Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-01-16
miscellaneous.
nm WHIrE spARROWS.
"Sleep is the worst Of thieves
He steals half our lives

He steals half our lives"
No more common complaint can be heard
nowadays, from the lips of housewives, than
that of the laziness and unthriny habits of
domestic servants Mothers and grandmoth-
ers are often wont to tell the young housekecp-
ors that matters were different in their day
and it has sometimes occurred, whether the
fault may not lie as much in the dcgenorated
habits of the masters and mistresses Of the
present generation, as from any faults peculiar
to their dependents. Were the lady of the
house more frequently to rise at FIVE or six in
the morning, as in the "good old days of
lang syne, pcrchancc she would not so often
have to complain that rooms were carelessly
swept that work was left undone, or fires
lighted too late
In most country parts Of Germany there
passes current among the people this proverb,
Gle who would thrive
Must the white sparrow SEQ"
The meaning of this proverb is not at first
sight so apparent as that Of some others
which circulate among us, such as, Early
habit makes the man, or " Honesty is the
best policy" &c. but the moral Specification
It's intended TO convey is not the less true
and important. | will therefore here relate
the story connected with its origin, even as
received it myself from the lips Of an old
friend.
There was an old farmer. with whom eve
rything seemed to grow worse from year to
year. His cattle died one by ono--the pro-
duce of his land was not half of that which
it ought to be-in fact all his property was,
TO use a familiar expression, going to the
dogs. Scarcely week passed by that eth
CT the tax-gatherer or the pawnbroker did not
come to his window, and addressing him with
a courteous bow, said, d" ] am really very sor-
ry, Herr Ruckwart. to be obliged to put you
to inconvenience but am compelled to do my
duty" The old friends of Herr Ruckwart
also tried to do their duty towards him--thcy
advised, they entroated, and they helped him,
but all in vain and one after another gave it
up in despair, declaring with sigh, that as
for poor Herr Ruckwart, there was no use in
trying to help him,--he was passed being
hoped
He had one friend. however, whose heart
was in the right place, and who was not only
a good man, but very prudent and clear
sighted man. This friend thought he would
not give Herr Ruckwart up altogether, with
out making one more attempt to save him so
one day as they were drinking their glass of
beer together, he led the conversation as tho
accidentally to the subject of sparrows, rcla-
ting many anecdotes of these birds, and OBJ
served how much they had multiplied of late,
and how very cunning and voracious they had
become.
Herr Ruckwart shook his head gravcly in
answer TO this observation, and said, "They
were indeed most destructive creaturos-for
his part, he had not the least doubt that it
was entirely owing to them his harvest had
been of late years so very unproductive.
To this conjecture the friend made no re-
joinder; but after moments pause, he con-
tinued the conversation by onquiring "Ncgh-
Dor, have you seen white sparrow -
No, replied Ruckwart the sparrows
that alight in my fields arc all quite grey
THAT is very probable reioined his friend
-" the habits of the white sparrow are pc
culiar to itself Only one comes into the
world every year. and being so different from
its fellows, the other sparrows take a dislike
to 1t, and pick at it when it appears among
them. For this reason it seeks its food early
in the morning, before the rest of the feather
ed tribe are astr, and then goes back to its
nest for the rest of the day"
THAT is very strange" exclaimed Ruck-
wart =" must really try and get a sight at
that sparrow, and if possible | will catch it
too"
On the morning which followed this con
sailed forth into his folds he walked around
his farm--searched his faum-yard in every
corner, examined the roofs of his gamers, and
trees of his orchard, to see whether he could
discover any trace of the wonderful white
sparrow But the white sparrow, to the great
disappointment of the farmer, would not show
itself, or stir from its imaginary nest. What
veXed the farmer, however, still more, was,
that although The sun stood high in the heay-
ems, by the time he had completed his rounds
not one of the farm laborcrs wese astir-they
too, seemed resolved not to leave their nests.
Meanwhile, the cattle in their stalls were bel
lowing with hunger, and not a soul was near
TO give them their fodder
Herr Ruckwart was rejecting on the disad-
vantages of this state of things, when sudden
ly he perceived lad coming out of the house
carrying sack of wheat on his shoulders
! He seemed to be in great haste to get out of
the precincts of the farm, and Herr Ruckwart
soon perceived that his steps were not bent
towards the mill, but toward public house.
where Caspar had unhappily long score to
pay. He hastened after the astonished youth,
who believed his master to be still in the en-
f ioyment of his morning nap, and quickly re-
lioyed him of his burden.
The farmer next bent his steps to the cow
mouse, ana peeplng 10 see II the white sparrow
had perchance taken refuge there, he discoy-
cred to his dismay, that the milkmaid was
Q handing liberal portion of milk through the
window to her neighbor, to mix with her
morning cup of coffee.
" A pretty sort of housekeeping this is y
{ thought the farmer to himself, as he FASTENED
$ to his wifes apartment, and reused her from
her slumbers. " As sure as my name il
Ruckwart !" he exclaimed in a somewhat an
> cry tone, there must be an end of these la
zy habits everything is going wrong for the
7 want of some one to look after them So fai
/ as | am concerned, at all events, thought tn,
i good farmer to himself, - will rise every
morning at the same hour rose this morning
and then shall soon get my farm cleared o
those who do not intend to do their duty prop
- erly. Besides who knows but some fine morn
= ing or other, | may succeed in catching tn,
white sparrow !"
% Days and weeks passed on. The farmet
adhered to his resolution; but he soon forgo
i the white sparrow, and only looked after tn,
l. cattle aud the confeds Soon everythin!