The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-01-18

1psN Prom the German.
THE w WalTE sPAHRO W..
"Sieep is the worst Of thieves;
iar He steals half our lives"
In most parts OF Germany. there passes
current among the people this proverb:--
He that would thrive
Must the white sparrow see."
The meaning OF this proverb is not, a,
first sight. SO apparent as that Of some 9TH
ers that circulate amongst US, such as "Early
habits make the man." Honesty is the best
policy" &c: but the moral Specification il
is intended to convey 10 not the less true
and important. will. therefore. here relate
the story connected with its origin. even as
l received it myseif. from the lips Of an old
and valued friend.
There was an old farmer with whom
every thing appeared to grow worse from
year to year. His cattle died one by one,
aud the produce Of bis land was not the half
of what i, ought to be: in fact. all his prop
erty WAS to use . YER. familiar expression.
"going to the dogs" In short. scarcely a
week passed by that either the tax ga,hsrer
or the pawn broker did not come to his win
dow. and addressing him with courteous
bow. Say
ri am really very sorry. Herr Buckwart.
to be oounseled to put you 10 Inconvenience.
but am obliged to do my duty ["
The old friends Of Herr Buckwart also
tried to do their duty TO him. They advised,
they entreated and they helped him. but all
in vain. and so one after another gave him
up in despair. declaring with sigh, that as
for poor Buckwart. there was no use in try
ing TO help him-he was past being helped.
l. \.
was in the right place, and who was not only
. good man. but . very clear sighted one.
This friend thought he would not give Herr
Buck wart up altogether, without making one
more attempt to save him. So one day he
led the conversation. rs if accidentally. to
the subjoct Of sparrows, relating many an.
ecdotes OF these birds. and observing how
greatly they had multiplied OF late, and how
very cunning and voracious thay lad be-
come.
Herr Buck wsrt shook his head gravely,
in answer TO this observation. and said
''They sre indeed must destructive crea
lures. For my par,. have not the slight
est doub: that it is manly owing to their
depredatiops that my harvest has of late
years been SO unproductive.'
To this conjecture his old friend made no
rejoinder; but after . moments pause, he
continued the conversation by another inter
rogatnry--
"Nsighbor. have you ever seen white
spsrro~?''
No." replied Buckwsrt: '1he spsrrows
which alght in my fields are all the common
grey sort /"
"rhat very probable, too" rejoined his
friend The habits OF the white sparrow
are peculiar TO itself. Only one comes into
the world every year. and being SO different
from his fellows. other sparrows take q dis
like for it. aud peck at it when it appears
among them For this reason it seeks its
food early in the morning. before the res, OF
the festbered tribe are astir. and then goes
back to its nest. where it remains for the
rest of the day.
:Th.t is very wrong exclaimed Buck
wArt. IL must really try and get a sight at
that sparrow-aud il possible l will catch
il, too"
On the morning following this converse
ton the farmer rose with the sun, and sailed
forth into the field He walked around his
farm, searched his farmySrd 10 every quar-
ter. examined the roof Of his garners and
the trees OF his orchards, 10 see whether
he could discover any traces OF the wonder
full sparrow! But the white sparrow. to the
great disappointment of the farmer. would
net show Itself, or stir from its imaginary
nest.
What vexsd the farmer still more. how
ever. was that although the sun stood high
in the heavens by the time he had concluded
his round. not one OF the farm laborers were
astir. They. too. seemed resolved not to
stir from their nests. Meanwhile, the cattle
were believing in their stalls with hunger.
and not q soul was near To feed them.
Herr Buckwart was rejecting on the
disadvantages OF this state OF things, when
suddenly he perceived lad coming out of
the house, carrying sack Of wheat on his
shoulders. He seemed TO be in great haste
to get out Of the precincts OF the farm. and
Back wsrt soon perceived that his steps were
beut towards public house. where Casper
had unhsppily . long score to pay lie
fastened alter the astonished youth, who
believed his master to be sill in the enjoy
mont Of his morning nap. and quickly re-
lieved him Of his burden.
The farmer next b. ut his steps 10 the
cow.houss, and pseping TO see whether the
white sparrow bad perchsnce taken refuge
there. he discovered 20 his dismay. ,ha, the
milk maid was haeding liberal portion Of
milk through the window to her neiyhbor.
- mig with her morning cup Of coffee.
"a pretty sort OF housekeeping this is,"