The hydraulic press., 1860-12-01
A Fireside Story.

One evening poor man and his son, a lit
tie boy, sat down by the wayside near the
gate of an old town in Germany. The fa-
[ther took out a loaf of bread which he had
bought in the town, and broke it and gave
half to bis boy. "Not so, father" said the
boy, 81 shall not@eat until after you. You
have been working hard all day, for small
wages to support me, and you mast be very
hungry I shall wait till you are DONE"
.'You speak kindly, my son." replied the
pleased father; your love to me does me
more good than my food and those eyes of
yours remind me of your dear mother. who
has left us, and who told you to love me as
she used to do; and, indeed, my boy, you
have been great strength and comfort to
me; but now that have eaten the first NOR
sci to please you, it is your turn now to eat"
"Thank you, father; but break this piece
in two, and take you little more, for you
see that the loaf is not large, and you re-
quire more than I do"
" shall divide the loaf for you, my boy E;
but eat it, I shall not. l have abundance,
and let US thank God for his great goodness
in giving US food, and in giving us what is
better still, cheerful and contented hearts
He who gave us the living bread from hea-
ven, to nourish our immortal souls, how
shall He not give us all other food that is
necessary to support our mortal bodies ?"
The father and son thaked God, and then
began to cut the loaf in pieces to begin their
frugal meal. But as they cut one portion of
the loaf there fell out several large pieces of
gold Of great value. The little boy gave
shout of joy, and was springing forward to
grasp this unexpected treasure, when he was
mn He'd hack hV his ia her
"My my aon!" lie cried, "do not touch
that money: it is not ours"
'Bnt whose is it, father, if it is not ?"
I" know not, as yet, to whom it belongs,
but probably it was put there by the baker
through some mistake. We must inquire
Run!"
"But father" Interrupted the boy, " you
are poor and needy, and you have bought
the loaf, and the baker may tell lie, and
Twill not listen to you, my boy. I bot
the loaf, but did not buy the gold in it. If
the baker sold it to me in ignorance, / shall
not be so dishonest as to take advantage of
him remember him who told us to do to 9TH
ers as we would have others do to us. The
baker may possibly'cheat us. am poor, in
deed, but that is no sin. If we share the
poverty Of Jesus, Gods own Son, o! let rs
SudiS. diSO ulS SOOuuSSS anu HIS tEuSt III NOu
We may never be rich, but we may always be
honest. Wemay die of starvation, but Gods
will be done, should we die in doing i'll
Yes, my boy, trust God, and walk in his
ways, and you shall never be put to shame
Now run to the baker and bring him here,
aud | shall watch the gold until he comes"
So the boy ran for the baker.
Brother workman" said the old man,
"you have made some error, and almost lost
your money!" and he then showed the baker
the gold, and told him how it had been found
ais it thine ?" asked the father; ''if it is,
take il away
"My father, baker, is very poor, and"
"-Sieuce, my child; put me not to shame
by thy complaints. | am glad we have
saved this man from losing his money"
The baker had been gazing alternately up
on the honest father and the eager boy, and
upon the gold which lay glttering upon the
green turf.
"Thou art, indeed. ain honest fellow" said
the the baker: "and my neighbor David,
the fax dresser, told but the truth when he
sad thou vert the honestest man in our
town. Now shall tell thee about the gold.
A stranger came to my shop three days ago,
and gave me that loaf, and told me to sell it
cheaply, or give it away to the honestest
poor man whom | knew in the city. l told
David to send thee to me, as customer this
morning; as thou wouldst not have the loaf
for nothing sold it to thee, as thou know
est, for the last pence in thy purse; and the
loaf with all its treasu-e-and, certes, it is
not small!-is thine, and God grant thee
blessing with it."
The poor father bent his head to the
ground while the tears ran from his eyes
His boy ran and put his hads about his neck
ana said;
l shall always.1ike you, trcst God and do
what is right; for l am sure it will never put
US to shame"