Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-16
the poor family, and promising future assis-

the poor family, and promising future assis-
tance.
AS soon as this was done, Herr Ritcher at
once furnished the boy with decent clothes,
and at noon led him to his wife, whom he
accurately informed of little Gottlieb's stoIy,
and of the plan he had formed for him. The
good woman readily promised her best assis-
tance in the matter land she faithfully kept her
word.
During the next four years, Go.tieb attended
the schools OF the great commercial city
then his faithful foster took him into his coun-
ting room lin order to educate him for business.
Here. as well as there, at the writing desk, as
on the school bench, the ripening youth dis
tingushed himself, not only by his natural
capacity, but by the faithful industry with
which he exercised it. With all this his heart
retained its native innocence. OF his weekly
allowance, he sent the half regularly to his
mother until she died, after having survived
| two of his brothers. She had passed the last
years of her life, not in wealth it is true, but
by the aid of the noble Ritcher and of her
faithful son, in a condition above want.
After the death of his beloved mother,
there was no dear friend left to Gottlieb in
| the world except his benefactor. Out of love
| for him he became an active jealous merchant.
| He began by applying the superfuity of his
| allowance, which he could now dispose of at
| his pleasure. to trade in Hamburg quills.
| When he had gained about hundred and
| twenty dollars, it happened that he found in
| his native village considerable quantity of
hemp and flax, which was very good and still
to be had at reasonable price. He asked his
foster father to advance him two hundred
dollars, which the latter did with great readi-
ness. And the business prospered so well,
that in the third year of his clerkship, Gottieb
had already acquired the sum of five hundred
dollars. Without giving mp his trade in fax
he now trafficked also ia linen goods, and the
| two combined made him, in couple of years,
about thousand dollars richer.
| This happened during the customary five
years OF clerkship. At the end of this period,
| Gottlieb continued to serve his benefactor five
years more, with industry, skill and fidelity !;
then he took the place of the book-keeper who
died about this time, and three years afterwards
he was taken by Herr Rtcher partner into
his business, with third part of the profits.
But it was not Gods will that this pleasant
partnership should be Of long duration. An
insidious disease cast Herr Ritcher upon bed
of sickness, and kept him for two years con-
fined to his couch. All that love and gratitude
could suggest, Gottlieb now did to repay his
benefactors kindness. Reboubling his ex-
ertions, he became the soul of the whole busi-
ness, and still he watched long nights at the
old mans bedside, with his grieving wife,
until, in the sixty fifth year of his age, Herr
Ritcher closed his eyes in death.
Before his deceaSc he placed the hand of his
only daughter, sweet girl of two and twenty
years, in that OF his beloved foSterson He
had long looked upon them both as his chill
dren. They understood him; they loved each
other, and IN silence yet affectionately and
earnestly, solemnized their betrothal at the
bedside Of their dying father.
In the year 1928, ten years after Herr Ritch-
er's death, the house of Gottiiob Bern, late
Samuel Richer, was one of the most respecta-
BILE in all Dantzic. 1t owned three large ships
employed in navigating, the Baltic and North,
and the care of Providence seemed to watch
over the interests of their worthy owner; for
worthy he remained in his prosperity. He
honored his mother-inlaw like a son, and
cherished her declining age with the tenderest
affection until, in her two and seventieth year,
she died in his arms.
AS his marriage proved chldless, he
took the eldest son of each of his two remain
ing brothers, now substantial farmers, into
his house, and destined them to be his heirs.
But in order to confirm them in their humility,
he often showed them the needle which had
proved such source OF blessing to him, and
bequeathed it as perpetual legacy to the
eldest son in the family.
1t is but few years since this child of pow
erty, of honesty, industry, and Of misfortune,
passed in peace from this world.
ssMark the perfect man, and behold the
upright, for the end of that man is peace. -
Psalms, rrrUii.