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possible to live. Austria, at that time, was usually considered to be a country abounding in wealth, in which provisions were cheap, and where foreigners had frequent opportunities of distinguishing themselves. The two brothers but too easily gave credit to these flattering reports; and having sold all the trifling effects appertaining to them, packed up their clothes, and with the little money they possessed, repaired to Vienna.

Their hopes however were most cruelly disappointed! Amidst the tumult and the luxury of that great city, they resembled two drops of water lost in the immensity of the ocean. Their eyes were everywhere dazzled with opulence -they beheld a crowd of individuals enjoying all the pleasures of life, and obtaining these by the most easy means. But they themselves, being destitute of acquaintance, and devoid of interest; professing a religion which did not happen to be the ruling one; and be sides, being natives of a country, the inhabitants of which were viewed with a jealous eye, they did not participate in any of those felicities that everywhere surrounded them. The little sum of money brought in their purse soon melted away, and they were at length reduced to a state of singular embarrassment, not knowing how they should be able to subsist any longer.

Au Englishman, who took a few lessons from the younger Schrader in natural history, proposed to carry him to visit the mines of Hungary; but this only presented a momentary resource. Ife accepted it, however, for want of a better offer, while the elder remained in the capital, and lived in a sorry manner, on a very moderate salary obtained by him, as a reward for transcribing some writings appertaining to an advocate. He was always employed on those that were either too difficult, or too laborious, for the ordinary copyists; and in addition to this, he was constantly menaced with losing such a resource, trifling and contemptible as it was. It happened to be also his misfortune to have given umbrage to the lawyer's wife, perhaps because he did not sufficiently humble himself in her presence: and he heard her one day reproach her husband for his kindness to a inan convicted of the double crime of being a heretic and a Prussian. From that moment, every time that he carried home his task, the advocate, after paying him with a few pieces of copper coin,

was sure to repeat, that he had no fur ther occasion for his services.

But at the moment he least expected it, fortune began to smile upon the elder Schroeder, and chance presented him with a new mode of subsistence. It proved very trifling, it is true, but yet it was the first step in the ladder of his fortune.

At the time, to which we now allude, the Prince de Lichtenstein was at the head of the Austrian artillery. His whole happiness, and even his glory, seemed to consist in giving to it all that perfection, and all that lustre, of which it was susceptible. Nothing was wanting on his part to make it attain the very summit of excellence, and for this pur pose he entered into the most minute details. Whenever he heard of any scheme, which had succeeded elsewhere, he risked the proof of the experiment, and paid the expences out of his own private fortune: was it unfortunate, be bore the loss without a murmur; but did it succeed, the state reaped all the advantages. Both friends and enemies agreed in praising his probity, the dis interestedness of his mind, and the extent of his patriotism. Even Frederic the Great, whose victorious progress had been so often stopped by him, and whom he had caused to lose several battles, that of Kollin in particular, has long since immortalized him in his writings.

Among other establishments he had formed for the instruction of subalteras, and in order to excite their emulation, was a military academy. There they heard lectures from professors, in mathematics, geometry, and all the sciences necessary for forming a good artillerist. The stedents were classed by divisions, of from forty to fifty each, and these had all their separate hours of employment. Public examinations exhibited the degree of their respective progress, and none could hope for advancement, except those who conducted themselves with ability.

The prince recompensed the professors in a noble manner; and in respect to their choice, he neither regarded their country nor their faith: merit constituted their sole recommendation. However, like other men, be sometimes fell its error, an example of which occurred in the present instance, for he had appointed as professor of mathematics, French man, who might indeed be very learned, but had two great faults, that totally w fitted him for his situation: the one

that he scarcely understood German at áll, and the other, that he did not possess the faculty of rendering himself in the least intelligible to his scholars.

It so happened, that, one afternoon, Schroeder having repaired to a little alehouse in order either to appease his thirst, or to pass away an unhappy hour, three young artillerists entered it nearly at the same time. They had just left their tutor, the French professor, and now sat down at a table next to his.

"It is very hard," exclaims one of them, “that mathematics should be so very difficult of comprehension! Here have we been, for several months, trying all in our power to comprehend them, and we are scarcely further advanced at this moment than we were the first day! But, as you all know, we are most puzzled with that accursed problem which the professor has been demonstrating to us for the last fortnight! We have tried the utmost in our power to understand him, and yet without effect! What then shall we do at the examination, which is to take place at the end of six weeks? The prince will not fail to be present, and he does not like to be trifled with; for those who cannot answer the questions put, will be both excluded for ever from advancement, and punished over and above."

The others complained nearly in the same manner; and all lamented their unfortunate situation in such terms, and with such an unfeigned appearance of sorrow, that it became easy to perceive that a good master was the only thing wanting. Meanwhile, not a single word that passed escaped the attention of Schroder. At first, he only amused himself with their sorrows, but in a short time he was affected with the embarrassment of these unhappy young men; he also began to entertain a presentiment, that an opportunity now offered to render himself useful both to himself and to others.

He accordingly approached the table at which they were sitting, and addressed the Cadets as follows:

"I crave your pardon, gentlemen, for mingling in the conversation, without having the honour of being personally known to you. But I must beg leave to observe, that you do great injustice to the mathematics, by condemning that science as too abstruse, for there are not any difficulties, except when it is taught in an improper manner. As to the MONTHLY MAG. No. 187,

question about which you are now debating, it is precisely one of the easiest; and provided you but undertake to grant me your attention, I will engage to make you comprehend it in two or three hours."

"In two or three hours!" exclaims the eldest of the students; " it has been a punishment to us for the last ten days! If this, sir, be in your power, we shall not prove ungrateful." A day, hour, and place, were accordingly fixed; the artillerists were punctual to their appoint ment, aud Schroder commenced his task, explained every difficulty, and sent them away perfect masters of the unlucky lesson which had puzzled the whole class! During six weeks the three lans repaired every day to his little chamber, opposite the Scotch bastion; they, on their part, listened with attention; he, on his, took pleasure in favouring their progress, and seconding their good attentions.

At length arrived the memorable day, which had formerly inspired so much terror, but was now expected by the three scholars with tranquillity. The case was far different on the part of their companions. Out of forty, thirty-seven conducted themselves in a manner to afford great dissatisfaction; but the three disciples of Schroeder answered every question demanded, and even surpassed the expectations of the officer appointed to examine them.

The prince arising, called them by their respective names, signified his satisfaction in the presence of all, and promised them his especial protection. Then turning around to the others, he became furious, overwhelmed them with reprouches, and terrified them with menaces.. It was in vain that some attempted to justify themselves, by observing, that they were unable to comprehend the professor,

"You are hypocrites, as well as idiots," exclaims he. "How comes it about that your three companions have been able to understand him?-But I shall soon teach you how to be more attentive and industrious!" His highness proceeded in this manner during ten or twelve minutes, for it was dangerous to contradict him; and yet, notwithstanding this, one of the disciples of Schrøder could no longer allow his companions to labour under an unmerited disgrace. He accordingly advanced, and spoke as follows:-" Nothing can be more flatter. ing to me than the suffrage of your highness! but truth obliges me to confess, 5 A

chat

that whatever my two companions and myself know, has not been obtained from the lessons of our professor, but by means of a foreigner, whom the other Cadets never as yet have seen."

"A foreigner!" exclaims the prince, " and who is he?"

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"A Prussian student, with whom we luckily formed an acquaintance about six weeks ago, and who has ever since given us lessons daily. He appears to be very learned, but he chiefly excels in rendering every thing more intelligible to us than any of the most celebrated professors." The astonishment of the inaster-general of the ordnance was now rather increased than diminished, and he sent instantly for Schroeder, whom he received in the most affable manner, and after a variety of questions, at length spoke to him as follows:

"But, pray sir, why does not a man so well informed as you appear to be, adopt the military profession instead of the pen? with a little assistance, you might attain high preferment.”

"It is precisely this little assistance, as I have now the honor of informing your highness, that has hitherto been wanting, and is never likely to be obtained! In my own country none of my relations possess influence; and, in addition to this consideration, commissions for officers appear to be reserved for the nobility alone. At Vienna I am entirely a stranger, unknown and unpatronized."

"Yet here you may find friendstrust henceforth to me-and if succeeding interviews shall correspond to the present, and you but continue to acquire the knowledge necessary for tactics, I will prefer you to a score of my own foolish cousins or nephews! But, in the first place, will you confide in me?”

"Oh! this is a question that is easily answered-all that I have ever heard of your highness redounds so much to your glory, that one ought to deem himself fortunate to obtain your good 'opinion."

"Know then," replies the prince, that in my corps it is an invariable rule, that every one, but more especially every foreigner, shall enter as a private!" Schroeder drew back with surprise; he was already on the point of making his bow and retiring, when the three artillerists secretly pressed him to aley; and, accordingly, after reflecting a few seconds, he replied, with a trembling

voice, as follows:-" I am conscious that your highness knows better than myself what is proper for me, and I therefore abandon every thing entirely to your discretion."

The prince smiled; and then commanding a tailor to fit him with the uniform of a cadet, ordered him to appear in it on the following day. In the morn ing he accordingly waited on the prince, by whom he was invited to dinner. When he arrived at the appointed hour, the major-domo presented to him an officer's uniform, which, he said, it would be necessary to put on before he could be admitted to his master's table. After some hesitation Schroder complied, but entered the dining-room with great diffidence. The prince however im mediately called out, "You are wel. come, lieutenant; your uniform be come you wonderfully well!" In the course of the same evening he caused him to be presented with a considerable sum of money, under the notion of its being so much pay in advance for equipment. At the end of a month he made him one of his own adjutants, two years after he was nominated captain, and then became a major! All this time he appeared worthy of his prosperity, in consequence of his zeal, his knowledge, and above all, his scrupulous probity. The Austrians themselves readily admitted, that he had not been promoted beyond his merits.

While the elder Schroeder was thus advancing in his profession, his brother had entered on a career no less extraor dinary. He repaired to Hungary, in company with an Englishman, as bas been before observed; but this person, who possessed all the oddity of his countrymen, was of such a strange disposition, that no one could live a month with him, Schrader himself, notwithstanding his efforts to practise the virtue of patience, quitted his patron at the end of three weeks, after ten or twelve altercations. At this critical period he found himself sixty or seventy miles beyond the froutiers of the German empire, in a wild country, unhealthy in respect to strangers, where living was indeed cheap, but where it was yet extremely difficult to travel, provided one was poor. To complete his distress, he was dangerously ill, and in this situation he spent about six weeks in the cabin of a peasant. In fine, he was obliged to sell his linen and his clothes to maintain himself; and at length

returned

returned with some difficulty to Presbourg, by begging for alms!

After having there in vain sought for some means of subsistence, finding that his religion was the chief obstacle to all his efforts, and being actually on the point of dying with famine, he yielded to the voice of despair, changed his faith, and assumed the habit of one of the brethren of the order of charity.

This timely step saved him; for henceforth he could not only live, but he found himself entirely at his ease. As the fraternity to which he now belonged, was chiefly employed in the care of the sick, he took advantage of this opportunity to extend his knowledge of medicine. He accordingly read, remarked, made observations; and, in the course of a few years, acquired a degree of knowledge, that procured him celebrity. It was thus, that Brother Firmian, for so he was called in the convent, distinguished himself above all his colleagues, and happy was the patient confided to his care!

Among other principal estates, it so happened, that the Prince de Lichtenstein possessed that of Feldsperg in Moravia, where he passed two or three months every year. Having heard a great deal about Brother Firmian, he desired he might be sent to him from Presburg; and, being much delighted with his knowledge, his skill, and his conversation, he called him in, whenever he was afflicted with any disease. The confidence placed in this physician probably aided the success of the remedies he prescribed; for he saved his life during two severe indispositions, for which he was richly rewarded, and thus became enabled to serve his convent. But it never once entered, either into his mind, or that of the Prince, that he was the brother of Schroeder; and since his apostacy, a certain degree of shame prevented him from keeping up any communication with his family. On one hand, he had little or no intercourse with the court of the Prince while his Highness resided at Vienna; and on the other, Major Schroeder, although he saw his protector daily in the capital, yet never followed him to Feldsperg, his presence being indispensable at the military school, But a severe fit of the gout having occurred during the winter, the Prince de Lichtenstein, after trying all the physicians of the Emperor in vain, began to

swear, and to pray, by turns, and finally concluded by sending for Brother Firmian, who arrived in great haste; and whether it was, that he employed the most efficacious means, or that the disease had reached its crisis, or that faith in this case produced its customary miracles, certain it is, that he had scarcely entered the palace, when the pains began to diminish, and the gout, by little and little, to withdraw. In short, the prince got up, was able to walk about his apartment, receive company, and do business as usual.

One morning, as Brother Firmian was waiting in the anti-chamber to see the prince, an officer of artillery made his appearance; and from the first moment he discovered him to possess a most singular and extraordinary remblance to his elder brother, from whom he had been for so many years separated. But this uniform, which announced a distinguished rank, still kept him in doubt; notwithstanding this, the more he looked, the more he was struck with the resemblance; and after he heard him address a few words to the Prince's valet de Chambre, his conjectures were fully confirmed, especially after having taken the latter aside, and learned his name.

At length, becoming bold, he approached him, asked him if his name was not Schroeder, and if he had not a brother called William? The major on this be came more attentive and condescending; he demanded, with the air of a man greatly interested in the question, whether he was alive, and if his informant could give any tidings of him? On being told that he could, he approached still nearer, but without recognizing him; and, at length, on learning the particulars, he exclaimed: "Good Heaven! is it you! and in this habit? O my brother! my brother!"

Having said this, they rushed into each other's arms, uttering cries of joy at the same time. The Prince de Lichten stein, who was in his library, heard the noise; and, enquiring of his domestics, soon learned the particulars. On this, he summoned the monk and the officer before him; commended their fraternal affection; praised their respective merits; and concluded the scene, by assuring them both of the continuance of his support and protection, as he felicitated himself greatly at having two such valuable men attached to his person.

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