The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-08-08
THE MOTHER AND CHILD,
OR, THE FIRE FLY.
FROM THE GERMAN


On the evening of hot and sultry summer day,
Maria, poor widow, sat at the open window Of
her little chamber, and gazed out upon the neat
orchard which surrounded her little cottage. The
grass had been mown in the morning, butthe heat
of the sun had soon dried it, She had already
gathered it into heaps, and the sweet smell of the
hay now blew into the chamber as if to refresh and
| strengthen her after her labor. The glow of sun
set was already fading upon the border Of the clear
and cloudless sky, and the moon shown calm and
bright into the little chamber shadowine the
square panes of the half open window, together
with the grape vines which adorned it, upon the
nicely sanded floor. Little Ferdinand, hey of
six years ofage, stood leaning against the window
frame; his blooming face and yellow locks, with
portion OF his white clean shirt sleeves and scarlet
shirt was distinctly visible in the moonlight
The poor woman was sitting thus to rest her.
self, perhaps But oppressive as had been the
labor ofthe sultry day yea heavier burden weighed
upon her bosom, and rendered her forgetful OF her
weariness She had eaten but spoonful or two
of their supper, which consisted OFF cad and milk
Little Ferdinand was, also greatly disturbed, but
did not speak, because he saw that his mother was
80 sorrowiul, having observed that his mother, in
stead OF eating, wept bitterly, he had laid aside his
spoon, and the carthen dish stood upon the table
almost as full as when served up.
Maria was left widow in the early part of the
previous spring Her deceased husband, one of
the worthiest men in the village had, by industry
and economy, saved a sum of money, sufficient to
purchase the little cottage, with its neat meadow
though not entirely free from incumbrance. The
industrious man had planted the green and cheer.
ful field with young trees which already bore the
finest fruit. He had chosen Maria for his wife,
although she was poor orphan, and her par ents
had been able to give her nothing more than
good education; he had chosen her because she
was known as the most pious, industrious and we'll
behaved maiden in the village. They had lived
happy together. But the typhus fever broke out
in the village, and her husband died. Having
nursed him with the greatest tenderness, she her.
self was attacked with it, after his death, and
barely escaped with life.
Her husbands sickness and her own had thrown
them much behind hand; but now she must even
part with her little cottage Her deceased hus-
band had long labored for the richest peasant in
the country man by the name OF Meyer The
peasant, who highly esteemed him on account of
his fidelity and industry, had lent him three hun.
dred crowns to purchase this cottage with the
ground belonging TO it. upon the condition that he
would pay OIL fifty crowns yearly, twenty FIVE in
money and twenty five IN labor Until the year
that he was taken sick her husband had faithfully
performed bis agreement, and the debt now
amounted to but fifty crowns Maria knew all this
very wel.
Meyer now died with the same disease The
heirs, Son and daughterin law found the notefor
three hundred crowns among the papers of the
deceased. They did not know word about the
affair, as the old man had never spoken of it to
them. The terrified woman assured them, calling
Heaven to witness, that her deceased husband had
paid off the whole except fifty crowns. But all Of
this was Of no avail The young peasant called
her shameless liar, and summoned her before
court OF law. As she could not prove that any
thing had been naid il was decided that the whole
claim against her was valid. The heirs insisted
upon payment, and as poor Maria had nothing but
her cottage and grounds, this little property must
| now be sold She had fallen upon her knees be-
| fore the heirs, and had prayed them not TO turn
her out Of doors; little Ferdinand wept with her.
both wept, but all in vain. The following morning
| was appointed for the sale. She had heard this
an hour before, just she had finished her days
work. A neighbor bad called out over the hedge
and told il to her
IL was for this reason that she now sat so sorrow
fu by the open window, glancing now upward to
the clear sky, now upon Ferdinand and then
| gazing steadily upon the floor. There was a sad
silence
"Alasl" she said 10 herself, 81 have to-day then,
raked the bay fiom the orchard for the last time.
The early yellow plums which picked this morn
ing for Ferdinand are the last fruit which the poor
boy will eat from the tree which his father planted
| for him. Yes, this may be the last night we may
spend beneath the roof BY this time tomorrow,
| this cottage will be snothcr's property, and who
can say but we shall be turned out at once Heaven
alone knows where we shall find a shelter to-mor-
row Perhaps under the open heav@l" She
began to sob violently.
Little Ferdinand, who until now had not moved,
come forward, and weepingly, ,-sad
Mother do not cry so bitterly, or else cannot
talk to you. DO you not know what father said,
as he died there On that bedS Do not weep so,
he said God is father to the poor widows and
orphans. Call upon him in thy distress and he
win aid thee This is what he said, and is it not
true them
"Yes my dear child" said the mother I" it is
true"
"Well, said the boy, "wby do you weep SC
long then9 Pray to God and he viii help you"
+" Good child, thou art right" said his mother
and her teas flowed less bitterly, and comfort wa'
mingled with her sorrow. She folded her arms
and raised her moist eye towards Heaven; and Fer
dlnand folded his hands also, and looked upward
ana the bright moon shone upon mother ant
child. X N
And the mother began to pray, and the boy re
peated every word after her.
Great Father in Heaven" she said. "loo
downHpon poor mother and her chld-a boo
widow and peor orphan raise their ewes to thee
We are in great need, and have no longer nm
refuge upon the earth Bpt thou art rich in me,
cy. Thou hast thyself said, Call upon me in tn