Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-17

'Sleep is the worst OF thieves
He steaIs half our lives"
In most parts of Germany there passes cur
rent among.the people this proverb:
''He that would thrive
Must the white sparrow Beer
The meaning of the proverb is not at first
sight so apparent as that of some others that
circulate among us, such as "eary habits
make the man" and Honesty is the best
policy" l will, therefore, relate the story
connected with its origin:
There was an old farmer, with whom
every thing appeared to grow worse from
year to year. Scarcely a week passed by that
either the taX-gatherer or the pawn broker
did not come TO his window, and, addressing
him with a courteous bow, say ~ am really
very sorry, Herr Buck wart, to be compelled
to put you to inconvenience, but am obliged
to do my duy." 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 al
ter another gave him up in despair, decIsr-
ing with sigh, thai, as for poor Buck Eart,
there was no use 10 trying to help him
he was passed being helped
He had one friend, however, whose heart
was in the right place, and who was not q
good man, but very clear sighted one.
This friend thought be would not give Herr
Buckwart up altogether without making
one more attempt 10 cave hin. So one day
he led the conversation, as though accident
ally, to the subject of parroWs-relating
many anecdotes OF these birds, and observing
how greatly they had multiplied of late,
and how very cunning and voracious they
had become.
Herr Buck wart shook his head grAvely in
answer to this observation, and then he said;
"Tbey are, indeed, most destructive crea
lures. For my part, have not the slightest
doubt that it is mainly owing 10 their depre-
dations that my harvest has of late years
been so uppTooucuve
To this conjecture his old friend made no
rejoinder; but, after a moments pause, he
continued the conversation by another in .
terroRGtion.
"Neighbor, did you ever see white spar
row ~"
'No," replied Buck wart; "the sparrows on
my fields are all the common eray sort"
'That is very probable, too" rejoined his
friend.
'The habits of the white sparrow are pe-
culiar to itself. Only one comes into the
world every year; ond being so different
from its fellows, the other spsrrows take a
dislike to it, and peck at it when it appears
among them. For this reason it seeks its
food early in the morning, before the rest of
the feathered tribe are sstir, and then goes
back to its nest where it remains for the
rest of the day"
THAT is very strange p exclaimed Buck
wart. II must really try and get sight of
that sparrow and, if possible, will catch it,
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 Tarm-yard in every cor
ner, examined the roots of his gamers and
the trees Of his orchards, to see whether he
could discover any traces of the wonderful
white sparrow. But the white sparrow, to
the great disappointment of the farmer,
would not show itself or stir from its imagin-
airy nest. What vexed the farmer, however,
still more, was that, although the sun stood
high in the heavens by the time be had CON.
pleted his round, not one of the farm labor.
ers was astlr: they, too, seemed resolved MOI
TO leave their nests.
Herr Buckwart was rejecting on the dis.
advantages OF this state OF things, when sud
denly be perceived a lad coming out of thu
house, carrying a sack of wheat on his shoul
ders. He seemed TO be in great haste to ge
out of the precincts of the farm; and HeIl
Buckwart soon perceived that his steps wert
not bent toward the mill, but toward pub
lie house, where CssP4r had, unhsppily,
long score 10 pay. He fastened after tn
astonished youth, and quickly relieved hin
of his burden.
"a pretty sort of housekeeping this Is !!
thought the farmer TO himself, as he hastene
to his wife's apartment and aroused he
from her slumbers "As sure as my nam
is Buckwart," he exclaimed in an angr,
tone, there must be an end to these lazl
habits. Every thing is going wrong for th
want of somebody to look after things. S,
far as / am concerned" thought the goo,
farmer to himself. 81 will rise every day a
the same hour | rose this morning, and thel
/ shall get my farm clear of those who d,
not intend TO do their duty properly. Be
sides, who knows but some fine moruing O
other may succeed in catching the whit
sparrow"
Days and weeks passed on. The farme
adhered to his resolutions; but he soon for
got the white sparrow, and only looked
after the cattle and his cornfelds. SooI
every thing around him bore a fourishinG
aspect, and men began to observe that Her
Buckwart (BackWsrd) now we'll deserved tC
TO be called Herr VOrwart Forward Ii
due course Of time this old friend again cam,
to spend the day with him, and inquired il
humorous tone, "Well, how are you gettinI
on nowf Have you succeeded In catching
agimpse OF the white sparrow 2"