The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-11-15

Fweigh down soul and hewished yvlGlled.wlptcf
tliathe Eas,i flat soFhe denlonswOud give him
trial; not that he was more willing to lose hi,
soul than another but being very shrswi he gould
: think Of tittv WAYS TO keep lhe guld, and cheai
4 thedevi lii such thoughts as these, lime slipped
! away the fire smoldered down to glowing Goals
and shadows crept across the floor. Amid the
deep silence the wheels OF the clock began Il
whrr and forth from his retreat darted the little
man in the red nightcap, clankng his bags to.
gether twelve times. This Franz expected, but
hls HstonlshmCnt was extreme when, instead Of
returning modestlv to his den in the Old clock, as
be had done every hour for Years; the goblin,
demon, or whatever he was, seated himself on the
mantle shelf nodding and winkng at Franz as II
there was some deep secret between them. Franz
rubbed his bewldered eyes and stared with all
his miglIl-theIe sat the little mannikn, knocking
his tiny heels together, and eyeing him with a
look Of malicious Intelligence. II can do ii for
you, Lelnhardt said he at length with knowing
wink look al these shaking his little bags
tIiumphantly, "they are full of gold" Franz
I laughed aloud Ten thousand of such Liliputian
bags would not have been drop in the great
ocean Of his ayariee. Don't laugh, Franz Lein-
hardt " said the goblin with an angry frown, Il
could shake gold enough from these bags to bury
! YOU. II wished lie down and place your strong
box upon your breast. and | will give YOU gold as
/ long as you can bear its weight but have a caro-
| you dot take more than you can lift, for though
| / can give, | cannot take away Franz felt n-
clined TO laugh but did as he was bid stretching
himself on the floor with his strong box on his
breast and the little goblin perchmg himself upon
! the side, began to pour small but steady stream
Of glittering gold from his two little bags. The
weight increased sowly at first Franz tried to
move it frequently, but as the box grew heavier
/ Ills eXultatiOn knew no bounds, and so 10th was
/ lie to lose one grain of the precious yellow dust
That II was not ill sense OF sutocation oppressed
| him, and he found his strength barely sufficient
I to move the box that he cried stop :" "Oh, YOU
are not allowing for py weight" said the goblin
britkly and Franz, easily persuaded, permitted
hiuf TO pour in title more. The gold seemed to
flow much faster than before, and again he cried
! stop l"st0pn' for the weight was crushing him.
With shril laugh the goblin disappeared, vet
The box was not whit lighter for his absence,
and FlHnz stloYe IN agony to move It, but lnvain.
PooeFfaIiz hehad now what he hoped, and long
ed aud t0lied for --gold heavy yellow gold, more
than he could lift, ttodgh he struggled ever so
hald yet it was with no loving clasp that he
wreathed his arms around it: his heart oulhcd
It's lqrncr idol as legroaugd end Writhcd beneath
the weight. Which gpiuned him to the pefishing
earth and every grain Of shining dust would he
have given for Tic memory Of one act Of loving
charity that might win from the cloud-lhroned
Prince Of tho poor and ncedythG welcOmeBen-
tenee-a alnqsnilch as tge haye done II To one Of
these my brethren We have done II unto Iae
DAYS, niDnthS and Years rolled Ou till ages had
passed m thls linutterable agony when he per-
ceiYed strange cOllnotlOn all around him. and
knew intultvely that the end Of all things earthly
was at hand. Suddenly n bright light shone
around, and u crowd Of people entered the room
and gathered sadly about bm Looking from
lace to face, he recognized friends, acquaintance
aud servants and foremost among them his broth
or, with Iris wife and children. lhaIr was heard
voice saYng-''rhls soul las beer Suffering for
ages and he has learned to hate the gold he wOr-
shipped, therefore any Of you his kindred friends
or servants, whom he has helped, may aid him to
remove the awful load that binds him to the
earth" A cry Of hopeless despair burst from
Eranz's lips as his eyes wandered from face to face,
and only tile memory of harsh words and selfish
actions rose up before him.. One person turning !
to his brother tIelnmlng, said, You were poor |
sckIy creature, with many children often in need
OF daily bread, surely he has given you of his !
abundance and you can help him :" but Flem- |
ming sadly shook his head, and Christina whose |
heart was always ptiml, weptas she turned away |
her face reminding Franz OF that stormy winter
night, long, long ago, when he had driven her |
from bis door cold, hungry and sore. One by
one they passed away with sad, regretful looks |
aud solemn voice like distant echo was
heard ....,.ru. ...
THE GOLD THAT 80 HARDENED HIS HEART HAS |
BOUND HIN TO THE FAITH, HE CAN NEVER MOUNT
no oLoRY.' ~ '.f. '..... .' '...
As his friends departed, the light faded away,
md he was lelt Ills dpon alone and IN darkness
he suffered an eternity Of anguish. With all the |
wild energy of despair he struggled slreknlg for
mercy, when suddenly the Garth gave way beneath
him and, oh horrors he felt himself falling
mlling-until his head came down with dread |
lul thump on the broad stone hearth and Opening |
his eyes he found himself lying among the dead |
cmbeTs. He sat up and rubbed his eyes day. |
light was gliinnering through the windows but |
n Lny nr trnl nr li, k,I
pearcd. He looked learully and shuddcred rs |
the little man in the red nightcap popped out |
and nOddiug his head knowingly, chnkCd his tny |
bags together. Back he dartcd again as usual, |
and his master sat down in deep thought. The |
servants were just up and stirring when Franz
appeared among them, not as hard tasIsmNstGr |
TO urge on their lnbdrs but to issue such orders
that they declared to each other there was no say
Ing what would happen next. Such hustle
arose In the little brown house as il had not seen
for many long, long day, and before an hour had
passed, old Franz was driving his wagon towards
bis brothers house laden with good things for the
sick and hungry. ltwas his first crrand of mercy.
and very queer and hewdered he felt driving
along through the sharp morning air, not to ln-
crease his wealth. but to give part to the poor
and needy; and many old fashioned teyts grew
bright aud fresh In his memory which he had
well nigh forgotten, such as llethat hath ritv
upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that
NHiuh he llhVh gwen VIII ne pay MN again.
blessed be the man that prOvidcth Tor the sick
and needy, the Lord shall deliver him In time of
trouble "..... ."..
When poor Christina was 40 rudelv repulsed
from lIor brothtr-in-lNws door she betoOk her
self with swift foot and heavy heart to her weary
homcward rsad Thcnight was dark, the way
long and rough, and the wind wild and piercing.
Hope, that can light the heaviest load was dead
and love, mans choicest blessing seemed bitter
curse since the sutlerings of each loved one wrung
her heart with anguish. When she reached her
home. Flemming raised his languid head and
Gozed at her with questioning cyesi and the little
children seized her gown. and crowded around
with their clam0rous What did Uncle Franz
give YOU, m0thcri' Nothing, nothing, NV
children All me! yes, few hard words"
lay down and closed his eyes, and the
eager little questonels went suppcrless to bed, and
wcpt themselves to sleep. God help the mother
who hears her children cry IN vain for bread
But where VIII tiny find help who hear such cries
without pity2 when Christ shall say; II was
hmgered, and ye gave me no mcat was naked
and ye clothed mo not"
All the long sad night Christina sat by her cold
HEARTH almost too dCsparlng TO pray; but when
the day broke, ia cold, bleak cOmtOrtless light
making the desoatOn of her home acem vet more
drcaN-wOnd Of all wonders Franz's wagon
drew up ut the door and the little man, nervous
and tldgety az one will be In novel position,
jumped ont, shook hands with Blcmmug and his
wife, and hasencd to deliver his load of comforts
After yesterdays rcpulsc, Christina could not