True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-10-06
A GOOD STORK.
The Story Of Rachel Felix.
BY MARY W. JANvRtN.

s4.,,, BY MARY W. JANvRtN. s,
1t was at the sunset Of long, bright,
spring day, in early March, 1881, that a
strolling Jewish hawker, accompanied by
his wife, and two or three little ones,
paused from the days toilsome journey
through the Tyrol,in the quiet little Swiss
village Of NUM-.
All that day, and for many preceding
ones, had tho little train wound its way
along through fertile valleys and country
roads, past smiling vineyards and broad
wheat fields just showing faint green,
the dark'eyed. swarlhy-skinned son Of
Israel crying his wares with sbrill voice,
and boarding his gains with all his
nations fondness--the pale, patient wife,
like Rebeckah of old, fair to'ook upon, /"
but now silen. and weary-looking. who
had lorborne to utter a word of fatigue
through all the long days journey-and
the dark-eyed dusky haired children, who,
less patient than their gentle mother, be.
gan TO make complains, as children are
wont Of ''being so tired" and welcomed
gladly the sunset hour that would bring
them rest.
"Thou art worn and ill.," said the
hawker, bestowing glance on his wife,
and apparently nollcing for the first time
her pale, tried face, and air Of suppressed
suffering, as they drew near the village
which slept in the lap of smiling valley.
"Sarah, take from thy mother the pack
age of s.uf'-and, wife, we will not travel
again till thou art stronger. I fear we
have come on too fast this day but the
fruit Of our days work has been no mesgre
one," and the Israelile displayed his
Iea,hern pouch, filed with the coin he
had taken in barter for goods from the
pack on his shoulders.
- "Yea, Felix, | am tired, and would fain
rest" replied the dark eyed Jewess, mild.
'ly. "We will lay by at the village till
am strong again. Mayhsp these folk
will buy all your suffs at least, we have
the means 10 pay for lodging for ourselves
and our children during our sojourn.-
IT'S long days journey we have walked
through the Tyrol."
And SO, while the sunset shadows
stretched away over wheal.Geld and vine
yard, gliding the heary crests of the dis
tant, Alps, darkening the chasms, and
broad lakes, muflliug some wayside cross
in darker gloom, and deepening along the
country track the travellers had left be
bind them-thelr feet trod the streets oI
quiet NUM-, and the kind.hearied Swiss
peasants welcomed the weary family 10
their hearts and homes. Days passed, in
which the dark.eyed Jewess abode in the
cottage Of generous vine-grower, whose
wife sewed and chatted with her guest,
while the children of the two played to.
geiher among the vines and early blooming
flowers without the cottage door; nor was
the hswker idle, for, from morning till
sundown, he displayed his wares a. every
door Of the little hamlet, till his shrunken
pack and swelling purse gave token ol
his thrifty calling, and scarce good
housewife or maiden in that Swiss village
but displayed on her person some gay
stuff or tinselled ornament he had urged
upon her.
And there, too, came the hour Of trial
for the worn and weary Jewish mother
for on the night Of March 24,h. she gave
birth 10 daughter, thus consecrating tc
that humble, wayside, Swiss hamlet the
honor which all the future cannot wrest
from 1.-THE honor that will bring thither
pilgrims from every land and clilne-tc
look upon the birthplace of the humble
Jewish hawksr's child, and yet the great
est artistic whom the world afterward
saw--the incarnation of passion, power
genius and tragedy-Rachel! oU
"Now, good wife, we must be moving
again." said the hawker, when his infan
had gained few weeks Of its little life
"already we have made long rest and
since | have replenished my pack a
Berne, | will journey northward, into the
mountainous CantOns, and there dispose
my wares. And | will buy stout mule
to carry my pack, and when you grow
weary, will transfer the goods TO my Jwr
stout shoulders, and you. with the in(an
Rachel, shall ride over the rough ways
The little ones can lrudge along easily
for children's hearts are light, and chill
dren's feet are not soon weary; and since
our little Sarah has been blessed with
such 9 gif! for singing, i have mind tba
she should earn US 4,few coin by trolling
ballads In the sheets Of Hamlets anC
towns through which we may pass
What think ye Of ii, wife,"
.t'Yea, Felix, our Lord God Of Israe
hath bestowed upon the child marvellous
voice. beihink me of the sweet singer.
Of Israel when listen; and il is surely
plessantto hear children carol lighl,happy
songs, replied the JeNess. Nk
And so the family wound on through
out Switzerland, The hawker CRYING anc
selling wares, the children skipping aut
playing along their journey--now pausinG
to pull the wild flowers, or 10 rest at th'