will. The love and care of her son had been so precious to her, that she had often thought wealth would never again be prized by her as it had been; but this sudden state of suspense into which she was thrown sorely tried her mind. She pictured her beloved son, no longer deprived of opportunity for improvement, or confined to a round of comparatively unprofitable labour. She knew how fitted he was to adorn a different position, by his piety, his intelligence, and his benevolence of character. She remembered her departed husband's influence as a burgomaster of Haarlem, how much he was beloved, and how he had been looked up to by their pastor as one of the heads of the church. Frau Lievenhock wept as she thought of her Carl remaining, perhaps all his life, in poverty and obscurity; but lifting up her heart to God in earnest prayer, she found her load lightened, as she threw her burden of care at the foot of the cross. She remembered who had said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you;" and she knew well that her beloved son was one of those to whom this blessed promise might be applied. 66 Carl employed himself till a late hour in the garden. When he re-entered the cottage, his mother had prepared his supper, and was sitting near the stove with her Bible. Her countenance bore traces of tears, but there was a calm serenity in her expression which spoke volumes to the penetrating and loving glance of her son. My Carl," said she, taking his hand as he approached her, "I have been too anxious that you should not lose the advantages that money would give you; but I have sought wisdom and strength from my God, and I can now say, that whatever may be his holy will, I am submissive, and can say, 'It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth Him good.' I should only value money for your sake, and if Divine wisdom judges it best, that you should serve Him on earth in your present station, instead of the one in which you were born, it will be because it is best for you." The heart of the affectionate son was full. He kissed tenderly his mother's cheek, and said with a faltering voice, "It is for you, my precious mother, that I desire this money; I am satisfied to remain as I am, if it is God's will; for you, who were so tenderly cared for by my dear father, so that you never knew what it was to be clothed coarsely, and live on common food, but were able to help the sick and afflicted and give alms to the needy, I do, indeed, desire more than we now possess. But there is now no doubt of our realizing a large sum, for even if Herr Terburg will not buy our Semper Augustus, the gentleman to whom he would have sold it, and many others, will gladly purchase it. There is no cause for anxiety as to a purchaser." Another day passed away. Frau Lievenhock could not help keeping a watch for the coming of the merchant, but her mind remained composed and peaceful. From time to time she cast a look of love at Carl, who found much just now in his garden to occupy him. The Semper Augustus was often the object of their attention. The noble flower was now in full perfection, and in its glory looked like a king among other flowers. 66 Surely," said Carl to his mother, "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.'” 66 No, indeed," said the widow, as she remembered the next verse of the chapter; "wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"" Evening arrived, and no Herr Terburg had yet made his appearance. Carl and his mother went to bed at their usual time; the latter had given up all hope, although she said little upon the subject to her son. As soon, however, as the two inmates of the cottage were buried in peaceful slumbers, a loud knocking was heard at the door. "Carl, Carl!" called out the widow, "what is the matter? What can the noise mean?" "It is only our customer, who wishes to buy the tulip before midnight, because he knows that to-morrow he must pay two thousand more florins for it than to-night." With these words the happy Carl leaped from his bed, threw on some clothes, and opened his casement window. Who is there ?" he asked. 66 66 Open quickly," answered the voice of the merchant. "Have you still got the Semper Augustus?" 66 Yes, mynheer. What do you want with it? Is this an hour to come and rouse people from their beds?" 66 'Certainly, if one can save money by doing so; bring here your tulip. Here you have your fifteen thousand florins." "Eighteen thousand," answered Carl, coolly. "Remember, mynheer, if you please, what I said to you; and tomorrow the price will be twenty thousand. After midnight I shall not part with it under that sum, and it is very near that hour. Do you take it or not at my price, mynheer ?" "No!" cried out Herr Terburg, in furious anger. "Then, good night," said Carl, as if about to close the window. "In the morning you will, I am sure, bring the twenty thousand florins." "Ah!" called out the merchant again, "it begins to strike twelve. A bargain, Carl; for eighteen thousand I will buy the Semper Augustus." In truth, the clock of the great church of St. Bavon began at this moment slowly to strike. "Now, at the last moment, you have saved your two thousand florins," said Carl, as he closed the casement window, and quickly went to the door, where stood the impatient Terburg. With rapid steps, the merchant entered. "Where is it? Bring it here." "First your money, mynheer, if you please." Terburg drew two heavy purses out of his pocket, and laid the gold willems* and silver florins on the table. "There," said he, " count them; there are eighteen thousand florins." "And here," said Carl, " is the Semper Augustus." With eager haste Herr Terburg seized the precious flower, and when he had safely placed it within his coat, he turned with a malicious smile to Carl. "Is it a bargain, young man ?" asked he. 66 Certainly," answered the youth. "Now," said the merchant, with the triumph of low cunning, "you have been too hasty in your bargain. Had you played your cards well I should have given you threeand-twenty thousand florins for your flower, because it is worth to me very much more. Many are the faces that will look blank on Exchange to-morrow when I appear with my prize." "You think, perhaps, Herr Terburg, that I am not aware why you have been so anxious to secure this tulip," said Carl. "I do not know what other speculation may be A coin worth 10 florins. connected with it, but I do know that by this bargain with me you have saved yourself six thousand florins, and I know that to-morrow morning Herr Wanderburgh, the Amsterdam merchant, is to pay you twelve thousand florins for a Semper Augustus, while if you are not ready with one, you have to pay him twelve thousand. Learn, mynheer, that it is possible in the midst of good fortune to be generous. And if all is reckoned, you will have paid my journey to Beverwyk with six thousand and two guildens.' Terburg was white with suppressed anger; but he was so disconcerted by the language and noble bearing of the youth that he could say nothing, and left the house murmuring curses against the happy Carl, whose only source of regret was to part with a flower that had given him so much pleasure. When the merchant was departed with the Semper Augustus, Carl carefully fastened the door after him, filled his hands with the gold and silver coins, and running up to his mother's room, threw them joyfully on her bed. Here, dear mother, help me to sing and praise God for his goodness to us. Mother, I am so happy that I must cry;" and bursting into tears of joy, mother and son wept together. 66 66 My son," at last said the widow, while she drew him to her, and kissed him tenderly, "I thank God for this great blessing-this gift whereby we may do good to others; but most of all do I thank my heavenly Father that he has given me a dutiful, pious, loving child.” Who can find words to describe the happiness and content of Frau Lievenhock and her son! Carl did not again go as a porter to the market, for it was no longer necessary he should earn the daily bread of his mother by such labour. Neither the widow nor her son could, however, be satisfied without making every inquiry to ascertain if any person could be found who had lost a Semper Augustus at the time Carl found it on the road, but no claimant was ever heard of. Not till time had been given for these inquiries did Carl fully consider the price of the tulip his own. At the expiration of several months he purchased a large nursery garden in the neighbourhood of Haarlem, where he soon found that the experience he had attained in the culture of flowers was invaluable to him. Under his diligent and skilful hand, the lovely children of Flora flourished so luxuriantly that Carl's fame in a few years extended far and near. His roots and seeds commanded the highest price of any florist in the neighbourhood. But although he never made so much profit again by a single root as by the Semper Augustus he had found in the road from Beverwyk, yet his capital, by God's blessing, increased year by year, and he grew at last a rich man. One great pleasure was permitted him after the lapse of some years. Herr Terburg, who had gained so much property by dishonest practices, fell into difficulties, and was at last obliged to sell the old family residence in which Carl was born. The widow's son purchased it, and bought with it the furniture which had remained there since his father's time. When the whole was arranged as nearly as possible in the same manner as when Frau Lievenhock had lived there, the happy son led her to this home of her married life. Frau Lievenhock lived many years in the old house with her dutiful and affectionate son. She had the happiness to see him united to a pious and amiable young lady, the daughter of one of the principal merchants of Amsterdam. As time passed on, merry young voices were heard again in the spacious rooms of the old mansion. When Carl's blooming children found their way to his counting-house, to receive a kiss, or beg a game of play, the fond father often recalled a scene in his earlier days, when, with sorrow and anxiety, he had stood in that place pleading with Herr Terburg; and with deep thankfulness he would review the past, and gather from its experience fresh grounds of joy and confidence in God. THE STREAMLET. Written by the late Dr. Ralph Wardlaw in his Daughter's Album.] Streamlet from thy crystal spring, Far and farther wandering, t T Ne'er returning to thy fountain : Type of man's apostate heart, God the fount of bliss deserting Ever roving-far apart Never to its source reverting! |