The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-15
rHEwH1rE SPARROW.
"sleep Is the worst OF thieves
lie steals half our lives"

Il lie steals half our lives"
In most parts Of Germany, there passes
current among the people this proverb;
ale that would thrive.
Must the white sparrow see."
The meaning Of this proverb is not, ut
fint sight, so apparent Us that Of some Others
that circulate amongst us, such as "Early
habits make the man" Honesty is the best
policy" &C., but the moral Specification it
is intended to convey is not the less true and
important. | will, therefore, here relate the
story connected with its origin, even as re-
ccivcd it myself, from the lips Of an old and
valued friend.
There was an old farmer with whom every.
thing appeared to grow worse from year to
year. His cattle died one by one, and the
product of his land was not the half Of what
It ought to bo; in fact, all his property was,
to use very familiar expression, "going to
the dogs" In short, scarcely a week passed
by that either the ax.gathercr or the pawn
broker did not come to his window, and I'D.
dressing him with courteous bow, say
III am really very sorry, Herr Ruckwart.
to he compelled to put you to Inconvenience,
but | am Obliged to do my duty"
The old friends Of Herr Ruckwart also tried
to do their duty to him. They advised. they
entreated and they helped him, but oil in
vain. and SO one after another gave him up
in despair, declaring with sigh, that as for
poor Ruckwart, there was no use in trying to
help him-he was passed being helped.
lie had one friend, however, whose heart
was in the right place, and who was not only
a good man but very clcar-sishtcd one
This friend thought no would not give Herr
Ruckwart up altogether, without making one
more attempt to save him. So one day he
led tho conversation, as if accidentally, to
the subject of sparrows, relating many ancc-
dotesof these birds, and observing how great
ly they had multiplied Of late, and how very
cunning and voracous they had become.
Herr Ruckwart shook his head gravcly, in
answer to this observation. and said -
"Thcy are, indeed, most destructive crca-
lures. For my part, have not the slightest
doubt that it is mainly owing to their depre-
dations that my harvest has Of late years
been so unproductive."
To this conjecture his old friend made no
rejoinder; but after moments pause he
continued the conversation by another inter-
rogatory-
"Nclghbor, have you ever seeu white
sparrow7"
"No," replied Ruckwart, "the sparrows
which alisht in my fields are oil the common
grey SORT"
"That is very probable too" rejoined his
friend "Thc habits of the white sparrow
are peculiar to itself. Only one comes into
the world every year, and being so different
from his fellows, other sparrows take dis.
like for it, and peck at it when 1t appears
among them. For this reason it seeks its
food early in the morning. before the rest of
the fcathcrcd tribe are astir, and then goes
back to its nest where it remains for the rest
Of the day"
THAT is very strange!" exclaimed Ruck.
wart. 81 must really try and get sight at
that sparrow-and i possible, | will catch
it, too"
On the morning following this converse.
ton, the farmer rose with the sun, and sal.
lied forth into the field. lie walked around
bis farm, searched his farmyard in every
quarter, examined the roof Of bis garners
and the trees of his orchards, to see whether
he could discover any traces OF the wonder
full white sparrow! But the white sparrow,
to the great disappointment Of the farmer,
would not show itself, OF stir, from its imag-
mary nest.
What vexed tho farmer still moro, howev.
er. was that although the sun stood high in
the heavens by the time he had concluded
his round, not one Of his farm laborers was
astir-they. too, seemed resolved not to stir
from their nests. Meanwhile, the cattle
were believing in their stalls with hunger.
and not soul was near to feed them.
Herr Ruckwart was rejecting on the dis
advantage Of this state Of things, when sud-
denly he perceived a lad coming out Of the
house, carrying sack Of wheat on his shoul-
ders. Hs seemed to be in great haste to get
out of the precincts Of the farm, and Herr
Ruckwart soon perceived that his steps were
bent towards public house, where Casper
had unhappily long score to pay. lie has
tened after the astonished youth. who believ-
ed his master to be still in the enjoyment Of
h,s morning nap, and quickly relieved him
of his burden.
The farmer next bent his steps to the cow
house, and peeping to see whether the white
sparrow had perchancc taken refuge there, he
discovered to his dismay, that the milk.maid
was 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."
thought the farmer to himself, ss be hasten.
ed to his wifes apartment and reused her
from her slumbes. "As sure rs my name
is Ruckwart." he exclaimed in nm angry tone.
"thcre must be IN end to these lazy habits.
Everything is going wrong for the want Of
somebody to look alter them. So ara' am
concerned" thought the good farmer to him
self, "l will rise every day at tho 'ame hour
7 ,o.o ,h;s ,,or,;,c and then shall get my