Das landhaus am Rhein. English

by Berthold Auerbach

  CHAPTER XV.

  A JOYOUS FAREWELL, AND HUMBOLDT'S BLESSING ON THE JOURNEY.

  In the Carp Inn was a noisy hubbub. The Cooper, as young host, wasmerrily pouring the wine, and both fathers, the Screamer and theSevenpiper, looked on delightedly, often clinking their ribbed glasses.

  It was known throughout the whole region that the Cooper was aconfidant of Roland and Eric. Now came the young men from all sides,wishing to be enrolled for the American war; there was even adeputation appeared from Weidmann's cement factory, begging for thepassage-money for thirty-two men.

  The Cooper had given information of what was going forward to Roland,who was highly excited by the news.

  Now has come a use for his wealth. He would raise a regiment with whichhe would go to America. They would land, and the columns would march atonce.

  Eric, too, felt a great interest the carrying out of this plan, butWeidmann opposed it stoutly, affirming that we had no right to withdrawfrom Germany the strength needed for her development.

  This objection was of no avail; but another remonstrance was decisive.He told Roland that President Lincoln would be absolutely obliged totake a step further,--he must arm the negroes. Then it might beRoland's part to give pecuniary assistance, and it would be far granderthat the negroes themselves should fight for their own liberation andfor that of their brethren.

  Roland had been before the court, where he had been declared of age; henow came into the Carp Inn, where all were full of astonishment whenthe young man informed them that he should only take with him threeyoung physicians--the Banker had undertaken the expenses of one of thethree--that he should engage no one else, as the negroes themselvesmust fight for their liberty.

  He went back to Villa Eden, accompanied by Claus. There lived theMajor.

  He also made a wedding-tour, with the Frau Majorin. They stopped awhilein that part of the garden called Nice.

  They went through the park and ascended the hill, where therewas a view down the Rhine. The Major said in a tone of supremesatisfaction:--

  "Now, Frau Majorin, here we are, on the highest mountain inSwitzerland."

  And at the lake he said:--

  "Frau Majorin, will you have the goodness to admire the Lago Maggiore?"

  They went through the conservatories, and the Major declared that theworld had collected here its most beautiful show of flowers, in orderto spare them the great annoyance of travelling. He besought his wifeto excuse him if he did not show her the devotion of a newly marriedhusband during the following days. So much had yet to be providedbefore the departure of the new knights of the Brotherhood.

  There were, indeed, so many things to be settled, that Eric was at lastobliged to entrust much that was essential to Weidmann and the Justice.Before he could start, he must obtain his discharge, as he was in thereserve corps. The reply to his application was, that the Princedesired a personal interview. He was obliged to go to the city, and wasnot a little surprised by the gracious and complimentary expressions ofthe Prince. He said that he was not willing to give such a man hisdischarge, but he would grant him leave of absence for an indefinitetime.

  Eric's pride, however, was very soon humbled, for the Prince hintedthat Eric, now made the possessor of so much wealth, had better remainin the country.

  During his stay in the city, officers also came to Eric, offeringeither to accompany or to follow him to America.

  Eric positively declined all such offers.

  Joseph the valet came with his betrothed. Means had been given him toset up an inn of his own in the capital, but he conducted himself likea servant of the house.

  Fassbender's son, who had been working in the Banker's office, wasgoing to the New World, wishing to engage in the occupation of hisbrother, who was an influential building-contractor. In compliance withthe urgent request of Claus, he took with him a great quantity ofbirds, by which means he was to establish a regular bird-trade with theOld World.

  The deaf-mute from the cement factory, to whom Roland had given aknife, came on the eve of their departure, bringing him a mug, on whichwas marked in very clumsy letters: "Comeback."

  Roland made permanent provision for the care of the forsaken youth.

  It was very hard for Roland to take leave of the horses and dogs. Hehad wished to take Griffin with him, but gave up the idea when thedifficulties of so doing were represented to him. Laying his hand onthe dog's head, he said:--

  "My old friend, I can't take you with me; I must leave much more thanyou behind me. I don't myself know how it will end. Just stay quietlyhere, and wait till I come back."

  The dog looked up sadly at his master.

  On the morrow there was a great pilgrimage from the Villa to thesteamboat-landing.

  They sent the carriages on before. Weidmann walked with Eric, holdinghis hand, the Major with Roland, and Knopf with the negro. Manna walkedbetween the Professorin and the Major's wife. The Aunt and ProfessorEinsiedel had remained behind at the Villa. Roland wept; and Manna,weeping also, leaned on the arms of those who led her. Looking up atthe churchyard, she said:--

  "On the bank of this river we are at home: here rests our motherin the earth. I remember an old saying, but where it came from I do notknow:--

  "'The nomadic races wander and wander; but where they have dug a gravefor one of their number, there they must finally remain.'"

  Her voice failed her. After a time she went on:--

  "There stand the trees which father planted."

  Tears choked all further utterance.

  Arrived at the landing, they found a great assemblage of people. Clauskept laughing and nodding, having made a merry night of it at the Carp,wishing to have one more good time before he went forth into the wideworld.

  The Cooper, now landlord of the Carp, and the Sevenpiper presented, inbehalf of a large number of donors, a keg of virgin wine, crowned withfresh garlands.

  Now the Screamer became animated, and speedily reckoned up what wouldbe the daily portion of each of the travellers until their arrival inNew York. It would be at least two bottles apiece; and he instantlytendered his services in despatching the virgin wine, as probably Ericwould not drink his whole share, and perhaps Roland too would fallshort.

  The Gauger told in doleful fashion how the voyagers would to-day havethe good luck of travelling with a young married couple, for thesteamboat which was coming was called the "Beethoven," and the stewardof the "Beethoven" had married the "Lorelei."

  Eric and Manna sat by their mother, holding her hand; and she said tothem consolingly:--

  "Eric, spare your life; but should you fall in the great cause, I shallmourn, but I will not bewail your loss."

  "Mother, I am confident of returning home alive out of this struggle;and yet, if I should fall, mother, be steadfast: I have lived thehighest life, through you, through my father's, and through my Manna's,love."

  The Mother silently pressed his hand.

  Now came the Doctor and the Justice with their wives, and Lina with herhusband. The Doctor put the finishing touch by imparting theintelligence, agitating to all, that Pranken had entered the Papalarmy.

  Weidmann was much moved by this news; he exhorted Eric to keepuppermost in his thoughts, even above the grief of parting, thewonderful way in which all this had come to pass: Pranken there and hehere. He expatiated on this with emphasis, and succeeded in hisintention of dispelling personal sorrow by the consideration ofuniversal views. That which this man and this youth had done inaccordance with their own choice and the leadings of destiny, _that_was no longer at the disposal of their own individual free will, butwas absorbed into, and had become a part of the great whole.

  And now the real mirthfulness of Rhenish life began to display itself.The glee-club made its appearance with a band of music, and clear songsrang out from the pretty and graceful steamer which now came down thestream. The cannon were fired; the boat stopped; and hurried partingswere made. Eric, Manna, and Roland kissed the Mot
her, who cried:--

  "Be faithful to the end."

  They were soon on board.

  The steamer had pushed off, when a cry was heard. The dog Griffin hadbroken loose from the Cooper's hold upon his collar, sprung into theRhine, and was swimming after the boat. She stopped once more; the dogwas hoisted out of the water and taken along with them.

  The party on shore waved their farewell signals, and were answered fromthe boat, as long as they could see each other; but for a long timeafter this, the gaze of the departing ones lingered on the Villa.

  What will become of the house? What shall they be when they return?What kind of life will there be established?

  As Manna stood leaning on Eric, something came softly up to them.

  The dogs, Rose and Thistle, had forced their way aboard. Roland, whohad likewise been standing lost in thought, suddenly brightened up, forGriffin was also with them.

  And now they had a fresh surprise. No one had noticed that the Majorhad not been among those who had bid them goodbye. He now emerged fromthe cabin with his wife. He was now making his wedding tour, andaccompanied the wanderers as far as the Lower Rhine. It seemed as ifthey had with them a goodly portion of the home.

  There was music on board, and the Major soon brought up the steward andstewardess, to whom he introduced himself and his wife, and Eric andManna, as newly-married couples.

  "Yes," said he to Eric, "you know I have been a drummer. I'll tell youthe story some time or other. Yes, when you come back you shall haveit."

  At the station before the Island, the Major and wife disembarked. Herethey had dwelt in the first days of their union, and here they wishedto be again for a day, and to show themselves as married people tothose who had then been friendly toward them. The Major still waved hishand from the row-boat, and strove to show a cheerful countenance, butthe tears ran down his cheeks, and as he bent over the side of theskiff, they flowed into the Rhine.

  Silently they glided on, and, as they passed the Cloister Island, aflock of white doves were winging their way over it. The nightingaleswere singing so loud as to be heard, in spite of the continual plash ofthe paddle-wheels. The children of the Island were walking along theshore, two by two, and singing.

  Manna sighed deeply, and wafted a greeting over to them.

  No one imagined, who was passing by, away, away to the New World.

  When, at evening, the vessel stopped for the night, Eric remembered asheet of paper which Weidmann had given him. He read it. It containedwords from the close of Humboldt's Cosmos:--

  "There are some races more civilized, more highly ennobled by culturethan others, but there are no races nobler by nature. All are equallydestined for freedom."

  BOOK XV.