Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-20
The Savings Bank Book,
FROM THE GERMAN.
TCONCLUDED.7.


saw that this was merely an excuse !;
but she coniured me to cherish no i'll will
in my heart, but just, as she said, to put
one thing against another. II unquestion-
ably" said she, chad some time or other done
something wrong WHICH had not been found
out; perhaps it might have been very little
thing, and now l must regard myself as be-
ing punished in this way"
by the steps of the Finance Councillor s
door, which had gone up and down in an
guish. pain, and despair l now seemed to
be filed with joy. Our innocence was
proved, and Katharine Il had found out the
secret) loved me.
One morning, at the urgent persuasion OF
my comrade, | resolved to fetch away my
money from the savings bank, in order then
10 try my luck in the wide world, and then
to marry Katherine.
The nearer came to the house, the more
violently my heart beat. A challinch sat
upon the window-sill and sang merrily;
and, as people in my circumstances are
generally supposed to be superstitious, I
thought l would make this bird n sign to
myself, and said "If the bird continues to
sing till | enter the door. then | may 90
boldly in and all will succeed but if it
leaves off and flies away, then it is a sign
that | shall get into trouble; then 1 must
turn back, burn my book and do nothing"
AS approached the house. the bird really
left off singing and flew away. "Pshaw
what silly superstition How can / place
so much stress on such nonsense? I'll do
it now, and in sheer defiance. Now for It'll
1t must succeed, and it will succeed!'
entered The room. Finance Councillor
heDninger was standing at a table counting
over SUNG of money which were being paid
in, while another gentleman entered the
sums into q ledger. For The first moment
| felt shocked to see that Mr.. Menninger
was there but again was glad-glad that
| had to transact my business with the very
man who had so greatly insulted and in
iured me.
stood quietly waiting for my turn; cold
perspiration covered my whole body, and
my hands were SO clammy that my little
book seemed to cling to them.
A length my turn came. handed in my
book without word. The Finance Coun-
cilor pushed up his spectacles from his eyes
to his brow, and looked into the book for q
minute. All was still as death, the only au-
dible sound being the measured movement
of the pendulum on the wall. My heart
beat violently.
"You have made good savings" said the
Finance Councillor, at length opening the
flap of the counter; 'come in here"
followed him into an inner room. Here
stood an iron safe, which he unlocked
"Will you have paper or coin ~ asked he.
paper" said l.
"Large or small?'
"Small."
He handed me packet inclosed in a
printed band, on which were the words
"0ne hundred dollars" He desired me to
count them while he gave me the remain
der. | could not lay the separate dollars
together because l trembled so violently;
and when turning round he asked, SIS it
right p nodedd without a word. lie now
laid before me the remaining odd dollars,
when, again drawing down his spectacles to
his eyes, he suddenly asked
care not you the journeymau locksmith
who was at my house last Christmas 2"
"Ies," / replied.
81 am glad of that am glad to meet
you. have often reproached myself that
had not asked your forgiveness for the sus-
picion then cast upon you, and which must
have been so painful to you at the time.
But the fact was that | delayed it so long l
persuaded myself that you were no longer
INC tOWu' DeB yOuJ now, however, 10
receive my apology, and if can in any way
be serviceabe to you, shall be glad. l
have done you an injustice, and you will do
me favor if you will allow me -. What
is amiss Are you not well ? What is it p
Ali who can express the crowd of emo
lions which oppress the heart at q moment
like this There / stood, and held the
money convulsively in my hand. Never be-
fore in my life had | so much between my
fingers; and before me on the table lay a
little heap of coins, one upon another-and d
all was mine A something within me
would have rejoiced, but another something
seemed to snatch all out of my hand, and TO
take also my soul with it, The fact that
the very man whom hated, and for whose
sake was ready to do an injustice to all
men-that he should meet me with kindness
and show desire to oblige me-that he
should humble himself and make an ac-
knOWledgment TO me, quite oyercame me,
when had excited myself to hatred, and
had committed myself to sin was sub
dued, and was saved for then saw my
depraVity. A superior power had taken me
captive, and carried me in coLtrition be-
fore the judgment seat of the Eternal
81 fell down on my knees, and exclaimed,
'No, MOI am wicked man Take, take