inhold come!"

"Did I not say, my dearest friend," said Reinhold, cordially returning
the embraces, "that everything would turn out gloriously for you after
all? Let me celebrate your wedding day with you. I have come a long
distance to do so. And as an everlasting memorial, hang up in your
house the picture which I painted for you, and which I have brought
with me." He called without, and two servants came in carrying a large
painting, in a magnificent gold frame, representing Master Martin in
his workshop, with his journeymen, Reinhold, Friedrich, and Conrad, at
work on the great cask, with Rosa just come in at the door. Everybody
was amazed at the truthfulness and the splendid colouring of this work
of art.

"Ah," said Friedrich, "_that_ is _your_ cooper's masterpiece. Mine is
downstairs. But I shall turn out another."

"I know," said Reinhold, "and you are a fortunate man; stick to your
own art; very probably it is better suited to domesticity and the like,
than mine."

At the wedding dinner Friedrich sat between the two Rosas, with Master
Martin opposite to him, between Reinhold and Conrad. Paumgartner filled
Friedrich's goblet to the brim with noble wine, and drank to the health
of Master Martin and his grand journeymen. The goblet went round, and
first Baron von Spangenburg, and after him all the worthy masters
drained it to the same toast.

When Sylvester had finished his reading, the friends were unanimous in
their opinion that the tale was worthy of the Serapion Club, and they
particularly admired the pleasingness of the general tone which
characterised it.

"I suppose," said Lothair, "that I am fated always to be the one to
pick a hole or two. But I can't help it. To my mind, Master Martin
smacks too much of his origin; I mean, of the picture which suggested
him. Sylvester, inspired by our great Kolbe's painting, has shown us a
splendid collection of other pictures; and, though the colouring of
them is delightful, still, they are nothing but pictures; they never
could become situations, in living movement, as the narrative of the
drama demands that they should do. Conrad, with _his_ Rosa, and
Reinhold as well, come in at the end merely that Friedrich's wedding
feast may be pleasant and proper, as it ought to be. On the whole--as
far as Conrad is concerned--if I did not know your simpleness of heart,
Sylvester--if you had not, all through your tale, striven with good
success to be always true and str