In this world and the next she would never be any man’s but his to whom her heart’s great and only love had been given. But from that evening forth I, the rejected suitor, must suffer that you children should no longer call me father, but Uncle Kunz; and when afterwards it came to be dear little uncle you may believe that I was thankful. She no less rejected the suit of Koler and of von Beust; but the last-named gentleman made up for his dismissal by marrying a noble damsel of Brandenburg. At a later time when he came to Nuremberg he was made welcome by Margery, and then, meeting with Ann once more, he showed himself to be still so youthful and duteous in his service to her, in despite of her grey hairs, that for certain it was well for his happiness at home that he should have come without his wife.
Not long after Ann’s rejection I confessed to Margery what had befallen, and when she heard it, she cast her arms about my neck and cried: “Why, ne’er content, must you crave a new home and family? Are not two warm hearths yours to sit at, and the love and care of two faithful house-wives; and are you not the father and counsellor, not alone of your nephews and nieces, but of their parents likewise?” All this she said in an overflow of sisterly love; and if it comforted me, as I here make record of it, by reason that I sorely needed such good words, if I here recall how sad life often seemed to me.
Nay, nay! It was sweet, heavenly sweet, and worthy of all thanksgiving that I, who of the three Schopper links was so far the most humbly gifted, was suffered by Fate to be of some use to the other two, and even to their children and grandchildren, and to help in adding to their well-being. In this—insomuch I may say with pride—in this I have had all good-speed; thus my life’s labor has not been in vain, and I may call my lot a happy one. And thus I likewise have proved the truth of old Adam Heyden’s saying, that he who does most for other folks at the same time does the best for himself.
THE END.
ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS:
A small joy makes us to forget our heavy griefs
All I did was right in her eyes
All things were alike to me
As every word came straight from her heart
Be cautious how they are compassionate
Be happy while it is yet time
Beware lest Satan find thee idle!
Brought imagination to bear on my pastimes
Comparing their own fair lot with the evil lot of others
Especial gift to listen keenly and question discreetly
Ever creep in where true love hath found a nest—(jealousy)
Faith and knowledge are things apart
Flee from hate as the soul’s worst foe
For the sake of those eyes you forgot all else
Forty or fifty, when most women only begin to be wicked
Fruits and pies and sweetmeats for the little ones at home
Germans are ever proud of a man who is able to drink deep
Happiness should be found in making others happy
Have never been fain to set my heart on one only maid
Her eyes were like open windows
Hopeful soul clings to delay as the harbinger of deliverance
Last Day we shall be called to account for every word we utter
Laugh at him with friendly mockery, such as hurts no man
Love which is able and ready to endure all things
Maid who gives hope to a suitor though she has no mind to hear
Marred their best joy in life by over-hasty ire
May they avoid the rocks on which I have bruised my feet
Men folks thought more about me than I deemed convenient
Misfortunes never come singly
No man gains profit by any experience other than his own
No false comfort, no cloaking of the truth
On with a new love when he had left the third bridge behind him
One Head, instead of three, ruled the Church
One who stood in the sun must need cast a shadow on other folks
One of those women who will not bear to be withstood
Shadow which must ever fall where there is light
The god Amor is the best schoolmaster
The not over-strong thread of my good patience
They who will, can
Though thou lose all thou deemest thy happiness
Vagabond knaves had already been put to the torture
We each and all are waiting
Were we not one and all born fools
When men-children deem maids to be weak and unfit for true sport
Woman who might win the love of a highly-gifted soul (Pays for it)
Wonder we leave for the most part to children and fools