Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-03-10

said Philip but have you paid the rent
of the cottage yet
Old Gottlieb shrugged his shoulders
Philip laid purse upon the table.
" There are two-and-twenty dollars that
have saved. / can do very well without
them; take them for a New Years gift,
and then we can all three enter on the
new year without a debt or care. God
grant that we may end it in health and
happiness. Heaven in its goodness will
provide for both you and me
Tears came into Mother Katharine's
eyes as she kissed her son ; old Gottlieb
said, . Philip, you are the prop and stay
of our old age. Continue to be honest
and good and to love your parents. so will
blessing rest on you. can give you
nothing for New Years gift but a prayer
that you may keep your heart pure and
true-thIs Is In your power-you Will be
rich enough-fOr a clear conscience IS a
Heaven in itself"
So said old Gottlieb, and then he wrote
down in an account book, the sum Of two
and twenty dollars that his son had given
him
Z" All that you have cost me in child
hood is now nearly paid up. Your saw
ing amounts to three hundred and seven
teen dollars which | have received.
Three hundred and seventeen dol
lars cried Mrs Katharine, in the great
est amazement-and then turning to
Philip with voice full of tenderness, .'Ah
Philip, thou grieyest me- Child of my
heartl Yes, indeed thou dost Hadst
thou saved that money for thyself thou
might have bought some land with it, and
started as gardener on thy own account
and married Rose. Nolg that is impossi-
bic. But take comfort, Philip We are
old, and thou will not have to support US
long"
Mother" exclaimed Philip, and he
frowned little what are YOU thinking2
Rose is dear to me as my life, bat [ would
give a hundred Roses rather than desert
you and my father | should never find
any other parents IN this world but you,
but there are plenty of Roses, although I
would have none but Mrs. Bittner's Rose.
were there even ten thousand others"
You are right, Philip" said Gottlieb,
" loving and marrying are not in the com
mandments-bu to honor your father and
mother IS a duty and commandment
To give up strong passions and inclina-
tions for the happiness Of your parents is
the truest gratitude Of a son. It viii gain
you the blessings from above it viii make
you rich In your own heart"
sIf it were only not too long for Rose
to wait" said Mrs Kate, " or if you could
give up the engagement altogether For
Rose IS a pretty girl, that can't be denied;
and though she is poor, there will be no
want of wooers She Is Yirtuous and un-
derstands housekeeping
Never fear, mother replied Philip ;
= Rose has solemnly sworn to marry no
man but me and that is sufficient Her
mother has nothing to object to ne. And
if [ was in business and had money enough
to keep q wife with, Rose would be my
wife tomorrow. The only annoyance we
have is, that her mother will not let Us
meet as often as we wish. She says fre-
quent meetings do no good; but I differ
from her, and so does Rose-for we think
meeting often does us both great deal
of good, and we have agreed to meet to-
night, at twelve o'clock at the great door
of St Gregory's church, for Rose IS bring
ing in the year at friends house and l
am to take her home.
In the midst of such conversation the
clock of the neighboring tower struck
three quarters. and Philip took his fathers
great coat from the stove where Kate had
carefully laid it, wrapped himself in it,
and taking the lanthorn and staff, and
wishing his parents good night, proceeded
to his post.