The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. II | Page 9

The oldest stones had each their special honor assigned them.
They were ranged according to their dates along the wall, either leaning
against it, or let into it, or however it could be contrived; and the
string-course of the church was thus variously ornamented.

Edward was singularly affected as he came in upon it through the little
wicket; he pressed Charlotte's hand, and tears started into his eyes. But
these were very soon put to flight, by the appearance of their singular
visitor. This gentleman had declined sitting down in the castle; he had
ridden straight through the village to the churchyard gate; and then,
halting, he called out to his friends, "Are you not making a fool of me?
Is there need, really? If there is, I can stay till mid-day. But don't keep
me. I have a great deal to do before night."
"Since you have taken the trouble to come so far," cried Edward to him,
in answer, "you had better come through the gate. We meet at a solemn
spot. Come and see the variety which Charlotte has thrown over its
sadness."
"Inside there," called out the rider, "come I neither on horseback, nor in
carriage, nor on foot. These here rest in peace: with them I have
nothing to do. One day I shall be carried in feet foremost. I must bear
that as I can. Is it serious, I want to know?"
"Indeed it is," cried Charlotte, "right serious. For the first time in our
married lives, we are in a strait and difficulty, from which we do not
know how to extricate ourselves."
"You do not look as if it were so," answered he. "But I will believe you.
If you are deceiving me, for the future you shall help yourselves.
Follow me quickly, my horse will be none the worse for a rest."
The three speedily found themselves in the saloon together. Luncheon
was brought in, and Mittler told them what that day he had done, and
was going to do. This eccentric person had in early life been a
clergyman, and had distinguished himself in his office by the
never-resting activity with which he contrived to make up and put an
end to quarrels: quarrels in families, and quarrels between neighbors;
first among the individuals immediately about him, and afterward
among whole congregations, and among the country gentlemen round.
While he was in the ministry, no married couple was allowed to
separate; and the district courts were untroubled with either cause or
process. A knowledge of the law, he was well aware, was necessary to

him. He gave himself with all his might to the study of it, and very
soon felt himself a match for the best trained advocate. His circle of
activity extended wonderfully, and people were on the point of
inducing him to move to the Residence, where he would find
opportunities of exercising in the higher circles what he had begun in
the lowest, when he won a considerable sum of money in a lottery.
With this, he bought himself a small property. He let the ground to a
tenant, and made it the centre of his operations, with the fixed
determination, or rather in accordance with his old customs and
inclinations, never to enter a house when there was no dispute to make
up, and no help to be given. People who were superstitious about
names, and about what they imported, maintained that it was his being
called Mittler which drove him to take upon himself this strange
employment.
Luncheon was laid on the table, and the stranger then solemnly pressed
his host not to wait any longer with the disclosure which he had to
make. Immediately after refreshing himself he would be obliged to
leave them.
Husband and wife made a circumstantial confession; but scarcely had
he caught the substance of the matter, when he started angrily up from
the table, rushed out of the saloon, and ordered his horse to be saddled
instantly.
"Either you do not know me, you do not understand me," he cried, "or
you are sorely mischievous. Do you call this a quarrel? Is there any
want of help here? Do you suppose that I am in the world to give
_advice_? Of all occupations which man can pursue, that is the most
foolish. Every man must be his own counsellor, and do what he cannot
let alone. If all go well, let him be happy, let him enjoy his wisdom and
his fortune; if it go ill, I am at hand to do what I can for him. The man
who desires to be rid of an evil knows what he wants; but the man who
desires something better than he has got is stone blind. Yes, yes, laugh
as you