The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-29


To Herr Kraft it seemed all 70
nance. The discarded daughter had
received and devotedly attended in bis
illness her harsh and unforgiving father;
the scorned son-in-law and won his
friendship and esteem : the peer cousin
had been able to give away fortuneli
and the rich merchant lay there an ins-
poverished and repentant man.
Money was3in your hands only an
instrument of doing good-to me it was
an idol % he exclaimed, after a silence
of some duration. " But have learn
ed to know that our Lord did not will
money to be primary consideration
1t is all gone now, however ~
Herr Warner assured him that it was
not all gone; there would be surplus
left for him after all the creditors were
paid, and that he himself had little
money laid by, and they would com
nence business together; they would
soon increase the capital, as Herr Kraft
understood mercantile affairs so we'll.
The bankrupt shook lis head at these
smiling prospects, and replied that his
hours were numbered, and he had oth-
er employments for the few that might
remain of them.
Whilst was 80 ill., be continued,
Il had very singular dreams 1t ap-
peared to me as If an angel and a devil
were contending which should get pos.
session of me; the angel always resem-
bled Louisa, and at last she drove the
devil away, and as be was going, /
seemed to hear piles Of money falling
down, as it were, with a crash. It was
dreadful sound. But Just then I
heard voice singing solemn hymns.
and, lulled by the soothing meIody,.E
felt sense of peace and hGppiness steal
over me. sank into deep sleep, aud
had such charming drean-so. charms
ipg that cannot describe II"
Her Kraft folded his hands and fell
back on his pillow somewhat exhausted,
but apparently tranquil. In few min-
utes, however, he became restless, and
moved uneasily from side to side on his
bed. Suddenly he raised himself till
he sat upright, and cried in an excited
tone: Where is my daughter ?-~
Bring her to me-and her children
and her husband"
Herr Warner summoned them all.
Louise kneeled by her fathers bed, and
kissed his hand, over which her tears
fell fast. He took her hand and placed
it in that of her husband, and then
pressed his own hand upon her head as
if invoking blessing upon her. War
ner brought the children to him, and he
kissed them on their foreheads; he then
stretched out both his hands to his oou-
sin; hnt before the. latter had time to
clasp them, the invalid had fallen back
on his pillow exhausted 1t was SOL
emn moment, and one Of entire reconcile
iation, without word having been spok-
en-; but they understood each other
without words, for words are not always
so necessary as many think.
A state of extreme exhaustion sue
ceeded this exertion, and Herr Kraft
lay for long time perfectly quiet, with
his eyes closed as if he were sleeping.
The party who surrounded his bed felt
relieved from load of sorrow, and, full
of hope that he would recover, they
whispered cheerfully to each other.
Late in the evening he aWoke, and
spoke of his son. q Tell him." said he,
I" that always loved him, but l was
foolish in my way of showing my affec.s
tion: Tell him that, exclusive of pro-
vision for poor Maron, all that can be-
saved from the wreck of my fortune
shall be divided between him and Aunt
Regime. Louise, you have had more Of
a father in Uncle Warner than in me,
and may God bless him for his kindness
to you'll You will all remember me,
know, with affectio ~ .goisf.af
He held out his hands to them all,
aud smiled cordially on them, but he
retained Herr Warmers and Louise's,
hands in bis. He then lay for. a few
moments in silence his lips moved, -
however, though no sound wrs heard.
Perhaps he was engaged in prayer. A.
little while after he exclaimed half.
aloud: ..t...--...- ,.e-...-.-2
els it not declared in the Bible, that
it is easier for camel to 60 thorough
the eye of needle, than for a rich man
to enter into the kingdom of God Z,
The Almighty had placed much in my
power. But he will be merciful to me
Every one has got his own have de-
frauded none, and possess nothing.
Yet God had made me rich-and with
that-BastaP a e.-i ar4f.,,
A happy smile fitted over his coun-
tenance-a pleasing remembrance for
those who survived him. By midnight
all was over; he had passed into the
deep, dark sleep Of death. s. s.L g