CHAPTER V.

THE GOOD COMRADE.

THE Major lived in a beautifully situated house in the vineyard of a rich vintner from the fortress, or rather, to use the proper expression, of a brother of the order, for the central point of the Major's life rested firmly in Freemasonry, and he cherished it within his life and thought as his holy of holies; and if men talked of the riddles of life, his face always said, I see no mystery, all is clear to me; only come to us, we have an answer to everything.

pipe and puff out the smoke over the world, and over the world's history, which the newspaper brings me every day. I still have good eyes, I can read without spectacles, and can hit a mark; and I can hear well, and my back is still good; I hold myself as straight as a recruit — and look you, comrade, I am the richest man in the world. And then at noon I have my soup— nobody makes soup like her-my bit of good roast meat, my pint of wine, my coffee-with four beans she makes better coffee than any one else can with a pound -and yet it has happened to me a thousand The small house which the Major in- times to have to sing this song to the fellow habited was attached to the large mansion; sitting here: You are the most ungrateful one side looked toward the highroad, and fellow in the world, to be cross as you often the other commanded a view of the river are, and wish for this and that which you and the mountains beyond. The Major have not. Only look round you; see how confined himself strictly to his little house, nice and neat everything is, good bread, a and his own special little garden with its good arm-chair, a good pipe and so much arbor. He watched over the larger dwell-good rest, - you are the happiest man in the ing and its garden, like a castellan, but he never lived there, and often did not enter them for the many months during which they stood empty.

Eric found the Major in his little garden, smoking a long pipe and reading the newspaper, with a cup of cold coffee before him. An exceedingly neat-looking old lady, with a large white cap, was sitting opposite, engaged in darning stockings; she rose as soon as Eric entered the garden, and hardly waited to be presented. The Major touched his cap in military fashion, and took the long pipe from his mouth.

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Fräulein Milch, this is my comrade, Herr Doctor Dournay, lately Captain." Fräulein Milch courtesied, took up basket of stockings, and went into the house.

her

"She is good and sensible, always contented and cheerful; you will become better acquainted," said the Major, as she withdrew; "and she understands men, -no one better, she looks them through and through. Sit down, comrade, you have come just at my pleasantest hour. You see, this is the way I live: I have nothing particular to do, but I get up early, it prolongs life, and every day I gain a victory over a lazy, effeminate fellow, who has to take a cold bath, and then go to walk; he often doesn't want to, but he has to do it. And then, you see, I come home, and sit here in the morning: and here is a white cloth spread on the table, and before me stand a pot of coffee, good cream, a roll-butter I don't eat. I pour out my coffee, dip in the roll which is so good and crisp-I can still bite well, Fräulein Milch keeps my teeth in order- then at the second cup, I take my

world to have all this. Yes, my dear com-
rade, you may be deucedly learned — I
beg pardon-I mean, you may be very
learned-look you I never studied, I
never learned anything, I was a drummer-
I'll tell you about it sometime- yes, com-
rade-
what was I saying? ah, that's it,
you know a thousand times more than I do,
but one thing you can learn of me. Make
the best of life; now's the time, be happy
now, enjoy yourself now, this hour won't
come back again. Don't always be think-
ing about to-morrow. Just draw a long

breath, comrade- there, what sort of air is
that? is there better anywhere?— and then
we have our nice, clean clothes on! - Ah,
thank the Builder of all the worlds! - Yes,
comrade, if I had had any one, when I was
your age, to tell me what I'm telling you
Pooh, pooh!— What an old talker I am
I'm glad you've come to see me! Well,
how do you get on? Are you really going
to drill our boy? I think you are the right
man to do it, you will bring him into line
you know, comrade, what that means—
only a soldier can do that. Only a soldier
can school men. Nothing but strict disci-
pline! I'll warrant, he'll come out right
he'll do well-Fräulein Milch has always
said, 'He'll come out right, if he only falls
into the right hands.' The school-masters
are all of no use; Herr Knopf was very
worthy and good-hearted, but he didn't
hold the reins tight. Thank the Builder of
all the worlds, now it's all right! Thank
you for coming to see me. If I can help
you, remember that we are comrades. It's
very fortunate that you have been a soldier.
I have always wished Fräulein Milch can
testify that I've said a hundred times, none

--

"Really have the position? There's no doubt about it, I tell you-Pooh, pooh; I'll wager something on that. But, I ask your pardon, I won't talk any more - what were you going to say, comrade?"

"I think we ought not to train him for any special calling; Roland must be a cultivated, wise, and good man, whatever his profession may prove to be - "

you, I was a drummer - yes, smile away, if you like-look you, everybody says such a drum makes nothing but racket, and I tell them there's music in it, as beautiful as- - I won't disparage any one- as beautiful as any other look you, then, I say,

mark my words — then I say, I will not quarrel with you if you hear nothing but noise, but don't quarrel with me, if I hear something else.' Look you, I have thought it all over, everything else will be made by machinery, men are very clever, but drum and trumpet-signals can not be made by machinery, human hands and mouths are "Just so, just so - excellently said needed for that; I was a drummer, for exthat's right the fellow has given me much ample, I'll tell you about it. Look you, I anxiety! How foolish people are, to han- know by the sound what sort of a heart a ker after millions. When they get them, all man has, when he beats a drum; where they can do is to eat their fill and sleep you, my brother, hear nothing but noise eight hours, that's all any one can do. and confusion, I hear music and deep meanThe chief point is "here the Major low- ing. Therefore, for God's sake, no strife ered his voice, and raised his hand-"the about religions; one is worth as much or chief point is, he must return to nature; as little as another, they only lead the that is all the world needs to return to march; but the main thing is, how every nature." man marches for himself, how he has drilled himself, and what sort of a heart he has in his body."

Eric luckily abstained from asking the Major what he precisely meant by this mysterious proposition, for the Major would, unfortunately, not have been able to tell him; but he was fond of the phrase, and always used it, leaving every one to find out the meaning for himself.

"To return to nature, everything is included in that," he repeated.

After a while he began:

"Yes, what was I going to ask? -Tell me, did not you have a great deal to bear as a soldier, because you were a commoner and not a noble ?"

Eric answered in the negative, and the Major stammered out,

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Indeed, indeed-you-a liberally educated man, felt less of it. I asked for my discharge. I'll tell you about it sometime." Eric mentioned that he had been at the priest's, and the Major said,

"He is an excellent man, but I call for no aid of the ecclesiastics. You know I am a Freemason."

Eric assented, and the Major continued: 'Whatever is good in me has its home in that; we will talk farther of it-I will be your god-father. Ah, how glad Herr Weidmann will be to know you.'

And again, at the mention of Weidmann's name, it seemed as if a beautiful view of the highest mountains of the landscape was brought before the mind. The Major resumed:

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"Is there any human being in the world whom you hate, at the sight of whom the heart in your body gives a twist ?"

Eric answered in the negative, and said that his father had always impressed it upon him, that nothing injured one's own soul like hatred; and that for his own sake, a man ought not to let such a feeling take root within him.

"That's the man for me! that's the man for me!" cried the Major. "Now we shall get on together. Whoever has had such a father is the man for me!"

He then told Eric that there was a man in the village whom he hated: he was the tax-collector, who wore the St. Helena medal given by the present Napoleon to the veterans, for the heroic deeds in which they had taken part in the subjugation of their fatherland." "And would you believe it!" exclaimed the Major, "the man has had himself painted with the St. Helena medal; the portrait hangs framed in his room of state, and under it, in a separate frame, the diploma signed by the French minister. I don't bow to the man, nor return his bow, nor sit down at the same table with him;

But now as to the ecclesiastics. Look" he has a different principle of honor from - he drew his chair a little nearer

look mine. And tell me, ought there not to look be some way of punishing such men? I

"I can hear the gun-practice from the fortress. I find that the rifle-cannon have just the same sound as the smooth-bore. Ah, comrade, you must instruct me in the new art of war. I don't know anything about it, but when I hear them firing down there, all the soldier in me wakes up."

can only do it by showing my contempt; it is painful to me, but must I not do it ?" The old man looked much astonished when Eric represented to him that the man ought to be judged mildly, since vanity had great powers to mislead, and besides, many governments had been well pleased to have their subjects win the St. Helena medal, and the man, who was in the service of the state, was not to be sentenced without hear-lein Milch seemed to have it all ready; she

ing.

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'That's good! that's good! " cried the old Major, nodding frequently, according to his habit; "you are the right kind of teacher! I am seventy years old, that is, I am seventy-three now, and I've known many men, and let people say what they will, I have never known a bad man, one really bad. In passion, and stupidity, and pride, men do much that's wrong; but, good God! one ought to thank his heavenly Father that he isn't such as he might very often have become. Thank you; thank you: you have lifted the enemy from my neck;-yes, from my neck; he has sat there, heavy and look, here comes the man himself! ”

The collector was walking by the garden; the Major went to the hedge with many nods and gestures of his hand; he hoped, perhaps, that the man would utter the first greeting; but as this did not happen, he suddenly called out, with a voice like the explosion of a bomb,

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Good-morning, Herr Collector!"

The man returned his salutation and went on. The old Major was entirely happy, and passed his hand several times over his heart, as if a stone or burden were removed from it. Fräulein Milch looked out of the window, and the Major asked her to come out, as he had something very good to tell her. She came, looking still neater than before, having put on a white apron, in which the ironed folds were still fresh. The Major told her that the collector was not to blame, for he had received the St. Helena medal only in obedience to the govern

ment.

They went together to the house, and the Major showed his guest the rooms where simple neatness reigned; then he looked at the barometer, and nodded, saying to himself, "Set fair."

Then he looked at the thermometer screwed up by the window, and wiped his forehead, as if he had not felt till then how hot it was.

A shot was heard in the distance, and the Major pointed out to Eric the direction whence the sound came, saying, —

He asked Fräulein Milch to bring a bottle of wine, one of the very best. Fräu

brought bottle and glasses directly, but gave the Major a significant look, which he understood, and answered:

"Don't be afraid; I know very well that I can't drink in the morning. Pray, captain, give me your cork-screw. I take you to be the right sort of man, and the right sort of man always has a cork-screw in his pocket."

Smiling, Eric handed him his knife, which was fitted with a cork-screw. While the Major was opening the bottle, he said,

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And another mark of a genuine man is, that he can whistle. Comrade, be so kind as to whistle once for me."

Laughter prevented Eric from drawing up his lips. The bottle was uncorked, and they drank to good comradeship. Major said,

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The

Perhaps we are in better spirits here, than our friend Sonnenkamp in his grand villa. But Herr captain, I say again, an elephant is happy, and a fly is happy too; only the elephant has a larger proboscis than the fly."

The Major laughed till he shook with delight at his comparison, and Eric found the laughter contagious, and as often as they looked at each other, the laughter began afresh.

"You show me the meaning of the proverb," cried Eric, "a gnat may be taken for an elephant,' and in fact it is correct; not the size, not the mass, but the organism is the life."

Just so, just so!" exclaimed the Major. "Fräulein Milch, come in again a moment."

Fräulein Milch, who had left the room, re-entered, and the Major continued,

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Pray, captain, say that once more about the organism. That is the sort of thing for Fräulein Milch, for, look you, she studies much more than she chooses to let any one know. If you please, comrade, the organism once more. I can't tell it half so well." What was Eric to do? He explained his figure again, and the laughter broke out anew.

Fräulein Milch recommended to Eric the

"Look at these two posts, these closelytrimmed ash-trees. Several years ago I noticed that the one at the left got its leaves ten or eleven days before the one at the right. Now, once the frost came unexpect-every direction.

"Look you, comrade, put the maiden out respectfully, and listened to obsequiously, of your thoughts, she is as good as betrothed by the subordinates held strictly to their to Baron Pranken-I would rather you place; but that too became distaseful to should have her, but it can't be changed." him. Travelling, too, proffered him noEric at last got away, and went back thing further, one had to drag along with toward the villa with cheerful thoughts. himself continually such an extra weight of Good powers were working together to ennui. He turned a disgusted eye upon keep Roland constantly in a circle of thought the world which had nothing to do for him, and feeling, from which he might not devi- and in which he could do nothing. He had ate through his whole life. cultivated one talent, that of chess-playing, and as Clodwig also took great pleasure in the game, and was skilful in it, he came every week to Wolfsgarten, and played with Clodwig, for it conferred upon him a special regard in his own eyes, and in those of others.

He stopped before a wide-spreading walnut tree, and looked up smiling into its rich branches.

Sonnenkamp is right," he said to himself; "the planting of trees and their growth depend upon the surrounding heights and the prevailing winds. There are nervous trees, which are killed by the blasts, and others which only strike root when they are blown this way and that by the wind. Is not the life of man such a plant? the men around it constitute its climatic zone."

Eric thought he was constantly getting a better insight into the influences which were helping, and those which were hindering, the true growth of his pupil.

How rich is the world! Up there at the castle sits the old count by his young wife's side, and creates for himself an ideal realm of thought, after a full and active life; here sits the old Major with his housekeeper. How Bella would turn up her nose if she were compared with that housekeeper, and yet

Suddenly Eric heard carriage wheels behind him, and a man's and a woman's voice

called out to him.

CHAPTER VI.

A THIRD PERSON.

ON the day that Eric had left Castle Wolfsgarten, an habitual visitor made his appearance there; this was the son of the eminent wine-merchant, the so-called winecount. He came once a week, to play chess with the count. He looked young, but he was worn out in soul, not knowing what to do in the world; he derived no satisfaction from the business of his father, had money enough, had learned a variety of things, was something of a musician, drew a little, had very various talents, but no one predominant. All was wearisome to him; hollow and stale seemed that enjoyment of life which was to be decorously pursued. Wherefore should he devote himself to the restricted limits of some regular pursuit, in order to make money? That is wholly needless. He was a director in several railroads, and for a period it had satisfied him to oversee and to manage, to be saluted

He had also a great reputation, among all those in the neighborhood who prided themselves upon the same qualities as he, of being a rake, and appearing to the world as a gallant. He had a collection of lewd pictures of every kind, and one must be very intimate with him to be able to say that he had seen them all, even to the most carefully hidden. Of course the winechevalier presented a very respectable appearance before the world. No one had ever seen him intoxicated, and, in general society, he always played the part of one very condescending and indifferent, who is yet so noble as to remain in intercourse with these inferior people, as much as to say, One owes that much for old acquaintance sake. Mothers always warned their daughters of the Wine-chevalier, just as one speaks to children of the wolf howling outside there in the fields, but the mothers themselves did not take it in bad part when he sometimes cast a languishing glance upon them, and even when he frequently said something to them in whispers.

The justice's daughter, Lina, was not so simple as the mother always said, for she declared that the Wine-chevalier was that transformed manikin in the fairy-tales, who travelled to learn what shivering meant.

The Wine-chevalier of course kept himself fresh in his toilet and his anecdotes, and in everything, externally and internally, that the prevailing fashion required, from year to year, living also for several months in Paris. He did not, like his father, speak of his friend this and the other ambassador, minister so and so, and prince so and so, but he let it be known that he lived in the most inseparable intimacy with the most famous members of the Jockey Club.

The Wine-chevalier always experienced, besides, some degree of pleasure in devoting himself to paying courteous compliments to the virtuous Frau Bella, but she