, which so incensed Frederic, that he instinctively moved his hand towards where his sword had used to be, and would unquestionably have

pon been still within his reach. Recollecting himself suddenly, he turned a look of intense scorn upon the military inquisitor, and said: 'If my father forgets himself, you would feel it to be your duty, were you a gentleman, to spare the honor of his daughter. The Princess Wilhelmina stands far beyond the reach of vulgar suspicion and calumny. She is my sister, sir; and the time may yet come when it will be in my power to chastise all those persons who dare to cast aspersions upon her. For myself, you are welcome to heap on me every insult suggested by low and base natures. As a son and a prince. I shall submit, because it is my father's will. But let the vicissitudes which constantly take place in the affairs of this world suggest to you the prudence of remaining within the limit I prescribe to you; for, be assured, I have a memory which will treasure up whatever may be now submitted to it, whether for good or evil.'

Into the political negotiations connected with this affair, our limits will not permit us to enter. We return, therefore, to the prince and his companion, who, having been removed to the fortress at which they were made prisoners, were thrown into separate dungeons in a small obscure city in the heart of Prussia. It seemed to be the object of the father to subdue the courage and constancy of his son, as well as in other respects to degrade his character, since all manner of devices were made use of to induce him to betray his friend; but to the honor of Frederic be it said, all the snares laid for him were unavailing. He persisted in his original declaration, that the plan of flight was his own, and that Kat only consented to accompany him at his earnest desire and entreaty, and after having exhausted all his efforts The officer professed, and no doubt with truth, in the endeavor to divert him from his purpose. his willingness to be convinced by this reasoning. In this way he hoped to concentrate his father's He also protested that he was acting strictly unvengeance upon himself, and save the life of his der orders, and said he would faithfully represent friend. Had Frederic always acted thus, no to his majesty the respectful and obedient state prince whose name is recorded in modern history of mind in which he found the prince. would have better deserved to command the ad-diately afterwards he took his leave, and during miration of mankind. Kat, on his part, surpassed, the remainder of the day Frederic was not disif possible, the prince himself in disinterestedness turbed by the entrance of a single individual; and heroism. He persisted uniformly in affirm- even his food was forgotten to be brought to ing that Frederic was innocent-that neither of him, so that he became the victim of physical as them, indeed, had intended serious disobedience well as mental depression. Not a footstep was to the royal commands - but that, in a moment heard in the neighboring chambers, no sound of of youthful frivolity, he had persuaded the young a sentinel in the court, and as he looked forth prince to accompany him on a secret visit to the through the iron bars, he could behold nothing

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