The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-21

up heart; toward evening he left the
council-house and went home. No one
was in the garden it lay there in deep
stiffness. He stole down by-path to his
workshop, where now but three hands
were employed out of the dozen that for
merly worked therein, and threw off his
Sunday clothes, put on his dear old COM
Portable jacket, his cap on his head, reached
down the clay pipe which had had such
a long rest, lit it, and then went softly
through the inner to the onter room. Wife
and children sat, as often before, on the
Threshold, not lively as they used to be,
but particularly quiet aud docwnast-
merry Fritz hap scarcely word to say for
himself The sun was dropping down to
his setting, and cast golden streams oflight
through she thick foliage of the vine which
enwreathed the door and window, down
upon the clean boards of the floor. Sweet
Odors were borne in upon the air from the
garden, the birds chirped and twittered
their last evening notes, and peace and
tranquility reigned around, except in the
hearts which once knew nothing else than
joy and contentment. .
Heinzelmann leant over the door, and
for time looked at his family in silence.
The past came before his mind as pleasant
pictures. "What fool was II" he said
inwardly to himself; "what more blessed
happiness can there be, than the happiness
in the circle of ones own family! Whata
fool was /, not to see this long ago: that
could so long be blinded by stupid vanity
and foolish pride! But there is yet time,
and will not let it escape.''
Margaret, he said aloud, and with
friendly voice.
'Baptist-is that you? and so early !"
she cried, and sprang up; "and what do
l see !? in the old cap and jacket! Are
you not going out again?"
'Not to-day, nor tomorrow, nor after
ward," answered he, smiling. "With the
old dress, have found again my old heart.
The skin is nearer than the fleece, my
Margaret, my good, dear wife!"
sob, goodness!" she exclaimed, "what
do you say d? what do hear? am not in
dream ?'
eff you are dreaming that the old con-
tentment has come back again." replied
Baptist, "then is your dream true one.
1 have grown wise at last, Margaret.
''Thank God!'' said the Frau; 'and
instead of handling the pen, you will now
work with the plane-will your"
eyes, Margaret, stick to that which /
know, and leave it to others to bungle at
politics. In short, have given up my post
Il am no longer town-councilor. / am
now only what was before -Tischlermeis-
ter Baptist Heinzlemann! Am welcome to
you as such ?"
With shrek of delight, Frau Margaret
fell into her husbands open arms Long
and close was their embrace, and the sense
of wly-quickened joy brought sweet tears
from the wife's heart. The children un-
derstood not what was going on but they
saw that their father was glad and con-
tended, and they were glad and contended
too. Uutil late at night, they sat together
in the garden, rejoicing in their new-found
happiness.
Baptist became truly the Tischlermeister
Of former days, and suffered himself to be
no more drawn into temptation. A burnt
child shuns the fire; and he knew now the
difference between family joys and world
ly joys. His late friends and companions
CtluAO cuCl cdCIuS uluI W CdhC ptuG OuCO
more in their proceedings. but Babtist put
them off with laugh, and answered,
'sNot so, dear friends skin is nearer
than the fleece Indoors there, at the work.
bench, is my post. Other people under
stand politics and government better than
II leave the task to them"
The friends and companions tried again
two or three times-Heinzlemann, how
ever, remained firm; they gave up and
came no more. But the old customers re-
turned, and the old journeymen also, who
had thought better of their strickland
above all, the old joy of tranquil, domes-
tic life.
Baptist would not change with any one.
And Frau Margaret ?-only go by the house
some day toward evening, when she is
playing with the children, or sitting with
them and her husband in the garden; then,
when you hear her clear, silvery laugh,
then, ! can believe, you will ask no more
if she is happy. Such laugh can come
only from a truly happy heart.-Harper's
MdQdzine.