Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Gem.
his own diml y lighted saloon and the brilliant scene which lie had left . But Walter heeded not that ; a chord had been struck whose every tone was agony , and he paced the floor of the apartment with the feverish uncertain step which indicates an excited imagination . " Why , " he cried , " am I still so weak that every breath can shake me ? in vain would I fly from myself , recollection pursues me , and in tbe excitement of the festivalthe ardour of the chaseor the pursuit
, , of ambition , haunts me , still my feelings are the sport of every breath ; yon thoughtless boy did but glance at my thoughts , and it unmanned me— ' could that gem speak , '" he added , repeating the words that had driven him from the palace . " Ah ! would it could , then could I discourse with it of the past , live with it on the recollections that are at once my misery and delight . " Scarcelhad the words passed his lithan the to
y ps gem began sparkle with an unusual lustre ; flashes of light and sparks ' ot' an intense brightness darted from its setting , and a thin vapour rose from the stone which gradually filled the apartment , and at last became condensed into a form of passionless beauty . Walter was awe-struck at the preternatural realization of his vision , and remained gazing in speechless wonder upon the mysterious being before him .
" Thou hast thy wish , " exclaimed the Spirit . " Behold , I am with thee ; demand , and I will answer . In the agony of passion thy spirit spoke to I have answered its summons . What wouldst thou ? " " Being of wonder , " said the agitated youth , " how shall I reply to thee ? thy subtle nature can read my wishes , my regrets . " '' But cannot sympathize with them , " replied the unearthly visitor , ' * for I know nor wish , nor sorrow , hope , nor fear ; to me the present is
as was the past , the future as the present . " " Art thou of good or evil ? " demanded Walter . " Of both , as you shall use me . I am like the ore ere it be dug from the rich bosom of the earth—to be fashioned to a ploughshare or a sword , as the caprice of mankind may direct . I have no choice or wish . " " And art thou happy ? " " I am content to be—shall be content to return to those subtle
elements from which I have been taken , and exist but in their universal being . " " Thou hast no part then in the future hope ? " " 1 share not human weakness ; " answered the Spirit with a frown , " and am not permitted to share in the tremendous promise made to human faith—question me no more—speak of thyself , what wouldst thou ? "
" I am unhappy—the cup of life hath lost its savour—death hath stepped between me and my dearest hope—the form my young heart idolized is shrouded in the embrace of the grave , and happiness is buried with her . " " Happiness ; " echoed the Spirit scornfully . " Dreamer , happiness is a search whose end is disappointment ; were man permitted to be happy while on earthwhat were the advantage of a future state ?—
, could he be more than happy ?" " Is happiness then a fable ? " exclaimed Walter . " At least ou earth , " replied the Spirit . " Listen to the story of my being , and draw from it a le . ss-. in that shall guide thy future existence . In the early ages ofthe world , long ere tlie flood ' had cleansed the earth of its dark stain , I started into being , not as with human creatures
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Gem.
his own diml y lighted saloon and the brilliant scene which lie had left . But Walter heeded not that ; a chord had been struck whose every tone was agony , and he paced the floor of the apartment with the feverish uncertain step which indicates an excited imagination . " Why , " he cried , " am I still so weak that every breath can shake me ? in vain would I fly from myself , recollection pursues me , and in tbe excitement of the festivalthe ardour of the chaseor the pursuit
, , of ambition , haunts me , still my feelings are the sport of every breath ; yon thoughtless boy did but glance at my thoughts , and it unmanned me— ' could that gem speak , '" he added , repeating the words that had driven him from the palace . " Ah ! would it could , then could I discourse with it of the past , live with it on the recollections that are at once my misery and delight . " Scarcelhad the words passed his lithan the to
y ps gem began sparkle with an unusual lustre ; flashes of light and sparks ' ot' an intense brightness darted from its setting , and a thin vapour rose from the stone which gradually filled the apartment , and at last became condensed into a form of passionless beauty . Walter was awe-struck at the preternatural realization of his vision , and remained gazing in speechless wonder upon the mysterious being before him .
" Thou hast thy wish , " exclaimed the Spirit . " Behold , I am with thee ; demand , and I will answer . In the agony of passion thy spirit spoke to I have answered its summons . What wouldst thou ? " " Being of wonder , " said the agitated youth , " how shall I reply to thee ? thy subtle nature can read my wishes , my regrets . " '' But cannot sympathize with them , " replied the unearthly visitor , ' * for I know nor wish , nor sorrow , hope , nor fear ; to me the present is
as was the past , the future as the present . " " Art thou of good or evil ? " demanded Walter . " Of both , as you shall use me . I am like the ore ere it be dug from the rich bosom of the earth—to be fashioned to a ploughshare or a sword , as the caprice of mankind may direct . I have no choice or wish . " " And art thou happy ? " " I am content to be—shall be content to return to those subtle
elements from which I have been taken , and exist but in their universal being . " " Thou hast no part then in the future hope ? " " 1 share not human weakness ; " answered the Spirit with a frown , " and am not permitted to share in the tremendous promise made to human faith—question me no more—speak of thyself , what wouldst thou ? "
" I am unhappy—the cup of life hath lost its savour—death hath stepped between me and my dearest hope—the form my young heart idolized is shrouded in the embrace of the grave , and happiness is buried with her . " " Happiness ; " echoed the Spirit scornfully . " Dreamer , happiness is a search whose end is disappointment ; were man permitted to be happy while on earthwhat were the advantage of a future state ?—
, could he be more than happy ?" " Is happiness then a fable ? " exclaimed Walter . " At least ou earth , " replied the Spirit . " Listen to the story of my being , and draw from it a le . ss-. in that shall guide thy future existence . In the early ages ofthe world , long ere tlie flood ' had cleansed the earth of its dark stain , I started into being , not as with human creatures