DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62134#0216
208
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
temptation of the Fine Arts ! Had she not worked bell-
ropes., and smoking-caps, and pocket-books, on the finest,
finest canvas ? Did not she know what it was to do fine
work ? Had not she embroidered flowers, and scrolls, and
landscapes, in silk, wool, and cotton ? That she had ! Had
she not when in the convent embroidered and fine-sewn,
together with the other young ladies, a whole set of baby-
clothes for the daughter of the Electress ! That she had,
indeed ! And had she not got up by peep of day to em-
broider ? and had she not sat up late at night and em-
broidered ? That she had ! And had not she knitted two
dozen pair of finest-patterned stockings for her lady
sister ? That she had, and she would show us them, too !
—(this for about the twelfth time) and the bell-rope, also,
in the next room, was her work. There was no bell, cer-
tainly : but the bell-rope of such fine work was hers ! That
it was. Yes, yes, we might think that our eyes would not
fail—but she knew better, that she did ! and she knew
what the Fine Aids were ! And her hands, too ! we might
think they never could have held a delicate needle; but,
yes, indeed, they had: but old age ! old age, and scouring,
and washing, and cooking, they spoilt any hands ! Ah, if
the dear Fraulein would but take warning, and not ruin
then’ dear little eyes over the Fine Arts !”
Alas ! dear old Fraulein, after many such a gossip as
this, repeated for the twentieth time, often have I
thought how that neither thou nor Anna had yet attained to
the practice of the truest and most difficult of all the Fine
Arts ever taught or studied,-—the Art of Living with
Others and often have I wondered, as I have felt a struggle
between compassion, love, and irritation contend within
my spirit, whether this Art ever is attained in this world to
perfection. But truly alone in the New Testament do we
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
temptation of the Fine Arts ! Had she not worked bell-
ropes., and smoking-caps, and pocket-books, on the finest,
finest canvas ? Did not she know what it was to do fine
work ? Had not she embroidered flowers, and scrolls, and
landscapes, in silk, wool, and cotton ? That she had ! Had
she not when in the convent embroidered and fine-sewn,
together with the other young ladies, a whole set of baby-
clothes for the daughter of the Electress ! That she had,
indeed ! And had she not got up by peep of day to em-
broider ? and had she not sat up late at night and em-
broidered ? That she had ! And had not she knitted two
dozen pair of finest-patterned stockings for her lady
sister ? That she had, and she would show us them, too !
—(this for about the twelfth time) and the bell-rope, also,
in the next room, was her work. There was no bell, cer-
tainly : but the bell-rope of such fine work was hers ! That
it was. Yes, yes, we might think that our eyes would not
fail—but she knew better, that she did ! and she knew
what the Fine Aids were ! And her hands, too ! we might
think they never could have held a delicate needle; but,
yes, indeed, they had: but old age ! old age, and scouring,
and washing, and cooking, they spoilt any hands ! Ah, if
the dear Fraulein would but take warning, and not ruin
then’ dear little eyes over the Fine Arts !”
Alas ! dear old Fraulein, after many such a gossip as
this, repeated for the twentieth time, often have I
thought how that neither thou nor Anna had yet attained to
the practice of the truest and most difficult of all the Fine
Arts ever taught or studied,-—the Art of Living with
Others and often have I wondered, as I have felt a struggle
between compassion, love, and irritation contend within
my spirit, whether this Art ever is attained in this world to
perfection. But truly alone in the New Testament do we