wide as if he saw a
ghost. Then he again took up the cup without speaking a word, and
looked into it; but all at once he leapt from his seat and cried in a
loud voice, "Rose, Rose, do you love Frederick?" "Oh!" whispered Rose,
"I cannot any longer conceal it, I love him as I love my own life; my
heart nearly broke when you sent him away." "Then embrace your
betrothed, Frederick; yes, yes, your betrothed, Frederick," cried
Master Martin. Paumgartner and Holzschuer looked at each other utterly
bewildered with astonishment, but Master Martin, holding the cup in his
hand, went on, "By the good God, has it not all come to pass as the old
lady prophesied?--

'A vessel fair to see he'll bring,
In which the spicy liquid foams.
And bright, bright angels gaily sing.
... The vessel fair with golden grace,
Lo! him who brings it in the house,
Thou wilt reward with sweet embrace.
And, an thy lover be but true,
Thou need'st not wait thy father's kiss.'

"O Stupid fool I have been! Here is the vessel fair to see, the
angels--the lover--Ay! ay! gentlemen; it's all right now, all right
now; my son-in-law is found."

Whoever has had his mind ever confused by a bad dream, so that he
thought he was lying in the deep cold blackness of the grave, and
suddenly he awakens in the midst of the bright spring-tide full of
fragrance and sunshine and song, and she whom he holds dearest on earth
has come to him and has cast her arms about him, and he can look up
into the heaven of her lovely face,--whoever has at any time
experienced this will understand Frederick's feelings, will comprehend
his exceeding great happiness. Unable to speak a word, he held Rose
tightly clasped in his arms as though he would never let her leave him,
until she at length gently disengaged herself and led him to her
father. Then he found his voice, "O my dear master, is it all really
true? You will give me Rose to wife, and I may go back to my art?"
"Yes, yes," said Master Martin, "you may in truth believe it; can I do
any other since you have fulfilled my old grandmother's prophecy? You
need not now of course go on with your masterpiece." Then Frederick,
perfectly radiant with delight, smiled and said, "No, my dear master,
if it be pleasing to you I will now gladly and in good spirits finish
my big cask--my last piece of work in cooperage--and then I will go
back to the me