The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-12-27
for the little folks,
ERNST AND ADOLPH.

When Albert met Ernst again he
said: "What a splendid friend you
have in that contemplate Adolph!''
"Shame on you for slandering and
abusing that boy! You are unwor-
thy his companyr' replied he, in
lignantly.
s'I'll tell you what heard him say
about you. He declared that he
had not had any respect for you
these two years, and the only reason
he went with you was from the pros
pect Of profitting by your wealth
when you get older. Now, if you
don't believe me, just ask Widow
Maxman's son. He will certify TO
every word have said"
Ernst was very much excited, and
believe he could have wept, were
it not for the girlish look Of such a
thing. But he ran as quick as
thought to find the boy referred to
by Albert; and, strange to say, he
affirmed every word that Adolph
was reported TO have said.
"Oh, ! never could have believed
such a thing without proof. After
all my affection for that boy, to think
of his rascaiityw Just then Conrad
Buxman came up, and said that he
had heard Adolph say great many
worse things than that about him.
Without going to see Adolph
about the matter, Ernst went home,
and shut himself up in his room to
grieve over the deception of him
whom he had so highly priced. He
little thought then that Adolph had
praised him, instead of speaking
evil of him. and that the two boys
who corrobarated the statements of
Albert, had been paid a large sum
by him to become false witnesses.
He made the great mistake of decid-
ing such an important matter rash
ly, without finding out from the
fountain head whether the reports
were true or not.
Adolph did not know what had
been said concerning him, and about
the third day after the affair, he won
dered what had become of Ernst.
He had seen him nowhere, though
he had been thinking about him
nearly all the time. So he thought
he would call at the house and see
if he was sick. The servant told
him he was not sick, but didn't wish
to see AdoIph any more. He told
me to tell you, when you called,
that he did not want your company
any more.
"What can that meant | have
nothing against him."
Just then Ernst put his head out
OF the window. and told him he
had been talking about him and or
dered him to leave and never come
there again.
In vain did Adolph protest his in
nocence. He avowed it was only a
plot on the part of certain malicious
boys TO break up their friendship.
"You know very WELL" said he,
''that Albert dislikes me, and that is
the secret OF the disturbances"
But Ernst would pay no attention
to his words. He rashly told him
he was convinced of his deception,
and their compact was henceforih
broken.
Six weeks passed by without
word passing between Ernst and
Adolph, once such staunch friends.
They sat in school without looking
al each other, and did not speak as
they passed in the street. 1t must
be confessed they both showed a lit
tie folly. Ernst thought he was
right, and was too proud to have
anything to say TO a deceitfuI bow.
Adolph, though poor, was proud too;
he thought he had said enough, and
left to time TO justify him from the
asPersions of his enemy. Albert was
OF course very happy to think his
plan had proved successful in break
ing a strong friendship, but he well
knew that Ernst bad but little re-
spect for him. The prospect of |
strong intimacy between them was
very poor.
True love may slumber, but it is
hard for it to die. Ernst acted very
strangely, but still he loved AdoIph,
and often conjectured that after all
it might have been an evil scheme
TO separate friends. This thought
daily gained ground in his heart, and
he resolved to have an interview
with his old friend at the first op-
Portunity. So one day as he saw
Adolph going across the square, and
pass out of the town gate in the d.
rection of the oak forest, he put on
his hat and took the same course,
following him. Adolph did not per-
ceive him, and walked far into the
forest, where you could hear moth