Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1859-11-10
From Household Words
BERTHALDE REIMER'S VOICE.

From Household Words.
BERTHALDE REIMER'S VOICE.
"That'll do wife-that'll do; it's not a
very cold night" Karl Reimer said with a
sigh and his wife, looking little sadly for a
moment in his face, replaced the fresh log of
wood with which she meant to replenish the
half.burnt embers on the hearth. Returning
to her chair she sat down in silence by her
husbands side.
night, Karl" she said, presently with an ef-
fort at cheerfulness in her voice, and she CLAN
ced at little table standing near, on which a
very homely supper of brown German bread
and sour milk in thick curd lay scarcely
tasted.
Hungry enough, wife," was the quiet an
swer
There was pause The woman, STOPPING
forward, laid her hand upon her shoulder, and
said gently:
eve must keep good heart husband
While we have good wholesome food, and
roof to cover US, we have no right to COM
plain many one is worse off than we to-
night p
GAY, to-night-it is not to-nigh. Pm think
ing Of" Karl muttered, and suddenly rousng
himself, he stretched out and cautiously bent
and unbent his left arm, clenching his hand
the while, like one trying it's strength then
shaking his head with deep sigh, he let it
fall again by his side, and resumed his former
attitude
cit is rest that you want his wife said
soothingly. "You have been working too
hard these two or three months"
"No," he answered despondngly, ono rest
would bring back strength to this arm. 1t is
not overwork that has brought on the weak
ness. Wife, look here" and sickly smile
came over his lips, as, clenchng his hand again,
he turned it to her. "Look-a child might
open it. Try you" Cher first effort unclasped
his Gngers.) 81 thought So" he said bitter
ly. And again they were both silent. There
were tears in Madam Remer's eyes, and she
held the weakened band closely i'll hers.
" 1t might have been the right hand. Be
thankful, Karl" she said softly, in a little
while
II am thankful but if it gets worse, if it
become useless, | should have to give up the
work what's to become of US all ?-what's
to become, all through her life, of that poor"
"Hush p Madame Reimer whispered soft
y, and shading her face from the light she
turned her eyes to corner of the room where,
in little low bed, girl lay asleep.
"She has been asleep an hour or more"
Karl answered quickly "If it were not for
her, we could bear up bravely enough We
have worked hard, both of US, these seven
years past-sevcn ay. it is more than seven
since the lightning blinded her-near eight
years now-we have worked hard to try and
save up for her, and what will she ever be the
better for it ? There's not q week passes but
we have to draw upon our little stock for, of
all worked and saved, there are not twenty
gulden left She will be a beggar, our child
our Berthalde !"
Hush, hush, Karl it will not come to
that-we Can work for her yeti is all in
Gods hands,"
There was few minutes pause. Then Karl
spoke again, in a passionate, though subdued
voice -
"She may be Eeggar next month, for
aught we know. When | can't work any lon
ger, what is there for the whole of US but beg
garyS" A momentary flush spread over his
brow but, as it passed away, he proudly
raised his head, and shaking back his thick
hair, crept on tiptoe to the bed, and knelt
down Oh the floor beside it. As he bent over
the sleeping child, a look of deep, plying, and
tender love sottened his rugged features. Soft.
y and tender'y he pressed his rough hard
hand over the child's uncovered head drew
aside curl Of her long hair that hid her face
and, STOPPING down, pressed his lips in long
silent kiss upon her pale thin cheek. She lay
quite still, with her sghtless eyes closed
breathing low and quickly.
"How pale she is p Madame Reimcr whis
pered ; for she had followed her husband, and
stood now with her hands leaning on his arm
and her eyes fixed upon her child.
The little face was as still and white as if il
had been carved in marble. For an instant
Karl glanced upwards to his wife, and look
Of sudden alarm and pain passed over him
a quick look, which seemed to fash for mo
ment from his dark piercing eyes then, as il
died away, he turned round to the little bee
again, and laid his head beside his child's upol
the pillow, not speaking any thing aloud, al
though his lips moved.
MAY the holy Virgin bless her !" Mad
anne Reimer whispered in the silence.
"Amen !" Karl breathed in his Deep low
voice and with one other kiss he rose from
his knees. awe will go to bed now treat
softly, wife-softly," he said, as together the,
moved away.
But when the door was closed, and oil wa
still, then, in the darkness and the silence.
large tears began to steal through the CLOSED
Ids OF Berthalde's eyes for she had heard al
that their love would strive to keep from her
She had had many fears of late her fathe
had seemed changed and sorrowful and. long
ing to know what thing it was that grieye(
him, she thought it no sin to listen. Nov
that she did know, the child could only weep
and sob sorrow:ully to herself
%, that could do anything to help them
o, that l could work ! O., that 1 was no
blind !"
| Berthalde was so patient and so gentle TIM