The Grand Haven news., 1865-03-22

sickness, was, with her four children, suf-
feriDg the bitterest poverty. He, the old
est, had resolved to seek assistance, and
had gone from house to house, then he
came To Dantzic. The merchants heart
was touched. He had but one child, and
the boy appeared to him as draft at
sight, which Providence had drawn upon
him as a test of his gratitude.
L" Listen, my SON." he began, "have
you really wish to learn 7"
"Oh, yes, have indeed, have read
the catechism already, but at home / had
to carry my little brothers while my
mother was sick"
Herr Richter's plan was Immediately
formed.
SWELL then," he said, "if you are
honest | will take care of you, you shall
learn, have meat and drink, and clothing,
and in time earn something besides
Then you can support your mother and
brothers also"
The boys ewes flashed with JOY, but in
a moment he cast them down and said,
my mother all the while has nothing to
eat"
At that instant, as if sent by Provi-
dence, an inhabitant of the boys native
village entered the store, aud confirmed
the lads story.
He willingly consented to carry the
mother tidings of her son Gottlieb, and
food and small sum of money from the
merchant. AT the same time Herr Rich
ter directed his bookkeeper to write a let
ter 10 the pastor Of the village, commend
the widow to his care, with an additional
sum enclosed to the poor family, and
promising further assistance.
AS soon as this was done, Herr Rich
ter furnished the boy with decent clothes,
and at noon led him to his wife, whom he
accurately informed of little Gottlieb's sto-
ry, and Of the plans he had formed for
him. The good woman readily promis-
ed her best assistance, in the latter, and
she faithfully kept her word.
During the next four years Gottlieb at
tended the schools of the great CONNER
cial city; then his faithful foster father
took him into his counting room to edu-
cate him for business.
AT the writing-desk, as well as at the
school-bench, the ripening youth display
cd himself not only by his natural capac-
ity, but by the faithful industry with
which he exercised it.
OF his weekly allowance he sent the
half regularly to his mother, until she
died, after having survived two of his
brothers. She had passed the last Of her
life, not in wealth, j. is true, but by the
aid of the noble Richter, and of her son,
in condition above want.
After the death of his dearly beloved
mother be had no other friend except his
benefactor. Out Of the love TO him he
became an active, jealous merchant. He
began by applying the superfuity Of bis
allowance, which be could now dispose Of,
10 trade in Hamburg quills.
When by care and prudence he gained
one hundred and twenty dollars, it hap,
pened that he found in his native village
a quantity Of fax and hemp, which was
very good and still to be had at a reason
able price. He asked his foster-father to
advance him two hundred dollars which
he did with great readiness; and the bu-
siness prospered so well that, in the third
year Of bis clerkship, Gottlieb had already
acquired the sum of five hundred dollars.
Without giving up bis trade he now traf-
ficked in linen goods; and the two COM
bined made him, in couple of years,
about one thousand dollars richer. This
happened during the customary five years
Of clerkship; at the end Of that period,
Gottlieb continued TO serve his benefactor
five years more with industry and skill;
then he took the place Of the bookkeeper
who had died about this time, three years
after he was taken as partner by bis
benefactor, with a third part of the prof
its. Soon disease cast Herr Richter on
a bed of sickness, and kept him confined
to bis couch two years. Gottlieb, redoub-
ling his exertions, became the soul Of the
whole business. Herr Richter closed his
eyes in death in the sixty sixth year Of his
age. In the year 1928, ten years after,
the house of Gottlieb Bern owned three
large ships, and the care Of Providence
seemed especially TO watch over the inter-
ersts Of their owner. He married the
daughter OF his beDefactor.
Il is but a few years since this child Of
poverty, Of honest industry, and misfor-
tune, passed away il peace from this
world.
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the