The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-12-20
for the little fplks,
ERNST AND ADOLPH.


er. One was Of grand dimensions
and magnificent style of architecture;
the other was very small, and had
nothing to recommend it, save its
neatness. The walls were neatly
white-washed inside, and the exte.
riorwas covered with grape and rose
vine-a favorite place Of resort fol
singing birds. Most people, howev-
er, would have preferred the large
mansion, but, for my part. would
have chosen the little vine-covered
cottage. The owner of the former
was a man of immense wealth, but
the posesser of the latter had only a
moderate share Of this worlds goods.
He could comfortably support his
family, but had nothing TO spare.
These men had two sons, Ems,
and Adolph, who had been warm
friends for good while. They had
grown up together, and what is sim
gular, they were both born on the
same day. They loved each other
with all their hearts. When very
young, they could not play apart,
and each shared with the other eve.
ry little luxury. Whenever Enst
had new picture book, he would
run over to the cottage and look
through it with AdoIph; and when
ever Adolph had pocketlul of ap-
pies, Or pearson chestnuts, he would
not eat one until he had given hall
10 Ernst. Thus they loved as they
grew-the truth is, each seemed de-
pendent on the other for all his en-
joyment. They wen. TO school to-
gether, pursued the same studies,
sat together. played together. The
changes of seasons made no change
in them. in the forest. or along the
sea-shore. or on the skating-p pond,
you could never see one without the
other.
These two boys loved each other
thus fondly without their knowing
it. Was it not strange that two
birds were the first to tell them of it !:
| will tell you how that happened.
Ernst and Adolph were one day
strolling through the oak forest, and
what should they see on the branch
OF tree but two magnificent robins.
They stood close to each other;
then they flew little ways in CON-
pany, and then they played togeth-
er, each with pine straw in his
bill, for as much as half hour,
"Just look at that! They do just
as we have been doing these nine
years. Do not their pranks seem
as full Of sporlive Joy as yours and
mine! Look at them aowl One i.
listening TO the other telling a story
Just as you and have done thous
and times" So said Ernst, and tn,
boys embraced each other from 10,
over the pure and intimate friend
ship that united them. Then the,
renewed their protestations Of love
and made compact to live on tn,
same close terms as long as life las
ted.
"Oh, Ernst, am afraid your grea
wealth will make YOU forget M
when you get older and move ava,
from the town >" said Adolph, wit
an air of sadness.
"Never, never, my dear friend
Never fear that wealth or station
shall have any power to break on
bonds OF intimacy" and no one cal
doubt that Ernst meant every wor,
he said.
Just then the birds sprang from
the branch where they were playing
dropped the straws that had been al
fording them SO much pleasure, an,
flew far out of sight into some dis
tant part of the forest.
A few months after the converse
ton have narrated took place,
certain wealthy man, who had mad
a large fortune in Dresden, nov
moved out to Rosenheim,and settle,
within stones throw of where tn
fathers of Ernst and Adolph lived
He had but one child; a boy whom
he almost worshipped. His nam
was Albert, and be was little old
er than the two fast friends VIII,
made their compact in the forest
They admitted him into their socie
ty, and paid him every attention
He was struck with the strange in
timacy between Ernst and Adolph
and was astonished that the ricl
mans son would ever assoaciat
with a peasant boy. On several &C
casions, he had peceived how clos
they were attached to each other
and he set to work to ALLEVIATE then
if possible, and form a friendship
with Ernst himself. More than ono
he called Adolph a peasant, com
mon boy, "A beggar and similar often
sive words. Ernst was dispIeas
ed every time, and unable to bea
Albert's abuse of his friend any long