Daily American telegraph., 1852-11-08
FROM THE NEW YORK ORGAN.
THE TEAR OF REPENTANCE.
rRANTLATEp EY MRS. ST SIMON.

In the old city of Strashurg, there once
lived cooper, Rudolph By name, who had
amassed a large fortune. Notwithstanding
this, he labored at his trade, and was of,ef
seen working with his apprentices, to whom
he was pattern Of the most patient Industry.
Yet his unweared activity was prompted by
no other motive than the desire to increase
his wealth or, rs he expressed it, to lay up
something comfortable.
Rudolph was nsatiable nyaracious, mizerly,
and hard towards the poor
One day, just as he was on the point Of fin
shing cask, before the door OF his workshop,
a woman passed by she was still young, but
so pale and thin that one might have taken
her to be fifty years old. Her feet were sore
from the sharp stones Of tho highway her
skin was scorched by the hot beams Of the
sun, and she trembled with weariness in every
limb -
"My good sir she said to Rudolph, shave
compassion upon poor wandereri Give
me glass Of water. am SO thirsty p
"Regone yonder is the river !" answered the
cooper ghly, must leave my work to sup.
ply the wants Of every beggar woman THAI
comes along?"
"Oh, you need not leave your work call
only one of yoar apprentices hither."
"Begonew cried Rudolph, :" were | so
foolish as to grant the wish Of every yagabond
the world would soon be--"Rudolph, the coop.
Ell, gives food and drink for nothing" and my
home would shortly he like tavern. Begonel
go your way and leave me in peace"
"Rich and hard hearted man. said the
woman, as she cast nm angry glance at Ru.
dolph, II thank Heaven that it has given me
the power, to perform wonders, that / may
punish you as you deserve. II needs but
sign from me, and you would crawl upon the
earth in the form OF a snake, or fly through
the air like nm owl But | wish that your
punishment may profit you, and those like you,
and that it may lead you 70 q recognition Of
your fault. You have denied me of water
Well then | condemn you 10 ill that eask,
which you have just finished TO the brim with
water"
With these words the woman disappeared
no one could say whittier Rudolph would
gladly have refused to fulfil the punishment
imposed upon him bur IN irresis:able power
compelled him.
lie took, therefore, his cask upon his shoul.
ders. and walked towards the Rhine Here
he Dipped the cask beneath the surface of the
river, but what was his aEtonishment and ter
ror, as he drew it from the stream, and found
it contained no water.
"What can this mean? ?" he exclaimed turn
inS pale with amazcmont Again and again
lac dipped the cask in the stream, but the
wayrs dashed around and above it, without
flowing into it,
In deep despair Rud Iph now went back to
ha house, and provided himself with money,
m without eaying word 10 his wife, or ia.
king leave Of his childr5n he went to seek out
q stream, at which he might he able to fill his
cask. But the poor wicked man could find
none. Beneath the waters Of every brook
stream, and river, his cask remained dry and
empty.
Here Rudolph was deeply moved by sense
Of his unwortnincss, and striking upon HE
hrenqt he exclaimed ooh God, how deeply
must have slnned against theei BY tears
without ceasing, viii atone for the sufferings
Of the wretohra. whom hape refused to all
and suecor. Although have often repaid
their prayers with sternneSs aud hard hearted.
ness, be thou not dealt 10 mino, Almighty God
in Heaven. Judge nae according to my future
life, not according TO my past. Have compass.
sion upon me- and hear my vow! From this
moment hcnccgorth, will DO mere,lu. wards
the needy
And as Rudolph thus prayed, he shed tear,
n single tear OF repontence. And scarcely had
the tnar fallen into the cask, when it was full
even to the brim.