Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-10-09
The ClarkSyille Publishing Company
Chartered by the Legislature of Tennessee.
MlSCEbLAMY.
BREAD UPON WATERS.
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

"Ah, Jacob, now you see ali your hopes
are gone. Here we are, worn out with
age-all our children removed from us by
the hand of death, and ere long we must
be the inmates of the poor house. Where,
now, is all the bread you have cast upon
the .waters?'
The DID, white haired man looked up at
his wife. He was, indeed, bent down with
years, and age sat trembling upon him.
Manfred had been comparative wealthy
man, and while fortune smiled upon him,
he had ever been among the first to lend
listening ear and a helping hand to the
call of distress; but now misfortune was
his. Of his four boys, not one was left.
Sickness and failing strength found him
but little and they left him penniless-
Various misfortunes came in painful sue
cession. Jacob and his wife were alone
and gaunt poverty looked them coolly in
the face
"Don't repine Susan" said the old man.
"True we arc poor, but we are not yet for
saken.'
"Not forsaken, Jacob? Who is there
to help us now?"
Jacob Manfred raised his trembling fin
gers towards heaven
"Ah, Jacob! know God is our friend,
but we should have friends here. Look
back, and see how many you have befriend-
ed in times past. You cast your bread
upon waters with free hand, but it has
not yet returned to you"
"Hush Susan, you forget what you say.
To be sure 1 may have hoped that some
kind hand of earth would lift me from the
cold depths of utter want; but [ do not
expect it as a reward for anything l may
have done. If | have helped the unfor-
tunate in days gone by, | have had my
full reward in knowing that I have done
my duty to my fellows. Oh of all kind
deeds I have done for my suffering fellows,
I would not for gold have one of them
blotted from my memory. All! my fond
wife, it is the memory of the good done
in life that makes old age happy. Even
now can hear again the warm thanks Of
those whom 1 have befriended, and again
l see their smilesP'
eyes, Jacob" returned the wife, in a
lower tone, "I know you have been good,
and in your memory you can be happy,
but alas there is a present upon which
we must look-there is reality upon
which we must dwell. We must beg foI
food or starveW
The old man started, and deep mark
of pain was drawn across his features.
"Beg," he replied, with quick shud-
der. "No, Susan-we are
He hesitated, and big tear rolled down
his furrowed cheek.
awe are what, Jacob?'
awe are going to the poor house"
"Oh Godl thought so" fell from the
poor wife's lips, as she covered her face
with her hands. 81 have thought so, and
Ihave tried to school myself to the thought
but my heart will not bear it.
"Do not give up, Susan" softly urged
the old man, laying his hand upon hel
arm. at makes but little difference to us
now. We have not long to remain on
earth, and let us not spend our last days
in useless repinings, Come, come"
"But when-when shall we go?'
| "NOw--to-day.
"Then God have mercy on us"
"Ho will, murmured Jacob
That old couple sat for while in 81
lence When they were aroused from
their painful thoughts, it was by the stop
ping of a light cart in front of the door
A man entered the room where they sat
He was the porter Of the poor house.
"Come, Mr.. Manfred" he said, 9Th
guardian have managed to crowd you int,
the poor-house. The cart is at the door
aud you can get ready as soon as possible
Jacob Manfred had not calculated n
strength he should mead for this ordeaI,,-