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whenshe was in the garden with a number of other little girls； theywould all stand round him together； and want to kiss him； because hedid not like to be kissed； and pushed them away。 Then Molly was theonly one who dared to resist him。 〃I may kiss him；〃 she would sayproudly； as she threw her arms round his neck； she was vain of herpower over Anthony； for he would submit quietly and think nothing ofit。 Molly was very charming； but rather bold； and how she did tease！
They said Lady Halle was beautiful； but her beauty was that of atempting fiend。 Saint Elizabeth； the tutelar saint of the land； thepious princess of Thuringia； whose good deeds have been immortalizedin so many places through stories and legends； had greater beautyand more real grace。 Her picture hung in the chapel； surrounded bysilver lamps； but it did not in the least resemble Molly。
The apple…tree； which the two children had planted； grew yearafter year； till it became so large that it had to be transplantedinto the garden； where the dew fell and the sun shone warmly。 Andthere it increased in strength so much as to be able to withstandthe cold of winter； and after passing through the severe weather； itseemed to put forth its blossoms in spring for very joy that thecold season had gone。 In autumn it produced two apples； one forMolly and one for Anthony； it could not well do less。 The tree afterthis grew very rapidly； and Molly grew with the tree。 She was as freshas an apple…blossom； but Anthony was not to behold this flower forlong。 All things change； Molly's father left his old home； and Mollywent with him far away。 In our time； it would be only a journey of afew hours； but then it took more than a day and a night to travel sofar eastward from Eisenbach to a town still called Weimar； on theborders of Thuringia。 And Molly and Anthony both wept； but these tearsall flowed together into one tear which had the rosy shimmer of joy。Molly had told him that she loved him… loved him more than all thesplendors of Weimar。
One； two； three years went by； and during the whole time hereceived only two letters。 One came by the carrier； and the other atraveller brought。 The way was very long and difficult； with manyturnings and windings through towns and villages。 How often hadAnthony and Molly heard the story of Tristan and Isolda； and Anthonyhad thought the story applied to him； although Tristan means born insorrow； which Anthony certainly was not； nor was it likely he wouldever say of Molly as Tristan said of Isolda； 〃She has forgotten me。〃But in truth； Isolda had not forgotten him； her faithful friend； andwhen both were laid in their graves； one； on each side of thechurch； the linden…trees that grew by each grave spread over the roof；and； bending towards each other； mingled their blossoms together。Anthony thought it a very beautiful but mournful story； yet he neverfeared anything so sad would happen to him and Molly； as he passed thespot； whistling the air of a song； posed by the minstrel Walter；called the 〃Willow bird；〃 beginning…
〃Under the linden…trees；
Out on the heath。〃
One stanza pleased him exceedingly…
〃Through the forest； and in the vale；
Sweetly warbles the nightingale。
This song was often in his mouth； and he sung or whistled it ona moonlight night； when he rode on horseback along the deep； hollowway； on his road to Weimar； to visit Molly。 He wished to arriveunexpectedly； and so indeed he did。 He was received with a heartywele； and introduced to plenty of grand and pleasant pany； whereoverflowing winecups were passed about。 A pretty room and a good bedwere provided for him； and yet his reception was not what he hadexpected and dreamed it would be。 He could not prehend his ownfeelings nor the feelings of others； but it is easily understood how aperson can be admitted into a house or a family without being oneof them。 We converse in pany with those we meet； as we conversewith our fellow…travellers in a stage…coach； on a journey； we knownothing of them； and perhaps all the while we are inmoding oneanother； and each is wishing himself or his neighbor away。 Somethingof this kind Anthony felt when Molly talked to him of old times。
〃I am a straightforward girl；〃 she said； 〃and I will tell youmyself how it is。 There have been great changes since we were childrentogether； everything is different； both inwardly and outwardly。 Wecannot control our wills； nor the feelings of our hearts； by the forceof custom。 Anthony； I would not； for the world； make an enemy of youwhen I am far away。 Believe me； I entertain for you the kindest wishesin my heart； but to feel for you what I now know can be felt foranother man； can never be。 You must try and reconcile yourself tothis。 Farewell； Anthony。〃
Anthony also said； 〃Farewell。〃 Not a tear came into his eye； hefelt he was no longer Molly's friend。 Hot iron and cold iron aliketake the skin from our lips； and we feel the same sensation if we kisseither； and Anthony's kiss was now the kiss of hatred； as it hadonce been the kiss of love。 Within four…and…twenty hours Anthony wasback again to Eisenach； though the horse that he rode was entirelyruined。
〃What matters it？〃 said he； 〃I am ruined also。 I will destroyeverything that can remind me of her； or of Lady Halle； or Lady Venus；the heathen woman。 I will break down the apple…tree； and tear it up bythe roots； never more shall it blossom or bear fruit。〃
The apple…tree was not broken down； for Anthony himself was struckwith a fever； which caused him to break down； and confined him tohis bed。 But something occurred to raise him up again。 What was it？A medicine was offered to him； which he was obliged to take： abitter remedy； at which the sick body and the oppressed spirit alikeshuddered。 Anthony's father lost all his property； and； from beingknown as one of the richest merchants； he became very poor。 Dark days；heavy trials； with poverty at the door； came rolling into the houseupon them like the waves of the sea。 Sorrow and suffering deprivedAnthony's father of his strength； so that he had something else tothink of besides nursing his love…sorrows and his anger against Molly。He had to take his father's place； to give orders； to act with energy；to help； and； at last； to go out into the world and earn his bread。Anthony went to Bremen； and there he learnt what poverty and hardliving really were。 These things often harden the character； butsometimes soften the heart； even too much。
How different the world； and the people in it； appeared to Anthonynow； to what he had thought in his childhood！ What to him were theminstrel's songs？ An echo of the past； sounds long vanished。 Attimes he would think in this way； yet again and again the songswould sound in his soul； and his heart bee gentle and pious。
〃God's will is the best；〃 he would then say。 〃It was well that Iwas not allowed to keep my power over Molly's heart； and that shedid not remain true to me。 How I should have felt it now； when fortunehas deserted me！ She left me before she knew of the change in mycircumstances； or had a thought of what was before me。 That is amerciful providence for me。 All has happened for the best。 She couldnot help it； and yet I have been so bitter； and in such enmity againsther。〃
Years passed by： Anthony's father died； and strangers lived in theold house。 He had seen it once again since then。 His rich mastersent him journeys on business； and on one occasion his way led himto his native town of Eisenach。 The old Wartburg castle stoodunchanged on the rock where the monk and the nun were hewn out ofthe stone。 The great oaks formed an outline to the scene which he sowell remembered in his childhood。 The Venus mountain stood out grayand bare； overshadowing the valley beneath。 He would have been glad tocall out 〃Lady Halle； Lady Halle； unlock the mountain。 I would fainremain here always in my native soil。〃 That was a sinful thought；and he offered a prayer to drive it away。 Then a little bird in thethicket sang out clearly； and old Anthony thought of the minstrel'ssong。 How much came back to his remembrance as he looked through thetears once more on his native town！ The old house was still standingas in olden times； but the garden had been greatly altered； apathway led through a portion of t