The Severed Hand

The Severed Hand, by Wilhelm
Hauff

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Title: The Severed Hand From "German Tales" Published by the
American Publishers' Corporation
Author: Wilhelm Hauff
Release Date: September 18, 2007 [EBook #22664]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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SEVERED HAND ***

Produced by David Widger

THE SEVERED HAND
By Wilhelm Hauff

From "German Tales." Published by the American Publishers'
Corporation.
1869
I was born in Constantinople; my father was a dragoman at the Porte,
and besides, carried on a fairly lucrative business in sweet-scented
perfumes and silk goods. He gave me a good education; he partly
instructed me himself, and also had me instructed by one of our priests.
He at first intended me to succeed him in business one day, but as I
showed greater aptitude than he had expected, he destined me, on the
advice of his friends, to be a doctor; for if a doctor has learned a little
more than the ordinary charlatan, he can make his fortune in
Constantinople. Many Franks frequented our house, and one of them
persuaded my father to allow me to travel to his native land to the city
of Paris, where such things could be best acquired and free of charge.
He wished, however, to take me with himself gratuitously on his
journey home. My father, who had also travelled in his youth, agreed,
and the Frank told me to hold myself in readiness three months hence. I
was beside myself with joy at the idea of seeing foreign countries, and
eagerly awaited the moment when we should embark. The Frank had at
last concluded his business and prepared himself for the journey. On
the evening before our departure my father led me into his little
bedroom. There I saw splendid dresses and arms lying on the table. My
looks were however chiefly attracted to an immense heap of gold, for I
had never before seen so much collected together.
My father embraced me and said: "Behold, my son, I have procured for
thee clothes for the journey. These weapons are thine; they are the same
which thy grandfather hung around me when I went abroad. I know that
thou canst use them aright; but only make use of them when thou art
attacked; on such occasions, how-over, defend thyself bravely. My
property is not large; behold I have divided it into three parts, one part
for thee, another for my support and spare money, but the third is to me
a sacred and untouched property, it is for thee in the hour of need."
Thus spoke my old father, tears standing in his eyes, perhaps from
some foreboding, for I never saw him again.

The journey passed off very well; we had soon reached the land of the
Franks, and six days later we arrived in the large city of Paris. There
my Frankish friend hired a room for me, and advised me to spend
wisely my money, which amounted in all to two thousand dollars. I
lived three years in this city, and learned what is necessary for a skilful
doctor to know. I should not, however, be stating the truth if I said that
I liked being there, for the customs of this nation displeased me;
besides, I had only a few chosen friends there, and these were noble
young men.
The longing after home at last possessed me mightily; during the whole
of that time I had not heard anything from my father, and I therefore
seized a favorable opportunity of reaching home. An embassy from
France left for Turkey. I acted as surgeon to the suite of the
Ambassador and arrived happily in Stamboul. My father's house was
locked, and the neighbors, who were surprised on seeing me, told me
my father had died two months ago. The priest who had instructed me
in my youth brought me the key; alone and desolate I entered the empty
house. All was still in the same position as my father had left it, only
the gold which I was to inherit was gone. I questioned the priest about
it, and he, bowing, said: "Your father died a saint, for he has
bequeathed his gold to the Church." This was and remained
inexplicable to me. However, what could I do? I had no witness against
the priest, and had to be glad that he had not considered the house and
the goods of my father as a