St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-01-14
THE FERRYMAN'S DAUGHTERS
"A: RHINE SKETCH,

thc peasaptry Of all countries, that the
"daily bread for which the fathers
work so hard is brought to them by
one of their children. This may ap-
pear a small matter; but time and cir
cums:ances often give great Importance
to small matters: The precision with
which the German laborers rest from
their toll at ten o'clock in the morn.
ing would Of itself make one attach an
exclusive value to that chosen hour.
The thought that so many thousands
of rural work kmen are at that given mo-
ment reposing on the broad lap of na-
ture, picturesquely, served: by their
sons or daughters, and taking their
simple refreshment with wholesome ap-
petites: aud thankful hearts is a pleas
ant thought: . It puts one in good: hu-
NOR with human nature. 1t is pleas-
anter still to look closely on some
group in your field or garden so en-
ployed, and = the: preparatory hand
washing in the nearest fountain or
stream might prepare you to expect a
ceremony more elaborate than that of
sitting down to eat section of dry
brown breed-pootically black-for tho
national motto of Germany, Schwa.z-
'brodund Freiheit, is as much an cxag-
geration Of fancy with regard to the
food as to the freedom
THIS is the morgen-brod of Germany;
and the abend brod is an entfemets tor
four o'cloc k--a connecting link between
dinner and supper. Now, happy is the
man whose wife can afford to send him
a jug Of coffee at these middle meals
and happy was John Reisacher. Not
that he had wife at the time l knew
hith, but just a maiden sister who made
his bed, his soup and his coffee; With
due attention and regularity. He had
however, dauyhter-the child of bis
old age, the consolation of the widower
his everyday companion out of school,
hours, the knitter and mendet of his
stockings, and the 'Hebe of his abend
brod.. 'a"a' ~. !: ID; Il 81:
Susanhah Reisacher was one Of those
hardy, straightforward, strong-buit,
and -sober7minded children that we
meet with now and then and at the
first glance We assure ourselves that, be
their condition what it may, they will
inevitably make the best of it, and
thrive progressively, through life, with.
out any other distinction than that, ol
always doing their duty. susannah
fully bore out the promise of her coIun.
tenance. She was one of the mosi
dilligent and orderly scholars Of Sas.
bach school, the most attentive TO- the
duties of household affairs, and steady
beyond comparison in those she owed
tosher old father and her elderly aunt
She; was twelve years old when she
6rstsattracted my notice; and her, faith
er had been ferryman Of Sasbach, il
the district or parish Of Broisach, fol
more than double that number Of years
And 't:must be confessed that old Rel
sacher had the appearance Of one whe
had, been blown, about by the cas-,
winds Of life. He looked more worl:r
than his thread:bate gray jacket, ane
yet there was an air Of precaution 2ano
economy about, him, that. promised al
unusual length Of days both to himsel
and to his wardrobe. He was the ora
Gle Of his village, and oa' remarkable
imam in his 1way.iiaHe could ascertair
when; a dog ORA cow had been looked
Lat BY an evil eye ); and, if invoked
would counteract this spell, by burning
certain withered weeds at midnig ght, ii
fpresence t'of'the afflicted. quadrupeds
He could, moreover; stopfthe. gaping
kmouths Of insignificant wounds BY th,
mysterious utterance Of two Or thee
sentences (Which no one 1e!vger heard :,
and these (when assisted by. .lcobweb'
OF certain ychewed,'leaves) had beer
known. Ito produce miraculous RESULTS
1, But 7; must not trdst myself Will
The precise details Of His 'iddn5 sdpet
fdous Observation-Disclosures: IL Let those Ill
ready meationed suffice; ard lot him
stand out inamy picture as d part aad
parcel of q group in which he does moi
form the principal figure Ian adjunc,
Of that ,deep-rolling river on which mJ
Scene is laid, in which he enthusiast
40 III ~ nw ~ Il; .a,, -: &Ink H.