II.
The gentleman put in a shilling, and stooped down to read a crumpled piece of paper which hung loosely from the collar. It bore these words, written in a[1] shaky hand: “This is the dog of a poor man who is bed-ridden. It earns bread for its master. Good people, do not prevent it from returning to its home.” On receiving (S. 55, N. 1) _any_ money, the poor creature returned thanks by a wag of its tail. Almost every one of the spectators gave the dog something, and when it had finished collecting the money, it barked once or twice, as if to say good-bye, and then scampered off. On entering the principal street, it quickened its pace[2], and the gentleman finding it impossible to keep up with it[3], hailed[4] a cab, and, much to the driver’s amazement[5], cried: “Follow that dog.” After a time the dog bolted up a narrow alley[6], through which the cab could not pass[7]. The gentleman alighted, and followed the dog through a dark close up[8] to the garret of a rickety dwelling. Pulling the string attached to the latch, the dog opened the door, and the stranger followed. Its master lay dying[9] on a wretched bed, supported[10] by the earnings of the faithful creature, who practised[11] the same tricks alone as it used to do under its master’s superintendence. Death soon ended[12] the poor man’s sufferings, and the dog followed the coffin to the grave. The gentleman took home the dog, but next morning the poor beast howled impatiently for[13] the basket to go its rounds as usual. It went with the pennies to the cemetery and laid them on a grave, whining[14] mournfully, and trying to scratch up the earth. Twice more it went out all day, and brought back the money for its master; but, on finding the money untouched, it lay down at full length upon the grave. The next morning it did not go its rounds, for it was dead.—CHAMBERS’S “SHORT STORIES.”
[1] in a = with.
[2] here +Lauf+, m.
[3] to keep up with a person, +gleichen Schritt mit einem halten+.
[4] +an´rufen+, sep. comp. str. w. tr.
[5] = to the great amazement of the driver.
[6] +plötzlich in einen Durchgang hinein´laufen.+
[7] +passieren.+
[8] +Passage+, f.; to = into; rickety, +baufällig+.
[9] +im Sterben.+
[10] = and was supported (+unterhalten+ or +versorgen+).
[11] here +aus´üben+.
[12] +einer Sache+ (Dat.) +ein Ende machen+.
[13] +nach+; ‘to go one’s rounds’, here +seine Runde wieder an´treten+.
[14] = whereby he whined.
_Section 211._
MY FIRST GUINEA.
I well remember[1], when I was very young, possessing for the first time a guinea. I remember too that this circumstance cost me no little perplexity and anxiety. As I passed along the streets, the fear of losing my guinea induced me oftentimes to take it out of my pocket to look at it. First I put[2] it in one pocket, then I took it out and put it in another; after a while I took it out of the second pocket and placed[2] it in another, really perplexed[3] what to do with it (S. 27, N. 7).
At last my attention was arrested by a book-auction. I stepped in and looked about me. First one lot[4] was put up, and then another, and sold to the highest bidder[5]. At last I ventured to the table, just as the auctioneer was putting up “The History of the World,” in two large folio volumes. I instantly thrust[2] my hand into my (S. 43, N. 9) pocket, and began turning over[6] my guinea, considering whether I should have money enough to buy this lot. The bidding proceeded[7], and at last I ventured to bid too. “Halloo! my little man!” said the auctioneer, “what! (S. 27, N. 7) not content with less than the world?” This remark greatly confused me, and drew the attention of the whole company[8] toward me, who[9], seeing (S. 30, N. 4) me anxious[10] to possess the books, refrained from bidding against me; and so, “The World” was knocked down[11] to me at a very moderate price.
How to get[12] these huge books home was the next consideration[13]. The auctioneer offered to send them, but I, not knowing what sort of creatures auctioneers were[14], determined to take them myself; so, after[15] the assistant had tied them up, I marched out of the room with these huge books upon my shoulder, like Samson with the gates of Gaza, amid the smiles of all present.
When I reached my home, after the servant had opened the door, the first person I met was my sainted mother.
“My dear boy,” she said, “what have you _got_ there? I thought you would not keep your guinea long.”
“Do not be angry, mother,” said I, throwing the books down upon the table. “I have bought ‘The World’ for nine shillings.”
This was on a Saturday, and I well remember sitting up[16] till it was well-nigh midnight, turning over[17] this “History of the World.” The books became my delight, and were carefully read through and through.
When I grew older, I became at length a Christian, and my love of books[18], among other things, led me to desire to be a Christian minister[19]. To the possession of these books I attribute, in a great measure, any honours that have been added to my name in connection with literature. I have not mentioned this anecdote to gratify any foolish feeling[20], but to encourage in all whom I see before me that[21] love of literature which has afforded me such unspeakable pleasure—pleasure[22] which I would not have been without for all the riches of the Indies[23].—THE REV. DR. VAUGHAN.
[1] Supply ‘the time’ here; to remember, +sich erinnern+, governs the Gen.; possessing = and possessed.
[2] +stecken.+
[3] +sich in großer Verlegenheit befinden.+
[4] +Partie+, f.; to put up to auction, to public sale, +zur Versteigerung bringen+, +unter den Hammer bringen+, or +zum öffentlichen Verkauf stellen+.
[5] +der Meistbietende+; to, +an+.
[6] +herum´drehen+; considering = and considered (+überle´gen+, insep. comp. w. v.).
[7] +vonstatten gehen.+
[8] = of all the persons present (+die Anwesenden+); toward, +auf+.
[9] Finish first the clause ‘who refrained from bidding against me’, and then commence the other, =and use this construction in all cases where it can possibly be employed=.
[10] We are anxious to buy the property, +wir möchten das Besitztum gerne kaufen+.
[11] to knock down an article to the last bidder, +einen Artikel dem zuletzt Bietenden zu´schlagen+.
[12] to get home, +nach Hause schaffen+.
[13] +Erwägung+, f.
[14] = but since I had not yet any experience in such matters, I determined, etc.
[15] so, after = and when.
[16] = that I sat up.
[17] = and turned over (+durchblät´tern+, insep. comp. w. v.).
[18] +Liebhaberei+ (f.) +für Bücher+.
[19] = to become _a_ Christian Minister (+Geistlicher+).
[20] Supply ‘of vanity’ here.
[21] = the; of, +zu+, contracted with the Dat. of the def. art.
[22] = a pleasure (+Genuß+, m.)
[23] = of India.
_Section 212._
THE GREEN VAULTS IN DRESDEN.
Dresden, May 11, 1845.
We were fortunate in seeing the Green Vaults or “Das grüne Gewölbe,” a collection of jewels and costly articles[1], unsurpassed in Europe (S. 7, N. 3, _A_). Admittance is only granted to six persons at a time, who pay a fee[2] of two thalers. The customary way is to employ a “valet de place[3],” who goes round from one hotel to another, until he has collected the required number, when[4] he brings them together and conducts them to the keeper who has charge of the treasures. The first hall into which we were ushered contained works in bronze[5]. They were all small, and chosen with regard to their artistical value. The next room contained statues, and vases ornamented with reliefs, in ivory. The most remarkable work was the fall of Lucifer and his angels, containing ninety-two figures in all[6], carved out of a single piece _of_ ivory sixteen inches high! It was the work of an Italian monk, and cost him many years of hard labour[7].
However costly the contents of these halls (S. 27, N. 7), they were only an introduction to those which followed. Each one exceeded the other in splendour and costliness. The walls were covered to the ceiling with rows of goblets, vases, etc., of polished jasper, agate, and lapis lazuli. We saw two goblets, each prized at six thousand thalers, made of gold and precious stones; also the great pearl called the Spanish Dwarf, nearly as large as a pullet’s egg; globes and vases cut entirely out of _the_ mountain crystal; magnificent Nuremberg watches and clocks, and a great number of figures made ingeniously of rough[8] pearls and diamonds. The seventh hall contains the coronation robes of Augustus II, king of Poland, and many costly specimens of carving in wood[9]. A cherry-stone is shown in a glass case, which has one hundred and twenty-five faces, all perfectly finished, carved upon it[10]. The next room we entered sent back a glare of splendour[11] that perfectly dazzled us. It was all gold, diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Every case sent out a glow and a glitter that it seemed like a cage of imprisoned lightnings[12]. Wherever the eye turned it was met by a blaze of broken rainbows. They were there by hundreds[13], and every gem was a fortune. We here saw the largest known onyx, nearly seven inches long, and four inches broad! One of the most remarkable works is the throne and court of Aurungzebe, the Indian king, by Dinglinger, a celebrated goldsmith of the last century. It contains one hundred and thirty-two figures, all of enamelled gold, and each one most perfectly and elaborately finished. It was purchased by Prince Augustus for fifty-eight thousand thalers, which was not an exorbitant sum, considering that the making of it occupied Dinglinger and thirteen workmen for seven years!
It is almost impossible to estimate the value of the treasures these halls contain. That of gold and jewels alone must be many millions of dollars, and the amount of labour expended on these toys of royalty is incredible.—BAYARD TAYLOR, “VIEWS AFOOT.”
[1] +Köstlichkeiten.+
[2] +Eintrittsgeld+, n.
[3] Generally one engages a ‘valet de place’ (+ein Lohnbedienter+, Nom.).
[4] = and then.
[5] +Bronzesachen.+
[6] +im Ganzen.+
[7] hard labour, +angestrengte Arbeit+.
[8] here +ungeschliffen+.
[9] +Holzschnitzereien.+
[10] which — it = upon which are carved 125 faces, which are all perfectly finished (+ausgebildet+).
[11] +wiederstrahlte von einem herrlichen Glanze+; ‘perfectly’, here +förmlich+.
[12] +Aus jedem Kasten erstrahlte so viel Glanz und Licht, daß es schien, es entströmten ihm tausend Blitze.+
[13] = There were (+Es waren dort+) hundreds of gems.
_Section 213._
THE DEATH OF LITTLE NELL.
She was dead. No sleep (S. 27, N. 7) so beautiful and calm, so free from trace[1] of pain, so fair to look upon. She seemed[2] a creature fresh from the hand of God, and waiting for the breath of life; not one who had lived and suffered death. Her couch was dressed with here and there some winterberries and green leaves, gathered in a spot she had been used to favour. “When I die, put near me something[3] that has loved the light, and had the sky above it always.” These were her words.
She was dead. Dear (S. 10, N. 2), gentle, patient, noble Nell was dead. Her little bird—a poor, slight thing[4], the pressure of the finger would have crushed—was stirring nimbly in its cage; and the strong heart of its child-mistress[5] was mute and motionless for ever! Where were the traces of her early cares, her sufferings and fatigues? All gone[6]. Sorrow was dead, _indeed_ in her[7]; but peace and perfect happiness were born—imaged in her tranquil beauty and (S. 10, N. 9) profound repose.
And still her former self lay there, unaltered in this change[8]. Yes, the old fireside[9] had smiled upon that same sweet face; it had passed like a dream through haunts of misery and care—at the door of the poor schoolmaster on the summer evening, before the furnace-fire upon the cold wet night, at the still bedside of the dying boy[10], there had been the same mild and loving look. So shall we know the angels in their majesty after death.—CHARLES DICKENS, “THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.”
[1] = from the traces.
[2] = seemed to be a creature (+Kreatur+, f.). Fresh — God, +erst soeben aus der Hand Gottes hervorgegangen+, which use attributively before ‘creature’; breath, +Odem+, m.
[3] +dann gebet mir etwas mit.+
[4] +ein armseliges kleines Ding.+
[5] +kindliche Herrin+, Nom.
[6] +Alles war verschwunden.+
[7] +war in ihr erstorben+; were born, +waren dafür wieder in ihr erstanden+; imaged in, +wie es ... bezeugte+; her tranquil beauty = her tranquil beautiful face (+Antlitz+, n.).
[8] Liter. = And still (+dennoch+) lay her former self in this change (+Verwandlung+) unaltered there.
[9] +der häusliche Herd+; ‘to smile upon’, here +auf etwas hernie´derlächeln+.
[10] = brother.
_Section 214._
THE CHILDHOOD OF ROBERT CLIVE[1].
Some lineaments of the character of the man were early discerned in the child. There remain[2] letters written by his relations when he was in his seventh year; and from[3] these letters it appears that, even at that early age, his strong will and his fiery passions, sustained by a constitutional intrepidity[4], had begun to cause great uneasiness to his family. “Fighting,” says one of his uncles, “to which he is out of measure addicted, gives his temper such a fierceness and imperiousness, that he flies out on every occasion[5].” The old people of the neighbourhood still remember to have heard from their parents how Bob Clive climbed to the top of the lofty steeple of Market Drayton, and with what terror the inhabitants saw (S. 78, N. 14, _B_) him seated on a stone spout near the summit. They also relate how he formed all the idle lads of the town into a kind of predatory army[6], and compelled the shop-keepers to submit to a tribute of apples and halfpence, in consideration of which[7] he guaranteed the security of their windows. He was sent from school to school, making very little progress in his learning[8], and gaining for himself everywhere the character of an exceedingly naughty boy. One of his masters, it is said, was sagacious enough to prophesy that the idle lad would make a great figure in the world[9].—LORD MACAULAY, “LORD CLIVE.”
[1] +Robert Lord Clive, geboren den 29. September 1725, gestorben den 22. November 1774, war der Begründer des brittischen Reiches in Indien.+
[2] +Es existieren noch.+
[3] +aus+; it appears, +ergiebt sich+.
[4] +welche durch die ihm angeborene Unerschrockenheit noch unterstützt wurden.+
[5] +daß er bei jeder Gelegenheit in heftigen Zorn gerät.+
[6] He formed of them a kind of predatory army, +er bildete aus ihnen eine Art Räuberbande.+
[7] in — which, +wofür+.
[8] = studies.
[9] to make a great figure in the world, +eine große Rolle in der Welt spielen+.
_Section 215._
AN ADVENTURE WITH A LION.