the grocers and tobacconists. Noble knights, indeed, even then broke their lances, and jousted in tournaments; Dietrich of Berne, Hildebrand, and Siegfried the Horney, Rumbold the strong, went in search of dragons and other monsters, and slew giants and dwarfs, each of whom was equal in strength to twelve ordinary men. The venerable Theuerdank was at that time the great model of German art and skill, and his work was the latest production of our country's intellect; but he was only adinired by the beaux esprits, poets and philosophers of the age. Frank belonged to neither of these classes, and had therefore no other occupation but to strum on his lute, or to look out of the window and make observations on the weather; which led however to no more just conclusions, than the numerous theories of the airy meteorologists of the present day. Fortunately, he soon found a more attractive object for his observations, which filled at once the empty space in his head and heart." This object was Mela, the only daughter of the widow Brigitta, who had been reduced from respectable circumstances to spin for a livelihood. Love taught the hitherto giddy and heedless youth all the penetration and . ingenuity of another Cymon. He watched the beauteous Mela from morning to night, till his everlasting gaze led her prudent mother to conceal her more closely. He then bought a glass, and by disposing of it properly was enabled to enjoy reflected images of his adored. His lute was next brought into aid, and love soon contrived an unspoken intelligence; and an answer, by means of flowers on the side of Mela, to the tones of his music, was his dear reward. For "It was indeed much more difficult, in those modest times, for youths to get introduced to the daughters of a family, than at present; and Frank's forlorn condition added to those difficulties. Morning visits were not then in fashion; confidential tête à têtes were followed by the loss of a young woman's reputation; walks, masquerades, balls, routs, soupés, and all the thousand modern inventions to promote the meeting of the sexes, were not then in existence. It was only in the secrecy of the marriage chamber that the meeting of the two sexes could take place with propriety, to explain their mutual feelings. Notwithstanding these restrictions, things took their course as well then as now. Christenings, wedding, and burials, especially in a city like Bremen, were the privileged occasions for negociating love affairs; as the old proverb says, No marriage is consummated but another is planned. An impoverished spendthrift, however, being not a desirable son or brother-in law, our hero was invited neither to weddings, christenings, nor burials. The bye-way of influencing the lady's maid, waiting woman, or some other subordinate personage, was in Frank's case likewise blocked up, for mother Brigitta kept neither one nor the other; she carried on her little trade in lint and yarn herself, and was nearly as inseparable from her daughter as her shadow, "Under such circumstances, it was impossible for Frank to open his heart to his beloved, either by speaking or writing." After the language of the lute and flowers, other more direct means of communication were attempted; but, in the end, Frank resolved to render himself more worthy of Mela, by journeying to collect the scattered debts due to his rich father's estate. Mela in the mean time, has refused an offer of marriage from a wealthy brewer, ----" whom the witlings of the day chose to call the King of Hops, on account of his great wealth. He was a spruce young widower, whose time of mourning was just drawing to a close, and who, without offending the laws of decorum, might now look out for a second help-mate. Immediately after the decease of his late wife, he had in the greatest secrecy made a pact with his patron St. Christopher, and promised to present him with a wax candle as large as a hop-pole, if he would grant him, in a second wife, the piness he had hoped, in vain, to find with the first! "Scarcely had he seen the fair Mela, when he dreamt that St. Christopher looked into his bed-room window on the second floor, and reminded him of his promise. This appeared to the lusty widower an indication from his patron saint, that great happiness, would be his lot, and he resolved immediately to try his fortnne. "Early the next morning he commanded a large quantity of well-bleached wax; he then made himself as smart as possible, and sallied forth on his marriage business. He had no taste for music, and was ignorant of all the secret symbols and expressions of love; but his brewery was extensive; he had, besides, a large capital lent out at interest; a ship in the Weser, and a farm near the town. With such recommendations, he might have looked for success even without the help of St. Christopher, especially with a maiden who had no marriage portion." Disappointed, as we have recorded, in this hope, the King of Hops marries another fair. Brigitta "would not conceal her grief for the destruction of her favourite plan, and the loss of her best hope. She became peevish, discontented and melancholy. On the day on which the King of Hops celebrated his wedding, she was particularly bad, and suffered great pain and uneasiness. When the festive train moved on towards the church, accompanied by all the pipers and trumpeters of the city, she sighed and groaned, as at the hour when she first heard that the raging waves had swallowed her husband and all his fortune. Mela saw the bridal festivities with great composure; even the beautiful jewels, the precious stones in the bridal crown, and the nine rows of large pearls round the neck of the bride, could not disturb her quiet, which is rather astonishing, as a new bonnet from Paris, or some other fashionable trifle, is sufficient at times to disturb the domestic peace of whole families. Nothing diminished her happiness but the grief of her kind mother, which made her extremely uneasy. "She tried, by a thousand little attentions and caresses to coax her into a better humour; and she succeeded so far that her poor mother became at least communicative. "Towards the evening, when the dance began, she said, Oh, my daughter, you might at this moment be leading this dance! What happiness would it be for me if you rewarded me in this manner for all my care and trouble. But you have turned away from fortune when she smiled on you, and now I shall not live to accompany you to the altar." "Confide in heaven, my dear mother," answered Mela, " as I must, if it is there ordained that I shall go to the altar, you will live to adorn me with the bridal garment, and when the right suitor comes, my heart will soon assent." "Child, child, (replied the prudent mother) portionless maidens are not much sought after; they must accept those who will have them. Young men are, in our days, more selfish than otherwise; they only marry when when it suits themselves, and never think of the bashfulness of others. The heavens are not favourable to you, the planets have been consulted, and they are seldom auspicious to those born, as you were, in April. Let us see, what says the almanack?" Maidens born in this month bear kindly pleasant countenances, and are of a slender form, but they are changeable in their inclinations, like the weather, and must guard well the virgin mood. When a smiling suitor comes, let them not regret his offer." See how well that answers! The suitor has come, and none will come hereafter, for you have rejected his offer.” "Oh mother! mother! do not mind what the planet says; my heart tells me that I ought to love and honour the man who takes me for his wife; and if I find no such man, or am sought after by none such, I will remain single all my life, and maintain myself by the work of my hands; will keep a joyful heart, and assist and nurse you in your old age, as becomes a pious daughter. But if the man of my choice should come, then, oh mother! bless him and me, that your child may be happy; and do not ask whether he be great, honoured, and rich, but whether he loves me and is beloved." 66 6 'Love, my daughter, has but a scanty larder, and is not sufficient to live on." "But where it exists, mother, peace and content dwell, and convert into luxuries the meanest food." "This inexhaustible subject kept the two females awake as long as the fiddles at the marriage feast were heard and Mother Brigitta could not help suspecting that Mela's equanimity, which in the pride of youth and beauty made her indifferent for riches, was supported by some secret inclination of her virgin heart. And she even guessed right as to the object, though hitherto she had never suspected the lint merchant from the narrow street to occupy a place in her daughter's heart. She had looked on him merely as a wild youth, wooing every maiden that came within his view. This discovery, therefore, gave her no pleasure, but she held her peace. According to her strict notions of morality, she thought a maiden who allowed love to enter her heart before marriage, was like a cankered apple, the maggot is within, though it may still look well outside, and serve to adorn a mantlepiece, yet it has lost its value, and hastens to destruction. The old lady now despaired of once more regaining her old station in her native city, she resigned herself to her fate, and bore in silence what she thought could not be mended. "The report of Mela's having refused the rich brewer soon got abroad, and even reached the ears of Frank, who was overjoyed, for it took away all his fears, that at some time or other a rich suitor might supplant him in Mela's heart." After this event, Frank is thus described at setting out on his journey: "The only regret he felt was occasioned by the separation from his beloved Mela. What will she think of my sudden disappearance ?' said he to himself; 'I shall meet her no longer on her way home from church: will she not think me faithless, and banish me from her heart?' this idea made him very uneasy, and for some time he could discover no means to inform her of his intentions. Inventive love, how ever, soon inspired him with the happy thought of communicating the cause of his absence to her, by having prayers put up for his success in that church where Mela and her mother generally attended. For this purpose he gave the priest a small sum of money, to offer up a daily prayer for a young man obliged to travel abroad, and for success in his undertaking. This prayer was to be continued till his return, when he was to purchase a thanksgiving. "The last time he met Mela he was dressed for his journey; he passed quite close by her, and his salutation, more open and marked than usual, was as full of meaning as he could make it. She blushed, and mother Brigitta scolded, making many unpleasant remarks, and plainly expressed her vexation at the impudence of the young fellow, who meant to ruin her daughter's reputation; which theme she animadverted on the whole day. Frank, however, was not seen any longer in Bremen, and was often sought after by the most lovely eyes in his native city. "Mela heard the prayer read very often, that was in fact directed more for her ears than for the gates of heaven, but she paid no attention to it, so much was she grieved at the disappearance of her lover. The words which might have explained it, fell an empty sound on her ear, and she knew not what to think. At the expiration of a month. or two, when her grief had become milder and his absence less tormenting, she one day had been thinking of him during the sermon, and for the first time connecting the prayer with him and his absence, and all the accompanying circumstances, she suddeuly divined its meaning, wondered at her own stupidity in not before discovering it, and in her heart admired and praised the ingenious device. It is true that these prayers have no very high reputation for efficacy, and are but a weak support for those pious persons who rely upon them. The warmth of devotion is generally nearly exhausted at the end of the sermon, but in Mela it only then began; the prayers at the end of the service gave new ardour to her piety, and she never omitted to recommend the young traveller very par ticularly to both his and her patron saint." In his travels he is well but whimsically entertained at a Baron's castle; and at length reaches Antwerp, where his father's debtors reside. "After he had recovered from the fatigues of his journey, he made some inquiries concerning the circumstances of some of his debtors, before he went to call on them. How is it with Peter Martens?' he asked his companions at table; is he still living, and does he thrive?' "Peter Martens is a wealthy man,' replied one of the company, and drives a flourishing trade.' "Is Fabian, of Plurs, in good cir cumstances?' "Oh, he scarcely knows how to employ his immense capital; he is one of the council, and his woollen manufactures give him ample profits.' "Is Jonathan Prishcur also in a thriving way?' "He would be now worth a plum, if the Emperor Maximilian had not allowed the French to steal his bride. Jonathan had orders to furnish the lace for her marriage clothes, but the Emperor has broke his bargain with the merchant, as the bride broke her's with him. If you have a sweetheart, to whom you wish to make a present of some fine lace, I dare say,' continued the speaker, he will let you have what he intended for the princess at half-price.' "Has the house of the Bute Kante failed, or does it still carry on business?' "Some years ago it was tottering, but the Spanish Caravelles have helped to prop it up, so that it seems now likely to stand." "Frank inquired after several other houses or persons on whom he had demands; he learned that the most of them, who had in his father's time stopped payment, were now flourishing, which confirmed his opinion, that a seasonable bankruptcy was a sure foundation for after prosperity. This news served to cheer up his spirits; he arranged his papers, and presented the old bills at their proper places. But he experienced from the people of Antwerp the same treatment which his travelling fellow-citizens of the present day experience from the shop-keepers in the provincial towns of Germany : every body treats them politely, except when they come to receive money: some would know nothing of their old debts, or said they had all been settled at the time of their bankruptcy, and it was the fault of the creditor if he had not accepted payment. Others did not remember Melchior of Bremen, they opened their infallible books, and found nothing posted under that name. Some brought forth a large charge against Frank's father; and, before the expiration of three days, he was safely shut up in prison to answer for them, and was not to be released till he had paid the last farthing." He is glad to compromise with these cheats, and leave Antwerp as poor as he entered it. He resolves to seek his fortune in Peru, but accident leads him to a small town, called Rummelsburgh, where the adventure of the Spectre Barber ensues. We had conducted Frank, the hero, on his way back from the rascally debtors at Antwerp, to the village of Rummelsburgh. Here he took up his quarters at a "Castle built on a steep rock, just outside the town, immediately opposite the inn, being separated from it only by the high road and a small brook. On account of its pleasant situation, it was still kept in good repair, was well furnished, and served its present possessor as a hunting seat. He often spent the day there in great splendour; but, whenever the stars appeared, he left it with all his followers, being terrified by the ghost, who roared and rattled through it all night, but was never seen or heard during the day. However unpleasant a guest this spectre might be to the lord of the castle, in other respects he was at least a perfect protection against thieves or robbers, of whom none would venture near his abode. "It was quite dark when Frank, carrying a lantern, and accompanied by his host, with a basket, arrived at the gates of the castle. The latter had provided a good supper and a bottle of wine, which he said he would not put in the bill; he had with him likewise two candlesticks and a pair of wax candles, for in the whole castle there was neither candlestick nor candles to be found, because nobody ever stopped there after twilight. As they were walking on, Frank (who had observed the heavy basket and the candles, which he thought would be quite useless to him, and for which he should, nevertheless, be obliged to pay) said 'The bit of candle in the lantern is sufficient for me, till I go to bed, and I hope not to awake before broad daylight, for I am very sleepy, and wish to have a long rest.' "I will not conceal from you,' said the landlord, that report says, the castle is haunted by a spectre, who walks about at night. But you need not be afraid, we shall be quite near you should any thing happen, you may easily call out to us, and you will find somebody immediately ready to assist you; with us people are stirring all night, and there is always somebody at hand. I have lived here now these thirty years, and have never seen any thing. The noise which is sometimes heard at night is caused, in my opinion, by the cats and other animals which have taken possession of the garrets.' "The landlord spoke the truth when he said he had never seen the spectre, for he took good care never to go near the castle at night, and during the day the ghost was invisible; even now the rogue did not venture to cross the threshold. He opened the door, gave our traveller the basket with the provisions, told him where to go, and wished him good night. Frank entered the hall, without fear or awe, treating the story of the ghost as an idle gossip, or the tradition of some real event, which fancy had converted to something unnatural." His sleep is nevertheless invaded"Doors were opened and shut with a terrible noise; and as last an attempt was made on the door of Frank's retreat. Several keys were tried, and at length the right one found; still the bars held the door, when at length, a loud crash, like a clap of thunder, burst them asunder, and the door flew open. A tall thin man entered he had a very black beard, was clothed in an old fashioned dress, and had a gloo-. my expression in his countenance; overhanging brows gave him the ap pearance of deep thought. A scarlet mantle was thrown over his left shoulder, and his hat was high and pointed. He walked silently through the room with the same slow and heavy step with which he had approached, looked at the consecrated candles, and even snuffed them. Then he threw off his mantle, opened a bag which he carried under his arm, took out instruments for shaving, and began to sharpen a shining razor on a broad leather strap, which he wore on his belt. "Frank perspired under his downy covering with fear and dread; recommended himself to the protection of the Holy Virgin, and looked forward with great anxiety for the end of this manoeuvre, not knowing whether it was meant for his beard or for his throat. To his consolation, the spectre poured water from a silver flagon into a basin of the same material, and with his bony hand beat the soap up into foaming suds; placed a chair, and then with great earnestness,beckoned the terrified Frank from his retreat. It was no more possible to resist this meaning sign, than it generally is to resist the mute who has orders from the grand Turk to bring him the head of some exiled vizier. It is the most sensible plan, in such a case, to make a virtue of necessity, and patiently allow oneself to be throttled. Frank obeyed the order, threw off the mattress, rose from his couch, and took the assigned place on the chair. "The spectre barber put the napkin. round the neck of his trembling customer, seized his scissars, and cut off Frank's hair and beard. Then he proceeded to cover his chin, and even his head, with soap lather; and when this was done, he shaved him smoothly, so completely so, that not a hair was left above his shoulders. When the spectre had completed this operation, he washed Frank very clean, dried him carefully, bowed, packed up his implements, resumed his scarlet cloak, and turned to depart. The consecrated candles burned perfectly bright during the whole of the proceeding, and by |