Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-08
Translated from the German for the NewYork Organ,
A Just Reward.
BY MRS. ST. SIMON.

When during the war between France and
Prussia, division of the French army entered
Silesia, it was accompanied by troops belonging
to the army of the Confederation Of the Rhine.
An officer of these troops either Bavarian or
Wurtembcrger, was quartcred upon noblemen
of the country, and lodged in a room in which
many very beautiful and valuable paintings
hung about the walls. The officer seemed to
take great delight in viewing them, and when
he had lived several weeks with this man, and
had been kindly treated by him, he one day
asked his host to give him one of those pic
lures as a keepsake. His host replied that he
would do so with pleasure, and told his guest
that he was at liberty to choose the one which
he liked the best.
Now when q man has the choice of gift
from another, reason and propriety require that
he should not select that which is most attrac-
tive and valuable, for this indeed is not usually
the giver's intention. The officer seemed to be
of this opinion also, for among all the paintings
he selected almost the poorest. But this ap-
peared by no means pleasing to the Silesan
nobeman and he would willingly have given
him the most costly one instead.
"Colone," he said, with evident, emotion,
"why do yon select the very poorest and one
besides, which, for peculiar reasons, is valuable
to me !? Take rather this one here or that one
yonder."
But the officer did Not heed his proposal, but
at once took down the painting which he had
chosen. Now, on the plaster of the wall where
it had hung, damp spot was visible.
"What can this mean?" said the officer, as
if in anger, turning to his host whose face was
deadly pale. lie then struck against the wall
and suddenly few newly morared bricks fell
down. behind which the nobleman had concealed
all his money, and gold and silvcs plate. The
poor man now looked upon his property as lost
at least he expected that the foreign soldier
would confscate considerable portion of il
without inventory Or commissary. He resigned
himself, however, patiently to his fate, and
merely desired the officer TO tell him in what
way he could have learned that his money was
secreted in the wall behind this picture.
The officer replied: will at once fetch
my info!mer to whom indeed own reward.
And leaving the chamber, he soon returned
with his servant, and who would credit it, this
servant was the very master mason who haC
conriyed that cavity in the wal, and who hat
been well recompensed fol hi& Dor.
This now is one of the gVatest pieces o
villainy that can be found on the catalogue o
sins. For an urtzen owes his employer the Mt
most fidelity. and in secret matters, when there
is nothing wrong in them, as complete silence
as if he had taken an oath 10 secrecy.
But what will not some men do for money
Almost anything, and things too which they dc
for stripes or the gallows, through they expec
and wish for neither. Something of this sor
happened to the rogue in question, for the Office
led him out before the house, and with a wilIin!
hand counted out to him hundred stripes II
payment all Of good weight and quality, ant
not single counterfeit among them. To tn
nohlemGn, however he returned his propert,
untouched. OF both these acts we heartily
approve, and wish that every man who is oblige
to have foreign soldiers quartered upon him
may receive as honest guest, and every raito
as just reward.