Part 94 (1/2)

”Trust me for that.”

”Well,--I am now owner of Pumpelhagen; send some of your people out there, and let them tear down the paddocks you built yonder.”

”I have thought, all along, that the beasts would have a short life.”

”Well; I am also, after St. John's, the owner of Gurlitz.”

”See, see! So with Herr Pomuchelskopp too, it is at last: 'Out! out!'”

”Yes; but now listen to me. I want to have a pastor's-widow-house built there, and it must be planned exactly like the parsonage, and stand just opposite, close by the church-yard. You can take the measure to-morrow.”

”No need of that, I have two measures already, one of my own, and one that Mamselle Habermann took, with her ap.r.o.n-strings and cap-ribbons.”

”Good,” said Franz, and a merry smile overspread his face, ”use that one.”

”But it wasn't right.”

”No matter! You must build after that measure. Buy your needful timber to-morrow, engage carriers here in Rahnstadt, and a good master mason; but before all things, don't breathe a word of it to anybody! If you want money, apply to Moses.”

He went off, and old carpenter Schultz stood in the door, looking after him.

”n.o.blemen, n.o.blemen! Crazy performances! Cap-ribbons! Ap.r.o.n-strings!

But Pomuchelskopp out! out! Isn't that good news?”

Franz went to Hogen Selchow; Habermann and Inspector Bremer, who had been engaged for Axel, went with him. Axel departed, with bag and baggage, and the burgomeister from Rahnstadt came in, to superintend the transfer of the property, and with him Brasig, as a.s.sessor. Three weeks were taken up in this business, and in the repairs and refurnis.h.i.+ng of Pumpelhagen; then all was arranged to satisfaction. The Frau Pastorin, also, had completed the preparations for the wedding. I shall write about this wedding, exactly as it was; it pa.s.sed over very quietly, and I shall quietly pa.s.s it over.

The day after the wedding, Louise and Franz, and the Frau Pastorin and Habermann, sat in a great coach, and Brasig was on the box, and they drove to Pumpelhagen. As they pa.s.sed through Gurlitz, there was a great display of fir boards and beams, and oaken sills, and a notched beam lay all ready, on one side, and the carpenter, Schultz, stood there, in his s.h.i.+rt sleeves, superintending his workmen. Franz stopped the carriage, and called out to the energetic old man, ”Is everything ready, Herr Schultz?”

”Everything is ready.”

”Then you may speak, Herr Schultz.”

”All right!” said Schultz. ”But, Mamselle Hab---- I should say, gracious Frau, what trouble you have cost me! When I thought I had it, I hadn't it by a long way. I shall have to put in another notched beam.”

”What?” asked Louise, and looked at Franz.

”Only this, dear child,” said Franz, putting his arm around her, ”that I have bought Gurlitz, and am going to build a pastor's-widow-house here, just like the parsonage.”

”For me?” cried the little Frau Pastorin, and the tears which had risen to her eyes, when she looked at the church-yard where her Pastor slept, flowed freely, and she grasped his hand, and bathed it with tears of joy, for the tears which start in sadness often change to tears of joy.

”And I thought,” continued Franz, ”that my father-in-law and Brasig might live with you, as they have done. And I thought, father, you could undertake the management of Gurlitz, and you and Brasig could also have an eye to Pumpelhagen, and see if it is managed properly.”

”Just the thing!” cried Brasig, from the box, who had heard everything because the front was down, ”Karl, what did I say to you? He'll do!”

Habermann's eyes glistened with joy. To have occupation and responsibility again! to be active and useful! Louise threw herself upon her husband's breast: ”Franz, what a dear, dear fellow you are!”

And the carriage drove on, and arrived at Pumpelhagen. No triumphal arches this time,--but in every heart was erected a triumphal arch, to the glory of the Heavenly Father!

I have now finished my story, and might as well make an end of it; but I know how it is: many people would like to be informed of what has happened to our friends during the eighteen years since 1848, and so I will write one more chapter.