Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-19
The Savings Bank Book.
FROM THE GERMAN.
.1CoNTINUED.1

show you, exclaimed he.
still resisted, but the evil spirit excited |
my curiosity, and l said
GLOW could you do it? Just show me on |
a piece of paper. You would spoil my Z
book If you were to make any attempts |
there, and then l should get into trouble, |
and lose even that which is mine.n
"Give it to me here" exclaimed my com |
panien, 'and don't make me angry, else my
hand will shake, and then l shall necessar-
lily spoil it,"
I could Withstand him no longer. l |
pressed my folded hands together, and stood |
trembling beside him, as he, with o firm |
hand, altered the entry in my hitherto sa-
cred little book, and then, as he held up the
book 10 his face to dry the ink by breathing
upon it, it seemed to me as if he had taken
my soul into his clutches. | wanted to see
what he had done, but he would not show it
10 me and, as he then sat scratching out
with small penknife, felt as if he were
rasping my very soul. But now a flame
seemed, as it were, to fash in my face, and
a voice said:
"You are now rich and will be thousand
times richer !"
read the entry as it now stood in the
book, "Hundred five dollars received y and |
no one who was not aware of the fact could |
have perceived that any alteration had been |
made, and the principal ledger was burned. |
My companion whirled me dancing round |
our garret chamber, eXclaiming, NOW be-
gins the merry dance, and will last all our
lives, and we will dance through the world,
merry as the last dance through the night"
We again went to bed, and lying there
in the darkness, my companion fascinated
me with his picture of o world full Of splen-
low op1 ,ilaa hlt from thot Inompnt |
was miserable.
AS matter Of course, put nothing more
in the savings bank; nay, even went all
kind of roundabout ways rather than pass
down the street where the savings bank
business was for the present carried on.
l could not speak to any one about my
souls anguish, excepting to my fellow jour
neyman; and when l once asked him in the
dead of night whether he thought it possible
for any one who had committed q crime to
continue cheerful and enjoy his life he
laughed me to scorn, and told me hundred
stories Unsuccessful lies and deceit and con-
cluded by saying that the man was fool
who did not take whatever he could.
Our master employed many additional
journeymen, as he was now busy in the
erection of the new house of correction, and
there were so many additional strangers,
not only in the workshops, but also several
even in our sleeping room, that l had very
seldom private opportunity with my
PfalZer
On one occasion, however when we were
working together at the house of correction,
he said to me: "Do you see? Here will
come the pcor stupid fools; we belong to
the higher grade, and shall drive in our
coach like great folks"
IN avoninn bo maid uoryopt
Of the Finance Councillor Menninger came
to our house. 1 was standing at the door
as she came up, and she gave her message
to me: must go up Immediately to Finance
Councillor Menninger, and take my lock-
smiths tools with me.
went with the girl. She was healthy,
bright young creature, whose eyes seemed
to be lit up with the Christmas candles.
"Why do you keep looking at me ?" in
quired, as we went along.
"My father was also locksmith," she
replied, "and always look with interest at
"You are very sensible girl" replied;
"what is your name"
GAS far as the sense of either of us goes
l might be called Joan and you Jack" she
said, laughingly; "but my name is Katha-
rine."
"The very name of my mother now in
heaven" l remarked.
We had now reached the house Of the FL
nance Councillor. l assembled the broad
steps; the whole house was lighted up, and
warm in every part. l was taken into q
room on the floor Of which lay a soft carpet
The walls were covered with pictures, in
broad gold frames; toward one side stood a
crimson velvet sofa, garlanded with flowers
GgTbio 10 ba xDoIy Tic paop1a Ii ua u / fhonnbf
and my heart beat high.
The Finance Councillor entered with gold
inlaid casket in his hand. He said that
the key was broken, and that must open
it. 1t was an English lock, and as had no
tool with me fine enough for the operation,
was obliged to hasten back for one. When
l returned, and again entered the hall, the
Finance Councillor said to the young female
servant, who was passing by-I have yet
several things to prepare; do you, Katha-
rine, take the locksmith into the room, and
stay with him while he does his work"
l followed Katharine into the handsome
room, and said 10 her involuntarily:
at is good living here; but you would be
very sorry to leave these nice carpeted
rooms, to live in a little house of your own"
'It will be good while before have to
do that" said Katharine; shut now see
why you make so free as to call other:
sensible and yet all the while reckon your.
self great deal more sensible than they
but yet for all that, you may be mistaken
One soon finds out, in the magnifcence and
pomp of riches, that it is all one whether
one eats with an iron spoon or golden
one-whether one walks on carpets, or on
plain boards that one washes oneself. One
person has as good chance of happiness
as another, if he is only honest, and has &
good conscience"
At these words the bunch Of pick-lock
which held in my hand fell to the ground
and there was such fiuttering before M
eyes that could not find the keyhole, an
again Katharine laughed at me because
was evident that did not belong to the yer,
clever. At length, after many attempts, tn
bolt was shot, and, like dew-drops glitter
ing in the sun, we beheld the brilliant cor
tents of the casket, diamond necklace ly
ing upon dark blue velvet.
Katharine turned to the door and calle
to her master that the casket was open. Bl
scarcely had he entered and cast loC
within the lid, than, with heavy gripe,
laid his band upon my shoulder, and e.
claimed;
"What is this? Where is the brooC
with the large diamonds ?"
trembled like an aspen leaf the bunt