The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-11-12
Written for the Press.
MARGARET HOPPMAN's WORK.
A SKETCH From REAL LIFE.

+ o. 4 N
By MRs. e. D. CABOT.
THE night was cold and dark. The wind
blew in fitIul gusts, and sharp, sIeety rain beat
desolately against the windows Of Carl Hoff-
mans cottage. Within the dwelling hum an
soul was feebly contending with the last OF
earthly Toes. Carl Hoffman, the stone-cutte
LAY upon his death-bed. The solitary watcher
at his side, as from time to time she bent her
ear to catch his murmured words, knew that
bis mind, was wandering far away from the
storm and darkness of the present to the sun
ny scenes OF his youth, to the blue glancing
Rhine, the smiling vineyards and the harvest
songs OF his German home. Br t as the hours
OF the night wore on, the delirium in which he
had lain ior many days began to abate, and the
mental elearness which often precedes the final
change to take its place, He Law for some
time as II in tranquil sleep, and when his eyes
nnclosed their glance was clear and calm. He
looked around Tor his attendant, and in faint
voice called, "Margaretp
am here, dear father,' answered the
wateAer, bending over him.
am leaving thee, my child" he said 81
shall soon &c S%i:;sh thy mother. There is no
thing hard in going except that must leave
my children nneared for. God only knows
what viii become Of thsm.'
t16 Will pTOttcb US, u6dr IdLl6r, answered
the daughter, while her tears fell fast.
Yes: we may trust him. For yourself, in
deed my child, | believe the path Is smooth.
Franz Ritter has loved you long and WELL In
his home you will be safe and happy, but for
my Iittle ones, my merry, dancing Rose, and
Paul whose eyes are so like my lost Bertha's,
they will have only you, Margaret
DO not be unhappy about them dear faith
er. While l have home they shall share it
am strong and can work for us all. They
are my children from this day,p
rMy own true child I my faithful Gretchen
That promise takes away the hardest pang OF
death. leave them in your hands aud Gods
He will bless you as you keep the trust"
II will keep it," answered the girl solemnly,
pressing, as il to seal her words, kiss upon
the cold hand which he had lifted in the earn
Il estness of speaking.
As she released the hand it fell heavily. The
eyes, turned on her with last fond look, grew
Axed and dim, a faint smile Aickered on the
lips, slight shudder passed over the frame,
and all was over.
Margaret Hoffman was nineteen. Simply
and plainly reared, she had small learning and
few accomplishments. To knit and sew, to
Fead the bible, and to slug the sweet hymns
learned long ago ather dead mothers knee, she
knew little more. But the cottage under her
care had always been neat and clean, aud the
evening meal that welcomed home her father
from his toll had always been as inviting as
loving hands could make 1t. Carl Hoffman
had never been other than poor man, for
though hard working and industrious, he had
not the faculty OF accommodating, and while sup
plying all the actual wants OF his family, he
had never been able to save much for their use
when he was gone. The cottage where they
lived. and tiny bit of garden ground, were
AL he had to leave. When the expenses of his
7 Illness and funeral were paid, the sum of mo-.
pey which remained to Margaret was alarm
ingly small. Stiil, with the heIp Of some plain
sewing which she found to do, and with what
she was able to earn by various light services
at the neighboring farm houses, she managed
TO keep herself and the children through the
remainder OF the winter. si.sae.
When the spring opened she gave her
attention to the cultivation other little garden
: She had consulted with nelghbor, shrewd
and thrifty man whose business it was to raise
vegetables for the neighboring market OF Phil
adeIphia, and getting from him much judicious
counsel as to the best and most profitable crops
for her little field, she proceeded to prepare
the ground and put in the seeds, With her
own hands she labored, planning, wedding, wa
tering, and anXiously she watched the growth
which promised to reward her toll. The sea-
son proved to be more than usually propitious,
and her little garden yielded abundantly.-
Moreover the spot was warm and sheltered,
aud her things coming forward early, she was
able to carry them to the market while prices
were high. Early and late she worked. The
gray dawn of the summer mornings found her
In her garden. When her little stock was ready,
the basket of vegetables neatly culled, the box
es Of ripe fruit, and the flowers In fresh bunch
es dewy and fragrant, then the breakfast was
to be prepared and the children made ready
for school. After all these were done she sci
out contentedly to trudge the five long dusty
miles that lay between her and the city. The
gardeners, and the dairy men with their wag-
ons and all sorts of early passers soon came &c
know the trim figure, and the fresh, cheerful
face of the young German girl, and many 8
kindly word she got from them, and many BIZ
ofneeded help In shape of ride when she was
weary, or hint as to the best places in the
town for disposing of her wares. In truth there
was simple, modest energy about her, pa
tient, unpretending courage, which won from
these rough men hearty admiration and sym
pathy. She never seemed to be aware tha
there was anything especially meritorious in
her conduct, or unusual in the task she ha'
undertaken. 1t was weary, toilsOme work, bu
when it was ended for the day, when the home
ward path was trodden, the sight of her owl
e cottage door with the golden little head
awaiting her there, the eager Joy in those blu
eyes, and the glad cry, Gretchen, dear Gretch
en- has come !" repaid her for all
And where, all this time, was Franz Ritter
the lover? All there, indeed, was sore trla
for the brave young spirit. Margaret had pee
two years betrothed, and her marriage was =
have taken place in the spring. Franz. an 10 y
oustrlous young carpenter, was engaged
preparing neat house for her reception, AM
the arrangements were nearly complete Whel
the Illness of her father interrupted them. Al
ter nus death, inc young man urged Margare