Nay, I'll be sworn it was four." "Thou'rt drunk, man, and see'st double," said the vintner, laughing sottishly.

But Caspar had toddled off with what speed he might, and was soon at the tower hard by, where he fumbled at the lock with the key, and at length let himself in. By the time he had struck a light, he found that it still wanted near a quarter of midnight; so he sat down at the bench in the porch with the intention of resting a moment, and then returning to finish his stoup. But the rapid exercise and the night air had their usual effect, and he was in a state that might be pronounced Well, well, men will have their feelings, and the less we say about Hännschen's state the better. He began to think, if not with great precision, at least with great assiduity, and even attempted a prayer, or a hymn, or a drinking-song, he was not sure which, for he had a great stock of each sort, and he was, moreover, a poet in a small way himself. By degrees things seemed to change around him, and he found himself somehow before the great clock above in the belfry, with its big white face staring upon him, as it was lit up by the moonlight. There were to be seen the twelve Apostles in their niches, who came out to strike the hours daily, and above them all was the image of their Master. And Hännschen stared at the clock-face in turn with all his might, till at length the figures seemed to fidget, and shift, and change beneath his gaze, as if he were putting the saints out of countenance. While he was yet staring, the tongue of the clock-bell swung, and swayed to and fro within the great mouth of the bell, and, hark! clash went the first stroke of midnight. Then one of the figures stepped forth from its niche and stood before the image which was above; and when Hännschen looked up at the image, behold it was altogether changed. The halo that encircled its head was enlarged till it became a mighty ring encircling the whole figure, and upon it were inscribed, in letters of fire, the word

Eternity."

And the figure that stepped forth from the niche bowed down before the other, and Hännschen heard them speak thus:

FIRST SPIRIT.

"I am the Spirit of the first month of the year that Thou gavest to man. Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell, and my brethren await thy call."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Render thy account."

FIRST SPIRIT.

and

"From the hands of thy servant, Time, in the darkness of the night, received I the young year. I wrapped him in my snow-wreath till the morning light broke on the world, and then I showed him to men, and they sang with joy when they saw his face I told him of his appointed work-how he was to raise up and hurl down nations; to slay with the pestilence and famine; to save souls and to destroy them; to teach men to cope with angels in knowledge and power; to career amid the clouds upon the wings of the winds; to bid the fleet lightnings do their errands, and the light of heaven paint the hues and images of all visible things for them and I watched as he grew and strengthened and wrought his work, and then I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

:

and he grew, and increased, and wrought his work, and then I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the second Spirit passed away back into its place, and, lo! the third stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

THIRD SPIRIT.

"I am the Spirit of the third month of the year that thou gavest to man. Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Render thy account."

THIRD SPIRIT.

"From the hands of my brother received I the year. I dried up for him the moistened ground. I opened the earth's bosom, and I placed therein the seed, the corn, and the pulse. I planted the vine and the olive, and I covered it in again, and I told him of his appointed work, how he should watch over the seed sown in the heart of man wherein were the issues of life; and I gladdened him with early flowers, the primrose, the daisy, and the violet; and I brought out the young lambs to sport in the fields, and the small fish to throng the rivers; and I gave him the song of the throstle, and the hum of the bee; and in hope and joy I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

around him. I made the seeds and the tender plants germinate and swell before him, and the green herbage spring up beneath his feet, and I spoke to him of the showers of divine grace, and the sunshine of divine love, that quicken and increase the good seed in the heart of man. I bid the cuckoo sing to him from the trees, and the lark from the heavens, and he waxed strong and vigorous and lovely, and so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast done well. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the fourth Spirit passed away back into its place, and, lo! the fifth stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another form from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

FIFTH SPIRIT.

"I am the Spirit of the fifth month of the year that thou gavest to man. Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Render thy account."

FIFTH SPIRIT.

"From the hands of my brother received I the year. I called forth young men and maidens to give him welcome. I crowned him with flowers. I cheered him with the carols of a thousand birds. With the sound of the pipe and the tabor I led him to the dance where the beech spread out its sheltering arms, and the thick-leaved mulberry flung the perfume of its white flowers on the evening air. I gave him bright days and balmy nights. I breathed around him and in him the divine essence of love and joy. And I told him of his appointed work, to speak to man of a love and joy diviner still; and so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the fifth Spirit passed away back into its place; and fo! the sixth stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

SIXTH SPIRIT.

"I am the Spirit of the sixth month of the year that thou hast given to Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell."

man.

"From the hands of my brother received I the year. I made the buds swell and burst for him on the trees. I bid them put forth their many-coloured blossoms, and caused the green leaves to deepen in the forest. I made the long day ring with melody, and the blue heavens beam with sunlight. I waked the joyous songs of young maids and their lovers, as they spread the fragrant hay where the heated mower whetted his scythe in the deep thick meadow. I loaded the air with odours by day, and with silver dew by night, and for him I made the tender blade to shoot upwards, and spread its green mantle over the earth. And I told him to show forth His praise of whose glory the heavens and earth are full; and so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the sixth Spirit passed away back into its place; and lo! the seventh stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

SEVENTH SPIRIT.

"I am the Spirit of the seventh month of the year that thou gavest to man. Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Render thy account."

SEVENTH SPIRIT.

"From the hands of my brother received I the year. For him I sent cool winds to wander at hot noon over the waving corn, and to shake the thickleaved woods. I fed him with the early fruit of the apple and the golden honey of the toilful bee. For him I made the grain swell, and bow its yellow head, and ripen to the harvest, and I filled the grape with juice, and painted it purple and amber. I made the meteor flash by night. For him I made the lovely earth teem with life and beauty, and the waves of the ocean glow in the sunlight; and shimmer in their silvery sleep, when the moon smiled down upon them; and I made the heavens flush with gold and crimson, as the sun rose and sank in

their illimitable expanse; and I told him of the wisdom and love of Him whose minister I was; and so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the seventh Spirit passed away back into its place; and lo! the eighth stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

EIGHTH SPIRIT.

"I am the spirit of the eighth month of the year that thou gavest to man. Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Render thy account."

EIGHTH SPIRIT.

"From the hands of my brother received I the year. I sustained his fullgrown and lusty life with all the rich, ripe fruits of the teeming earth, the luscious fig, the juicy grape, the ruddy apple and the mellow pear. I made glad his heart with wine, and with corn and oil I satisfied him. For him the maiden sang, as she followed the reaper's steps, and bound up the heavy-headed sheaves, or danced with the toil-freed swain in the moonlight.

I gave him cooling brooks and shady bowers; and I told him how that as man sows and plants in anxious hope, so should he reap and gather in thankful joy. I bade him make known to man the goodness and the bounty of Him who holdeth the earth in the hollow of his hand; but I showed him too the snow bursting from its chains on the mountains, and the avalanche thundering down into the valleys, slaying and laying waste, that men might learn his terrible power. And so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the eighth Spirit passed away back into its place; and lo! the ninth stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

NINTH SPIRIT.

"I am the Spirit of the ninth month of the year that thou gavest to man. Lo! I am here at the summons of the bell."

1851.]

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Render thy account."

NINTH SPIRIT.

brother re"From the hands of my ceived I the year; and I, too, tended him, but with a shortened hand and more frugal gift, for the later fruits of And the the earth alone are mine. splendour of the heavens was passing away, and the beauty of the fair earth To admonish was beginning to fade.

him, I withered the flowers. I stripped the trees of their beauty. I sent away the cuckoo and the swallow, and I hushed the wild song of the skylark. I tempered the heat of the sunbeams, and the breeze crept with a mournful sigh through the changing leaves. And I told him that life was on the decline; and how man should, out of the abundance of his prime, make provision for the wants of his old age. And so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the ninth spirit passed away back to its place, and, lo! the tenth stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

TENTH SPIRIT.

11

rest.

ELEVENTH SPIRIT.

"From the hands of my brother received I the declining year, and I preached to him the vanity of all things. How Nature puts off her garb of beauty ere she lies down to take her I bared the branches of every tree, and stript the elm of its vinetrellis. I stilled the tongue of every wind. I hushed the chirp of the little grasshopper, and I sent the mole and the dormouse to their slumber within the earth. I brought gloom by day, and deep darkness by night; the yellow fog, and the sickly vapour. I drove the black clouds scudding through heaven, blotching out the pleasant light of the sun. I poured out the sheeted rain and the howling storm. I swelled the rivers, and made the sea heave in white billows beneath the tempest. And I told him, such is life when its said, happy pleasures are past; and are they who can turn from the gloom without them to the sunshine within. And so I left him to my brother."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

Then the eleventh Spirit passed away back to its place; and, lo! the twelfth stroke of midnight rang out, and forth came another figure from its niche, and bowed before the Spirit of Eternity.

his nights long and dreary. I made the blood flow sluggish and chill through his veins. Black frosts, driven by the north-east wind, pierced his frame. I sheeted the earth with snow beneath his feet, and glassed over with ice the deep rivers. I quenched the sun's fire with the sleet shower, and made the stars glitter cold in the frosty night. And I told him, such is the end of all blessed is he who is prepared for it. Then I sent the chill of death into his heart, and he is dyingdying-behold, now he falls into the arms of thy servant, Time. In the darkness of night, my eldest brother received him in his young life; in the darkness of night, I render him back whence he came, old and dead-gone, gone for ever."

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Thou hast well done. Go hence, and write it in the Book of Life."

And the twelfth Spirit passed away as the rest; and then the form of an old, old man, bowed down and tottering, stood in the presence of the Spirit of Eternity, and said—

"I am thy servant, TIME. What wilt thou?"

SPIRIT OF ETERNITY.

"Bear hence the old year, and place him with the years that have gone before, that when all shall be made alive again he may bear witness among the accusing spirits when thou thyself shalt be no more."

Then the Spirit of Eternity looked upwards into the deep immense of the night-sky, and his serene eyes were filled with ineffable splendour, and he reverently asked, "Is the end of all things come? Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

Then was heard a voice, sweet as the plash of waters on the golden sands at eventide, and soft as the rustling of the heavens, when the Boreal lights spread their pale coruscations through the sky at midnight, and it came gliding down, down from the Empyrean heights, till it fell on the ear as the dew falls on the flower, and the voice said, "Not yet not yet. I will not yet arise to shake terribly the earth!" And the Spirit of Eternity bowed down his ambrosial head in submissive worship, and said, "Even so, Lord; Be it unto me according to thy word;" and he turned to TIME and said, "Pro

ceed on thy way." And he stretched forth his hands and waved them slow. ly around, and said to the carth and to the heavens, "ONWARD!" And behold, there was heard low, solemn music, like to that which the wind makes when its wings sweep over thin plates of metal, and set them trembling, and the roll of mighty wheels, and the swing of spheres innumerable in the illimitable expanse of universe, and the sounds took a vocal shape, but the poor little bell-ringer could not understand the language, save that ever and anon recurred in solemn chorus, these words

'Heilig, Peilig, Heilig ist Gott, der Herr Allmachtige, der da war, und der da ist, und der da kommt.

Hännschen fell down on his face to the earth, as if smitten with the hand of a giant; and a voice, as of thunder, broke on his bewildered brain, "Swine and sot that thou art, thou wilt be the ruin of me and my children. Get up and rouse thyself, or thou mayest sleep on for ever. Dost hear, drunkard? The clock has tolled midnight I know not how long since, and not a note has pealed of the new year's chime; and here I have come out this cold night to see what has befallen thee."

The rattle of the domestic thunder, alas! too familiar to the bell-ringer's ears, restored him quickly to his senses.

Peace, good Gertrude, I have seen a vision-I have been with the angels."

"I'll warrant me thou hast," said Gertrude. "Ay, the angels of your crony, Caspar Schwemmen. Thou spendest more time with them than is good for thy soul's health. Marry, I wish thou would'st leave such company to thy betters."

Hännschen sprang at the bell-rope with a desperate resolution to drown his wife's voice, if the clapper of a bell could accomplish that feat. So he pulled away lustily, and rang out such a thundering brattle of bells as was never heard of before or since from the clock-tower of St. Bruno's. There was not a man in the town that it did not rouse from sleep, nor a woman that did not spring, bolt upright in bed, thinking that "the crack of doom" was come. Nay, so emphatic was the chime that Worshipful Herr Klaus Grosbauch, the Bürgermeister, next day complimented Hännschen