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Untitled Article
the clock of St . Nicholas * ch&rch c&mmfcncecl strikfri * eleven ; as 1
the first stroke sounded fromthe steeple , a tety great tioise was heard at the rained windovv of the old town-fcotisei , and a female figure appeared , looking from it . When the ) light of the lamp fell upon her features , Mr . Tusrnann murmured , in a lamentable tone of voice , Oh , just powers ! what does this fri ghtful mystery signify T As the last stroke of the clock sounded , at the very moment
when Mr . Tusmann was accustomed to draw his nightcap over his ears , the female figure vanished . This marvellous apparition appeared quite to disconcert the private secretary . He sighed and groaned , and , looking up at the casement , muttered betwixt his teeth , 'Tusrhann , Tusmann , wretched private secretary , take care of yourself ] mind th ^ devil does not make a fool of you !'
* Y 6 u appear very much moved by what you have seen , Mr . Tusmann , ' said the stranger . * May I beg of you not to refuse me my poor title of honourable , " ' replied Mr . Tusmann ; ' and you must excuse me , my dear Sir , ' if I do not give you that title which is your due ; as I am ignorant of your real rank , I will , if you please , entitle you privy counsellor ; and , as there are so many of them in this good town of Berlin , it is very probable that I shall not be far wrong . Will you , then , have the goodness to inform me , honourable Mr . Privy Counsellor , what kind of bride you sought to see at this very mysterious hour ?'
' You are / said the stranger , ' a singular man , with your talk about titles . If a person is a privy counsellor when he has some knowledge of a secret affair , and is capable of giving good couiisel concerning it , why , then , perhaps , I have some claim to the title whieh you bestow upon me so gratuitously . But I must say ., that I reaiHy dm aistonished to find a man so versed in old books and rare manuscripts &s you are , most honourable private secretary of the chancery , does not know that if one initiated—you understand me ^ I repeat , if one initiated , strikes at eleven o ' clock ] on the nig ht of the summer equinox , at the wall of this tower , the lady who will be the happiest bride in Berlin before the next equinox , appears at the casement which you see above us . ' * Honourable Mr . Privy Counsellor , ' cried Mr . Tusmann , suddenly transported with joy , 'is that really true V c Certainly ,. it is true , ' replied the stranger ; ' but we must not stop here in the street—let us go to the new tavern in Alexanderplafce ^ and ^ then you can hear itiore about the bride , and recover your&elf from the strange indisposition which you fell into so suddenly ; I am sure I tktfi ' t know for what reason /
* For ah ' eKpaftitfttai of this caricature of German manners , consult Madame do StacTs * Germany , ' vol . i . n . 104 ; and Russell ' s * Germany , * vol . ii . p , 289 .
Untitled Article
180 The Choice .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1835, page 180, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2643/page/36/
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