Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-04-30
HANS. TILE CRIPPLE.

A Soldiers widow lived in lilllc hut near
mountain village. Her only child was poor
criupIe Hans was kind-hearled boy. lie
loved his mother and would gladly have helped
her bear the burtllens Of poverty, but that febe-
ness furbade it. He could not even join III the
rude sports of the young mounta'neers AT The
ace of fifteen years, he felt keeny tho fact that
he was useless 10 his mother and 10 the world.
II was the period that Napolean Bonaparte
was making his power felt throughout Europe.
He had decrerG that Tyrul should belong to
Bavaria, and not to Austria, and sent French
and Bavar;an army TO accomplish his purpose.
Tbe Auslrians relreated. The Tyroese resisted
volianllv. Men, women and children OF the
mountain land were filled with zeal in defence OF
their homes. On one oCcaslou, ten thousand
French and Bavarian troops were destroyed in !
single mountain pass, by an immense avalanch
of rocks and trees prepared aud hurled upon
them by au unseen foe.
secret arrangement existed among the Ty-
rolese, by which the approach Of the enemy was
to be communicated from village TO village by
sirnal fires, from one mountain height 10 anoth-
er, and materials were ready to give an instant
alarm. ;. :,
The village where Hans and his mother lived
was in the direct line of the route the French
army would take aud the people were full of
anxiety and fear All were preparing tor the eX-
pecled struggle The widow and her crippled
son alone seemed 10 have no part but 10 SIT stIll
and wait. "Ah, Hans" she said, one evening,
cit is well for US now that you can be OF little
use they would else make soldier OF you.
This struck tender chord. The tears rolled
dawn his cheek. Mother, am useless" cried
Hans in bitter grief "Look round our village
ill are busy, all ready to strive for home and
fa,herland-I am useless"
"My boy, my kind, dear son, you are not use
less to me"
s,nnor, Won in old age Why was | made
mother?
Hush, Hans" said his mother " these repin
ina thouuh,s are wrong. You will live to find
the truth of our old proverb:
"God has his plan
For every man."
? Little did Hans think that ere a few week
had nassed. The truth was to be verified in re
markable manner.
Easter holidays, the festive time of Switzer
land, came. The people lost their fears OF lnVa
, sion in the sports of the season. All we're 0u
sy in the merry -making-all but Hans. ID
, stood alone on the porch of his mountain hui
overlooking the village.
6 In the evening of Easter, after his usual eve
), ming prayer, in which he brea'hed the wish tina
the Father of mercirs would in his good time
5 afford him some opportunity Of being useful t
others, he fel! into h deep sleep.
J.. He awoke in the night, as if from dream
n undcr a strong impress ion that the French an
). Buyarian army was approaching. He could nc
4 shake off this impression; but with the hope {
being rid of it, he rose, hastily dressed himsel
and % s,roed up the mountuiu path. The COG
au air did him good and he continued his walk ii
y hs bs climbed c 10 the signal pile Hans wake
re 5eund sIsO the pile but where were the watchers
J. They were nowhere to be seen; perhaps the