Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The tears started to the young woman’s eyes; and as I saw her press her
babe to her bosom, I knew who Karl was. She seemed to struggle with the
question that rose to her lips:
“You said, sir, that you have seen many Germans in America: did you ever
see anybody there from Heidelberg? Did you ever see Karl Wagner there?”
I told her, I never saw Karl Wagner there, and asked her if Karl might
be her husband; which fact I knew, however, before I asked. She
answered, that he was; that he was living at a place called Buffalo, and
had lately sent her money to take her to another place called New York,
where she would meet him. Her father was anxious that she should go, but
her mother, who was now doating, would resent the very mention of it,
and was always expecting Karl to _come home_. Her brother Roderick, she
said, had been unfortunate, and was bent on going with her; but of this,
her mother knew nothing. They were afraid to tell her, her reason was so
weak that they feared she would sink into utter imbecility.
The sun was set, and night was drawing on. I arose to resume my journey,
for I was anxious to reach the foot of the mount before dark; but the
old man offered me a plate of the harvest-apples that had tempted me,
and pressed me to take some supper with them. If I would only be so
kind—they wished to ask me so many questions about America. I am not
sure that I should have accepted their invitation had not my eye, as I
arose, fallen upon a picture hanging against the opposite wall of the
little room. A second glance showed the marked and benevolent features
of the old man, looking out from the canvas.
“Ha—ha!” said he, “that is a fine picture. Step in the door, and you
will see more of them.”
I did so, and to my surprise, beheld four others hanging wherever space
enough could be found to contain them. One was the portrait of the old
woman whom I now saw for the first time; another of Mary, and the
remaining two were, a young man apparently thirty years of age, and a
boy of sixteen. The old man followed me with his eyes.
“Ha—ha!” said he. “I see you admire them. Poor Roderick! There are few
who can beat him in his art—but you would not think so to see him now.
These are the last he ever made. He paid his last tribute to those he
loved best.”
The old man spoke in a very sorrowful tone. I began to feel a deep
interest in Roderick, whatever his misfortunes might be.
“Is not Roderick your son?” I asked, supposing that I must have made a
mistake.
“Yes—that one I suppose you don’t know; that’s Karl Wagner, that’s
Mary’s husband—a good son he is. And that’s Tommy, that’s our
Tommy—sturdy Tommy, as they call him. That’s the last one Roderick ever
made.” And the old man brushed his eyes with his shriveled hands as he
spoke.
“Where does Roderick live?” I asked. “Is he married?”
“Hush—here!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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