ten to put a _heart_ in Rosa's
image; and that he added himself. _Then_ all the flowers and leaves of
the design seemed to begin moving and singing, and breathing out the
most delicious odours; and the noble metals reflected Rosa's form
as in a gleaming mirror, seeming to stretch her longing arms to her
lover--but the image would vanish in dim vapour, and the beautiful
Rosa, herself, seemed to be clasping him to her loving heart, all
blissful desire. His feelings towards the miserable coopering work grew
more and more terribly unendurable, and he went for aid and consolation
(as well as for advice) to his old master, Johannes Holzschuer. This
master allowed Friedrich to set about a little piece of work, for which
an idea had occurred to him, and for the carrying out of which, and
providing himself with the necessary gold and silver, he had saved up
the wages which Master Martin gave him, for many a day.

Thus it came about that Friedrich, who was so very pale that there was
but too much reason to believe (as he gave out) that he was suffering
from strongly-marked consumptive symptoms, scarcely ever went to Master
Martin's workshop, and that months elapsed without his having made the
very slightest progress with his master-piece, the great two-fudder
cask. Master Martin pressed him to work at least at much as his
strength would permit him, and Friedrich was at length compelled to go
once more to the hateful cutting-block, and take the broad-axe in hand
again. As he was working, Master Martin came up and looked at the
staves he had been finishing. He grew red in the face, and cried out--

"Why, Friedrich! what do you call this? A nice job and a half! Are
those staves turned out by a journeyman trying to pass as master, or by
an apprentice-boy who has only been a day or two in the shop! Bethink
yourself, man; what demon has entered itself into you? My beautiful oak
timber! The great masterpiece indeed! Clumsy, careless, goose!"

Overcome by all the hellish torments which were burning in his heart,
Friedrich could contain himself no longer. He sent the broad-axe flying
with all his force, and cried, "Master, it's all over! If it costs me
my life--if I perish in misery unnamed, I cannot go on labouring at
this wretched handicraft another minute. I am drawn to my own glorious
Art with a power which I cannot withstand. Alas! I love your Rosa
unutterably--as no other on earth can love her. It is for her sake
alone that I have