1.A gentleman whhad traveled in Europe,relates that he one day visited the hospital of Berlin,where he saw a man whose exterior1 was very striking. His figure,tall and commanding,was bending with age,but more with sorrow;the few scattered hairs which remained on his temples were white almost as the driven snow,and the deepest melancholy was depicted2 in his countenance.
2.On inquiring whhe was and what brought him there,he started,as,if from sleep,and,after looking around him,began with slow and measured steps tstride the hall,repeating in a low but audible voice,"Once one is two;once one is two."
3.Now and then he would stop,and remain with his arms folded on his breast as if in contemplation3,for some minutes;then again resuming his walk,he continued trepeat,"Once one is two;once one is two." His story,as our traveler understood it,is as follows:
4.Conrad Lange,collector of the revenues4 of the city of Berlin,had long been known as a man whom nothing could divert from the paths of honesty. Scrupulously5 exact in an his dealings,and assiduous6 in the discharge of all his duties,he had acquired the good will and esteem of all whknew him,and the confidence of the1 Exterior,outward appearance. 2 Depicted,painted,represented.3 Contemplation,continued attention of the mind tone subject. 4Revenues,the annual income from taxes,public rents,etc.5Scrupulously,carefully.6Assiduous,constant in attention.minister of finance1,whose duty it is tinspect the accounts of all officers connected with the revenue.
5.On casting up his accounts at the close of a particular year,he found a deficit2 of ten thousand ducats3. Alarmed at this discovery,he went tthe minister,presented his accounts,and informed him that he did not know how it had arisen,and that he had been robbed by some person bent on his ruin.
6.The minister received his accounts,but thinking it a duty tsecure a person whmight probably be a defaulter4,he caused him tbe arrested,and put his accounts intthe hands of one of his secretaries for inspection,whreturned them the day after with the information that the deficiency arose from a miscalculation;that in multiplying,Mr. Lange had said,once one is two,instead of once one is one.
7.The poor man was immediately released from confinement,his accounts returned,and the mistake pointed out. During his imprisonment,which lasted twdays,he had neither eaten,drunk,nor taken any repose;and when he appeared,his countenance was as pale as death. On receiving his accounts,he was a long time silent;then suddenly awaking,as if from a trance,he repeated,"Once one is two."
8.He appeared tbe entirely insensible of his situation;would neither eat nor drink,unless solicited;and took notice of nothing that passed around him. While repeating his accustomed phrase,if anyone corrected him by saying,"Once one is one," his attention was arrested for a moment,and he said,"Ah,right,once one is one;" and then resuming his walk,he continued trepeat,"Once one is two." He died shortly after the traveler left Berlin.1Finance,the income of a ruler or a state. 2 Deficit,lack,want.3Ducat,a gold coin worth about $2.00.4Defaulter,one whfails taccount for public money intrusted this care.
9.This affecting story,whether true or untrue,obviously1 abounds with lessons of instruction. Alas! how easily is the human mind thrown off its balance;especially when it is stayed on this world only,and has nexperimental knowledge of the meaning of the injunction2 of Scripture,tcast all our cares upon Him whcareth for us,and whheareth even the young ravens when they cry.1Obviously,plainly.2Injunction,a command.