Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-06-22
The hoy looE the moncy and ran ionfalIy away. I


WHO knows g" replied Herr Richter; and
as he spoke he beheld the boy running quickly
with loaf of bread in one haEd and some mo-
ncy in the other.
" There, good SIR he cried, almost breath
less, % taere is the rest Of the money"
Then. being very hungry, he begged at once
for knife TO cut Off piece ofbrcad- The book
keeper reached him in silence his pocket knife.
The lad cut eff slice in great haste, and was
about to take a bit of it, But suddenly hc be-
thought himselflaid the bread aside, and folding
his arms. rahcarsed silent prayer; then he fell
to his meal with hearty appetite
The merchant was moved by the bog ) unaI
fectcd picty. He inquired after his family and
home, and learned from his simple narrative that
his father had lived III village about four miles
distant from Dantzic, where he owned a slnal!
house and farm, bat his house had been burnt
to the ground, and much sickness in his family
had compelled linn 20 sell his farm. He had
then hired himself out to a rich ncighbor; but
before three weeks were at an end he dicd brok-
en- down 10y grief and excessive toll. And now
his mother, whom sorrow had thrown upon a
bed of sickness, waS with her four children suf
fering the bittTest poverty. Icy the eldest, had
resolved to seek for assistance, and had gone
from village to village, then had struck into the
highway and at last, having begged every
where in vain, had come 10 Dantzic.
The merchants heart was touched. He had
but one child, and the boy appeared to him as a
draft at sight, which Providence had drawn upon
him 4 test eff his gratitude.
Listen, my son. he began; have you really
a wish to learn
oh, yes, have indeed, cried the boy: !
have read the catechism already, and should
know a good deal more, but at home had al
ways my little brothers to carry, for my mother
was sick in bed
Herr Richter Immediately formed his resolu-
ton.
Wen. then said he, if you are a good and
honest and industrious boy, 1 viii take care Of
you. You shall learn, have meat, and drink
andclolhing. and in time earn something besides.
Then you can support your mother and brothers
also
4hc boys eyes flashed with joy. But in a
moment he cast them to The ground again, and
softly said, my mother all the while has nothing
! TO cat"
! At this moment, as if sent by Providence, an
/ inhabitant of the boys native village entered
| Herr Richtcr's house. This man confirmed the
] lads story, aud willingly consented TO carry tho
mother tidings of her son Gottlieb, and food, and
a small sum of money from the merchant. At
! the same time Herr Richter directed his book
keeper 10 write letter to the pastor Of the VII
! lagc, mmcnding the widow 10 his care, with
/ an additional sum enclosed to the poor family,
/ and promising further assistance.
| As soon as this was done Herr Richter fur
nshcd the boy wi decent clothes, and at noon
/ led him to his wife, whom he accurately inform
cd of little Gottlicb's story, and of the plans
which he had formed for him. The good woman
readily promised her best assistance in the latter
! and she faithfully kept her word.
| During the next four years Gottlicb attended
/ the schools of the great commercial city; then
his faithful foster father took him into his count
( ing room to educate him for business.
! Here, as well as there, at the writing-dcsk as
well as at the school bench, the ripcning youth
/ displayed himself, not only by his natural ca
pacity, but by the faithful industry with which
! he exercised it, With all this, his heart retain
ed its native innocence. OF his weekly allow
ance, he sent the half regularly TO his mother,
until she died, after having survived two of his
brothers. She had passed the last years Of her
life not in wealth, ii is true, but 10y the aid Of the
noble Richter, and OF her faithful son, in con-
( dition above want,
/ Af.cr The death of his dearly beloved mother,
there was no dear friend left in Gottlieb in the
world, except his benefactor. Out ofloye to him,
he became an active jealous merchant.
! He began 10y applying the superluity Of his
allowance, which he could now dispose Of at his
( pleasure, TO a trade in Hamburg quilts. When
by care and prudence he had gained hundred
and twenty dollars; it happened that he found
IN his native village a considerable quantity o
hemp and aax which was very good, and still tC
be had at reasonable price.
He asked his foster father TO advance him twC
hundred dollars, which he did with great readi
ness; and the business P-ospcred so well that IL
the third year Of his clerkship, Gottlieb had al
ready acquired the sum of five hundred dollars
without giving up his trade in fax, he now trai
ficked ir linen goods; and the two cemhine
made him in a couple ofyears thousand dollar
richer.
, This happened during the customary five year
Of fclerllship: at the end of that period, Gottlie
continued to serve his benelactor for five year
f more. with industry, skill and fidelity then
took the place Of the book keeper, who died abor
this time. Three years after, he was taken as
, partner by his bcnciactor witha third Of the pr
2 fts
t Soon an iRsidious disease cast Herr Richter {
t bed Of sickness, and kept him for two yea
' confined to his couch. Gottlicb, redOublins
exertions, became thcsoul OF the whole bushes
Herr Richter closed his eyes in death in the 81