Page:The German Novelists (Volume 3).djvu/50

40 helpmate. On the decease of his late wife, he had offered up a secret vow to his patron, St. Christopher, that he would present his church with a wax candle as long as a hop-pole, if he might only be fortunate enough to possess in his second wife a little more happiness than he had done with his first. Scarcely had he set eyes upon the beauteous Mela, before he dreamed that he saw St. Christopher looking through his bed-room window on the second floor, to remind him of his promise. To the tasty young brewer this appeared an auspicious sign of his future happiness, and he resolved forthwith to try his fortune once more.

Next morning he ordered a quantity of well bleached wax, and then arraying himself in his Sunday attire, he sallied forth upon his new marriage speculation. Possessing no ear for music, he was of course unacquainted with the language of secret symbols and silent love, so familiar to his rival; but he had an extensive brewery, had immense capital, all of which was out at interest, a fine ship in the Weser, and a productive farm near town. Availing himself of these for an introduction, he might reasonably count upon success, even without the patronage of St. Christopher; in particular with a young woman who could boast no marriage portion. So, agreeably to the ancient forms, he first waited upon Madame Brigitta, and like a good neighbour,