By a short and pleasant road, Wilhelm had reached the town to which his
letter was directed. He found it gay and well built; but its new aspect
showed too clearly, that, not long before, it must have suffered by a
conflagration. The address of his letter let him into the last small,
uninjured portion of the place, to a house of ancient, earnest
architecture, yet well kept, and of a tidy look. Dim windows, strangely
fashioned, indicated an exhilarating pomp of colors from within. Nor, in
fact, did the interior fail to correspond with the exterior. In clean
apartments, everywhere stood furniture, which must have served several
generations, intermixed with very little that was new. The master of the
house received our traveller kindly in a little chamber similarly fitted
up. These clocks had already struck the hour of many a birth and many a
death: every thing which met the eye reminded one that the past might,
as it were, be protracted into the present.
The stranger delivered his letter; but the landlord, without opening it,
laid it aside, and endeavored, in a cheerful conversation, immediately
to get acquainted with his guest. They soon grew confidential; and as
Wilhelm, contrary to his usual habit, let his eye wander inquisitively
over the room, the good old man said to him, “My domestic equipment
excites your attention. You here see how long a thing may last; and one
should make such observations now and then, by way of counterbalance to
so much in the world that rapidly changes, and passes away. This same
teakettle served my parents, and was a witness of our evening family
assemblages; this copper fire-screen still guards me from the fire which
these stout old tongs still help me to mend; and so it is with all
throughout. I had it in my power to bestow my care and industry on many
other things, as I did not occupy myself with changing these external
necessaries, a task which consumes so many people’s time and resources.
An affectionate attention to what we possess makes us rich, for thereby
we accumulate a treasure of remembrances connected with indifferent
things. I knew a young man who got a common pin from his love while
taking leave of her, daily fastened his breast-frill with it, and
brought back this guarded and not unemployed treasure from a long
journeying of several years. In us little men, such little things are to
be reckoned virtue.”
“Many a one, too,” answered Wilhelm, “brings back, from such long and
far travellings, a sharp pricker in his heart, which he would fain be
quit of.”
The old man seemed to know nothing of Lenardo’s situation, though in the
mean while he had opened the letter and read it; for he returned to his
former topics.
“Tenacity of our possessions,” continued he, “in many cases, gives us
the greatest energy. To this obstinacy in myself I owe the saving of my
house. When the town was on fire, some people wished to begin snatching
and saving here too. I forbade this, bolted my doors and windows and
turned out, with several neighbors, to oppose the flames. Our efforts
succeeded in preserving this summit of the town. Next morning all was
standing here as you now see it, and as it has stood for almost a
hundred years.”
“Yet you will confess,” said Wilhelm, “that no man withstands the change
which time produces.”
“That in truth!” said the other; “but he who holds out longest has still
done something.
“Yes: even beyond the limits of our being, we are able to maintain and
secure; we transmit discoveries, we hand down sentiments as well as
property; and, as the latter was my chief province, I have for a long
time exercised the strictest foresight, invented the most peculiar
precautions; yet not till lately have I succeeded in seeing my wish
fulfilled.
“Commonly the son disperses what the father has collected, collects
something different, or in a different way. Yet if we can wait for the
grandson, for the new generation, we find the same tendencies, the same
tastes, again making their appearance. And so at last, by the care of
our pedagogic friends, I have found an active youth, who, if possible,
pays more regard to old possession than even I, and has, withal, a
vehement attachment to every sort of curiosities. My decided confidence
he gained by the violent exertions with which he struggled to keep off
the fire from our dwelling. Doubly and trebly has he merited the
treasure which I mean to leave him,--nay, it is already given into his
hands; and ever since that time our store is increasing in a wonderful
way.
“Not all, however, that you see here is ours. On the contrary, as in the
hands of pawnbrokers you find many a foreign jewel, so with us, I can
show you precious articles, which people, under the most various
circumstances, have deposited with us for the sake of better keeping.”
Wilhelm recollected the beautiful box, which, at any rate, he did not
like to carry with him in his wanderings, and showed it to his landlord.
The old man viewed it with attention, gave the date when it was probably
made, and showed some similar things. Wilhelm asked him if he thought it
should be opened. The old man thought not. “I believe, indeed,” said he,
“it could be done without special harm to the casket; but, as you found
it in so singular a way, you must try your luck on it. For if you are
born lucky, and this little box is of any consequence, the key will
doubtless by and by be found, and in the very place where you are least
expecting it.”
“There have been such occurrences,” said Wilhelm.
“I have myself experienced such,” replied the old man; “and here you
behold the strangest of them. Of this ivory crucifix I have had, for
thirty years, the body with the head and feet in one place. For its own
nature, as well as for the glorious art displayed in it, I kept the
figure laid up in my most private drawer: nearly ten years ago I got the
cross belonging to it, with the inscription, and was then induced to
have the arms supplied by the best carver of our day. Far, indeed, was
this expert artist from equalling his predecessor; yet I let his work
pass, more for devout purposes than for any admiration of its
excellence.
“Now, conceive my delight! A little while ago the original, genuine arms
were sent me, as you see them here united in the loveliest harmony; and
I, charmed at so happy a coincidence, cannot help recognizing in this
crucifix the fortunes of the Christian religion, which, often enough
dismembered and scattered abroad, will ever in the end again gather
itself together at the foot of the cross.”
Wilhelm admired the figure and its strange combination. “I will follow
your counsel,” added he: “let the casket continue locked till the key of
it be found, though it should lie till the end of my life.”
“One who lives long,” said the old man, “sees much collected and much
cast asunder.”
The young partner in the house now chanced to enter, and Wilhelm
signified his purpose of intrusting the box to their keeping. A large
book was thereupon produced, the deposit inscribed in it, with many
ceremonies and stipulations; a receipt granted, which applied in words
to any bearer, but was only to be honored on the giving of a certain
token agreed upon with the owner.
So passed their hours in instructive and entertaining conversation, till
at last Felix, mounted on a gay pony, arrived in safety. A groom had
accompanied him, and was now, for some time, to attend and serve
Wilhelm. A letter from Lenardo, delivered at the same time, complained
that he could find no vestige of the nut-brown maid; and Wilhelm was
anew conjured to do his utmost in searching her out. Wilhelm imparted
the matter to his landlord. The latter smiled, and said, “We must
certainly make every exertion for our friend’s sake: perhaps I may
succeed in learning something of her. As I keep these old, primitive
household goods; so, likewise, have I kept some old, primitive friends.
You tell me that this maiden’s father was distinguished by his piety.
The pious have a more intimate connection with each other than the
wicked, though externally it may not always prosper so well. By this
means I hope to obtain some traces of what you are sent to seek. But, as
a preparative, do you now pursue the resolution of placing your Felix
among his equals, and turning him to some fixed department of activity.
Hasten with him to the great Institution. I will point out the way you
must follow, in order to find the chief, who resides now in one, now in
another, division of his province. You shall have a letter, with my best
advice and direction.”
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