On the first of May, or, as it was by us styled, “Walburga’s eve,” the young German maidens have a custom of seeking a lonely stream, and flinging on its waters a wreath of early flowers, as an offering to a spirit which then has power.  When, as the legend tells, the face of their lover will glide along the water, and the name be borne on the breeze, if the gift be pleasing to the spirit.  Ella, I knew, had for some time been preparing to keep this ancient relic of the pagan rites—­she had a treasured rose tree which bloomed, unexpectedly, early in the season—­these delicate things she fancied would be a fitting offering to the spirit.  She paused not to think of what she was about to do—­the thing itself was but a harmless folly—­from aught of ill her nature would have drawn instinctively; but evil there might have been—­she stayed not to weigh the result—­at the last hour of sunset she wreathed her roses, and set out.  In the lightness of my heart I followed in the same path, intending to surprize her.  I heard her clear voice floating on the air, as she sung the invocation to the spirit—­the words were these:—­

    Blue-eyed spirit of balmy spring,
    Bright young flowers to thee I bring,
    Wreaths all tinged with hues divine,
    Meet to rest on thy fairy shrine. 
    With these I invoke thy gentle care,
    Queen of the earth and ambient air,
    Come with the light of thy radiant skies,
    Trace on the stream my true love’s eyes,
    Show me the face in the silvery deep,
    Whose image for aye my heart may keep;
    Bid the waters echoing shell,
    Whisper the name thy breezes tell. 
    And still on the feast of Walburga’s eve,
    Bright young flowers to thee I’ll give;
    Beautiful spirit I’ve spoken the spell,
    And offered the gift thou lovest well.”

The last notes died suddenly away, and Ella, greatly agitated, threw herself into my arms.  I enquired the cause of her terror, and forgetting her secrecy, she said a face had appeared to her on the stream.  Just then we saw Conrad, who had followed on the same purpose I had, but had fallen and hurt his ancle, and was unable to proceed.  He joined not with me when I laughed at Ella’s fright, but a deeper paleness overspread his countenance.  Raising his eyes to the heavens, they rested on a star beaming brightly in the blue—­its mild radiance seemed to soothe him.  See ye yonder, said he, how clear and unclouded the lustre of that shining orb—­these words seemed irrelevant, but I knew their meaning.  His knowledge of German literature had led him into the mazes of its mingled philosophy and wild romance.  Astronomy and astrology were to him the same; the star to which he pointed was what he called the planet of his fate, and its brightness or obscurity were shadowed in his mind—­its aspect caused him either joy or woe.  The incident of Ella’s fright agitated him much, for the occurrences of this real world were to him all tinged with the supernatural; but he looked again at the heavens, and the mild lustre of the star was reflected in his eyes; he leaned upon my arm, and we passed onward.  I knew not then that his dark spirit felt the sunbeams which illumined mine own.