60  ECLECTIC SERIES.

A GENTLEMAN who had traveled in Europe, relates that he one day
visited the hospital of Berlin, where he saw a man whose exterior 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
depicted in his countenance.

2. On inquiring who he was and what brought him there, he started, as if
from sleep, and, after looking around him, began with slow and measured
steps to stride 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 contemplation, for some minutes; then again resuming his
walk, he continued to repeat, "Once one is two; once one is two." His
story, as our traveler understood it, is as follows:

4. Conrad Lange, collector of the revenues of the city of Berlin, had long
been known as a man whom nothing could divert from the paths of
honesty. Scrupulously exact in all his dealings, and assiduous in the
discharge of all his duties, he had acquired the good will and esteem of all
who knew him, and the confidence of the minister of finance, whose duty
it is to inspect 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
deficit of ten thousand ducats. Alarmed at this discovery, he went to the
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 to secure a
person who might probably be a defaulter,

he caused him to be arrested, and put his accounts into the hands of one
of his secretaries for inspection, who returned 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 two days, 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 to be 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 to repeat, "Once one is two." He died shortly after
the traveler left Berlin.

9. This affecting story, whether true or untrue, obviously 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 no,
experimental knowledge of the meaning of the injunction of Scripture, to
cast all our cares upon Him who careth for us, and who heareth even the
young ravens when they cry.

DEFINITIONS 1. Ex teri or, outward appearance. De pict’ed, painted,
represented. 3. Con tem pl ation, continued attention of the mind to one
subject. 4. Reve nues, the annual income from taxes, public rents,. etc.
Scrpupu 1ous ly, carefully. As sid’u ous, constant in attention. Fi 
nance', the income of a ruler or a state. 5. Deficit, want. Du cat, a
gold coin worth about $2.00. 6. De faulter, one who fails to account for
public money intrusted to his care. 9. 0b'vi ous 1y plainly. Injunction,
a command.