Johann August Apel

“ The Silversteins are good sort of people; and, as they observed his terror, they offered him a bed in the mansion. Schroeder accepted it with the greatest joy, and retired, after making an apology for being obliged to disturb them early in the morning, as he would be compelled to depart at day-break—but the next morning there was no Schroeder to be seen or heard of. Hour after hour passed by, and yet he did not make his appearance. They knocked at his door, they called, they made the most outrageous noises, but nobody answered. ”

“ And charm the birds, who, wondering, gaz’d upon
His brilliant beauty, and, their hearts subdued
To his perfections, sung him thrilling songs
Of love and adoration. Pleas’d, he stay’d
Forgetting Phœbus at his fountain’s side,
Until the fruit, like Autumn’s regal brow,
Grew rich with golden hues, and forty suns
Arose and set on his abandonment!
Then he remember’d the forgotten will
Of his bright deity. As he was fair
As a young maid, so like a young maid, he
Was wily in his thought ”

“ The black chamber, therefore, was opened. Schroeder found it difficult to point out the place where the closet with the treasure was said to have stood, for opposite to the bed there were windows, and not a spot was to be found where a closet could have stood, visible or invisible: the whole of the chamber was carefully examined, but not the slightest trace of any thing suspicious could be discovered. The magistrate, therefore, and all present, asserted that if the thing had really happened as stated, it could not have been through any human agency. ”

“ Some hours in social converse, while the children
Play’d mirthfully their own light-hearted games
Around their thoughtful sires.—Areta’s self
At twilight came oft to my cheerful home
To talk of earlier days, when we were young,
In the full bloom of grief-less maidenhood;
And of our husband’s tempers, soured by time,
Much had we to relate, as women have
When they may speak unfearing;—by us sat
Our female children, who, when weary grown,
Droop’d into sleep, though oftener listening sat
The elder ones in silence. ”

“ After a little time, however, I regained my courage, and I instantly jumped out of bed in order to convince myself that I had not been deceived by a dream. I lighted two candles, and again narrowly examined the apartment; every thing was as I had left it—not a single bolt withdrawn, neither at the doors nor windows. I was already inclined to ascribe the apparition, plain as it appeared, to a dream, or at least to the excitement of my own imagination, which had been heated by the game-keeper’s stories ”

“ On one occasion, (the illness of a daughter who had a violent nervous fever,) I was despatched some miles in the country to Colonel de Silverstein’s, where, although very little could be done for the patient, I was obliged to remain during the night, in order to satisfy the anxiety of the parents. A chamber was accordingly prepared for me, and as my patient was perfectly tranquil, I bade good night at an earlier hour than usual to the family, and retired to rest. The whole mansion had a most dreary aspect, and my chamber was by no means the most inviting apartment in it. ”

“ Rush’d forth a frenzied monster. The young babes
She tore from weeping mothers—clasping them
In a fierce death embrace, and on their lips
Fast’ning fell kisses, till the heart’s blood gush’d
Over the fading mouth. ”

“ I took it up, resolving to preserve it carefully, and was just going to write down the whole occurrence of the night, when a distant noise attracted my attention.
“I soon distinguished an alarming confusion, and an opening and shutting of doors; at length it approached my room, and a hasty and loud knocking was made at my door. “Who is there,” I demanded. “Rise directly, Mr. Barmann,” was the answer; “the young lady is dying.” I threw on my clothes as quickly as possible, and hastened to the sick chamber—it was too late—the young girl lay dead before me. ”

“ Some time ago, while I was still studying medicine under Dr. Wenderborn, it was his practice to reserve the town patients to himself; and as I was esteemed a good and fearless horseman, to send me to those who resided at a distance in the country. ”

“ You are both acquainted with the Lawyer Schroeder, the little buffoon, who is always capering after the women. Well, he had some business lately at Rabenau, in the jurisdiction of Silverstein, which detained him so long that evening approached before he could get away. By nature, you know, he is none of the most courageous ”