d jest, and then go home with red
face, and staggering feet, bellowing forth a song; and that they
call Rhine joyousness! The one really merry thing in this whole
Rhine-delusion is the landlord's garland." "What's that?" "When the
respectable godfather tailor or shoemaker has laid in a cask of choice
vintage, more than he can or wishes to drink, he hangs upon his house a
green garland; and the old German family room, with its hospitable
Dutch stove covered with green branches, and its gray cat under the
bench, is turned into a bar-room. They first finish up Smith street,
then Hare street, Church street, Salt street, and Capuchin street. They
drink the health of their own wine; this is the only mistress."

"Let us, too, rejoice in our wine," said Eric. "See how the sun still
glows in the noble juice which it has so joyfully smiled upon, and so
diligently ripened. I drink to thee, O Sun, past and present." With a
rapidity that seemed foreign from his ordinarily quiet mood, he emptied
the glass.

"I have always thought," replied Pranken, "that you were a poet. Ah, I
envy you; I should like to have the ability to write a satirical poem,
so peppered that the whole world would burn its tongue with it." Eric
smiled, saying that he had himself once thought that his vocation was
to be a poet; but that he had perceived his mistake, and was now
resolved to devote himself to some practical calling. "Yes," he said,
taking the newspaper out of his pocket, "you can perhaps render me a
service that will determine my whole life." "Gladly, if it is not
against--"

"Don't be alarmed, for it has nothing to do with theories of right, or
political matters at all. You can perhaps help me to an introduction."

"In love then? The handsome Eric Dournay, the Adonis of the garrison,
wants some one to do his wooing?"

"Nothing of that kind. I only want a situation as private tutor. Look
at this advertisement: 'I desire for my son, fifteen years of age, a
tutor of scientific education and high-breeding, who will undertake to
give him such training as shall fit him for a high station. Salary to
be fixed by mutual agreement. A pension for life after the conclusion
of the engagement. Address and references to be left at the railroad
station at ----, on the Rhine.'"

"I know about this advertisement, and even had a hand in writing it. I
must confess that we hit upon something rather unusual in the choice of
the expression 'high-breeding.'"

"Is