The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-20

any one 10 see the little uistOrtcu Douy
The one imposed on was not inclined to
doubt, but thanked Heaven for the preserva-
ton of the boon confded to her, and saw with
qualification the return of the Count, and that
she was with him to leave place where the
hand Of the spoiler had been at work SO de-
structively.
While the girl, tortured with anxiety, seemed
TO sympathize most deeply with the grief OF
the bereayed mother, the old woman, under the
pretext of procuring coffin for the dead child
had LEFT the hut and hurried over the wide
desert to solitary pasture ground, half de
molisbed and excavated by time and the efe.
meuts. Here she deposited little bundle, and
then souatted near tree, where she had not
tarried long when lone horseman came that
way. -.
IL know she muttered, "that he is riding
over. in order to confess the old wolf"
She raised herself up when the horsemar
approached, wrung her hands, and in y shril
voice began to complain Of the hardness o.
heart abd uncharftableness Of mankind whC
had exposed child here prey to the weather
and starvation.
al might, in compassion, easily take the
poor little worm home with me, were | not
afraid that Lorentz would pay me for it with
his rough fist o dear Lord! what wicked
people there are in the world and Lorentz il
one of them Kate brought him a little child
and it is dead and he like a sinner is glad
that he is freed from it. No, cannot take
the strangeling there"
During this jeremiad the horseman dis
mounted, in order to examine the child more
closely. 1t was wrapped in rags and there
was nothing by which he could understand OF
conjecture whence it came.
While this inquiry was being made, in which
the old woman seemed as DESTROYS of knowing
as the stranger, the child opened its eyes and
began to cry piteously.
Lord, what is now to be done with the
poor thing?" exclaimed the old wife, weeping
Heavenly Saviour have mercy on u.s."
With hasty resolve the horseman took pos
session of the child while the old woman, sob
bling. blessed the good man who took the for.
lorn orphan He wrapped the little helpless
creature in his cloak, and again mounted his
horse. The old woman ran beside the horse.
man good way till she came to the next vii
lage, where she pretended to procure coffin
for Rates poor little child.
When Count Eisheim had arranged every
thing for conveying the remains of his wife to
the family vault, he returned to the GOLFERS
dwelling on the next day, and there found deep
affiiction. The old woman came up to him.
and wept; while the man lay quietly on the
stone bench, and Kate was bathed in tears.
what has happened" cried the Count
E" My child -
90, don't grieye, whimpered the old woman
"God proves the rich sometimes with affection
but there lies your child, fresh and red as 9
wild rose-tree, while our little babe - and
she broke anew into unnatural weeping.
The Count now first perceived a little coffr
that stood in corner of the room. The ole
woman caught his glance and in explanation
said
Yesterday, after you were gone, o wha
the child suffered with cramps! We had tt
keep it secret from the mother, 80 distorted and
disfgured was the little thing"
The Golfers young wife now wept sorely
but was not able to speak word.
There dwells sympathy in this rough ma
ture,n thought the Count; but does not thu
beast also love its young, and even tear il
breast to nourish them with its bloOd?"
Eisheim expressed his compassion most ten
derby, and in a way unintelligible in this hut
but suppressed as much as possible, in wore
and behaviour, his joy over his fresh, healthy
child, manifesting his happiness only by hi
looks on what he possessed After the collier
wife became tranquil, the system of mainte
nance was further deliberated on. The Coun
then informed them that he would have tn,
child carefully brought to Eschen, and ther'
given in charge to another foster-mother. A
loud sob, which the young wife had somewhat
II Coat nd fha ,la,u
manner in which she clssped the child to heI
would have revealed the mystery to any wife
or mother; but the Count remained Ignorant
and confding. He perceived that it would be
grievous to take this foster-child from Kate
who had lost her own and it was therefore
agreed that she should accompany the Count
to Eschen and remain there with his child
The Count also promised to take care OF Lo-
rentz and the old woman, who were to come
later, and be settled on the manor
In this way the Count believed all things
would be well ordered and in reality it ap-
peared So He saw only satisfied, bright faces,
which atoned for the late harshness and bru-
tally of these people.
The corpse ofthe Countess was quietly buried
in Eschen, and few weeks afterwards the bap-
tism of the little heiress took place. Eisheim,
who till then had only named the child his
little wild flower, wishing by this distinguish
ing mark to bear in constant remembrance the
wonderful preservation Of his darling now
gave her in baptism the name of Erika.
In large, pleasant apartment of farm
house. eighteen years afterwards, Kate was
spinning but the thread would not hold to-
day though she oft moistened it with her tears
From time to time she looked sadly through
the window over the field, and withal sighed
deeply.
few hours, when through the low door q tall
bulky figure, with hoe on his shoulder, en-
tered
GOOD evening, Lorentz," said Kate, drying
her eyes with her blue linen apron.
Now what's this crying and whining
about" was the reply Bring me something
to eat; for quarrying stone under ground makes
one hungry"
"The coup is in the stove, (" answered Kate.
While Lorentz placed the hoe in the corner
and seated himself on his favorite bench, Kat
brought the soup; and when this was enjoyed
and Lorentz fixed himself for sleep, the wife
could refrain no longer.
"See. now,r said Kate, eve shall lose hel
entirely. She goes with the worthy master Il
town and there she will marry one of the
great folks and we shall never see her again.
"And was not this what we wished for when
we took her instead of our own?" muttered
Lorentz.
90, thou hast no notion Of what | suffer, and
have suffered on this account. When the child
was yet little and could carry her in my
arms while she took her nourisbment from
me, and could kiss her and hug her, then
was happy; then believed it would always b.
40; but when the master Afterwards gave u'
this farm house, and had to leave the palace
and live alone here with tnee my heart was
ready TO break. indeed often visited the child
and it hung round my neck, and was glad to
zee her Kate again. But this was more and