Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-03


When school began again, however
he had TO go into higher class, so fher.
was more to learn and less time TO teach
birds. Now he began to read, and every
day had to listen while the schoolmastel
told them one of the stories ont of the
Bible Notwithstanding the low, NUT
tering tone in which this was done, whicf
made some of the other boys restless
aud some sleepy, Konrad found them
interesting, and in the evening repeated
hem all to his "Auntie Lena" without
lsleAving out a thing This was a great
benefit as well rs pleasure to Lena, fol
she had to-work so hard that she had nc
time to read for herself
Then, again, his repeating them to
her made him remember them better
himself, 30 that when the examination
came again, not boy in the class could
answer like him. He was go prompt
and SO correct that he obtained an honor
be never dreamed Of, and could hardly
1elie 'e his own ears about, for the pas
tor, who was the questioner, asked
aloud: " Who ia that boy who spells &C
well and answers 30 correctly and
forthwith the schoolmaster publicly read
ont his whole name, "Johan Konrad
Weise."
But now a sad change. Konrsd had
grown tall, stout, and strong, and in the
vacations earned a good deal for his
Auntie Lena; but in one harvest field
be made The acquaintance of some bad
boys, who. led him into all sorts of wick
edness Lena cried to herself, and
talked TO him, and was very miserable ;
but all seemed to do no good She
heard dreadful things of him-that he
cut peoples fine fruit trees, dug their
potatoes, and made fires in their best
meadows by which to roast these pota-
toes and apples. At last she got angry,
and one day when be came home ragged
and with cut face, she told him very
earnestly that she was glad now that his
mother was dead and gone to heaven,
for if she had lived to see him thus she
would have been wretched."
Konrad made no reply and went to
bed and Lena cried and prayed ear
nestly to the great, holy God to touch
his heart, for she thought he had gone
off sulky and angry because he said
nothing. 1t made her so sick that the
next morning she could not rise but
Konrad was up early, and, coming to
her bedside, begged her pardon very
humbly for his bad conduct, aud prom.
ised never to behave so again. Lena
was very ready to forgive him, and
begged that be would ask the dear God
to do so too and 30 be did. No doubt
he was pardoned and helped, for better
boy than he now became need never be-
desired. He did at home all be could
think of or his Auntie tell him. Il
Then came great time in the town.
The Government School Snperintend-
ent was coming TO visit the school, and
the boys, even the most idle, studied
hard. As before, Konrsd was again 90
prompt and exact, that the "most hon.
orable," as they were told to call him,
publicly asked who he was and who
were his parents,g and, like the pastor,
made Lena a visit He paid her great
many compliments on the training she
had given him, and asked what she
meant him to be. Very indignant was
he when he heard that she meant to
make tailor of him, though, as be said,
it was a most respectable trade. But
the master hsd orders to select such
boys as we're most fond of books to be
educated az schoolmasters, of whom
they were in great want; and in this
case the loss would be double, for he
was too full of study ever to make good
tailor. Lena said she would be very
| glad 10 see him schoolmaster, but she
did not want him to leave her, and had
not the means of giving him education
enough. To this the gentleman replied
that he would take care of ''the means"
and as to giving him mp, that was silly,
| for she would have to do IL at some time.
1t was accordingly arranged that he
shonld ray where he was and study hard
for one year longer, then be was to GO
to the gentleman and be placed in the
government training school.
But he must have kept his word about
scolding the master for making such a
mistake, for the latter was very angry
about something, and treated Konrad so
unkindly-giving him no chances for
Improvement that he could keep from
him--that the poor boy became quite
discouraged, and wrote TO the inspector
to say that the plan must be given up
He only gave as reason that be "wish-
ed to help his Auntie Immediately"
bat the" most honorable" man suspected
something more, and soon came at the
truth. Respecting Konrad all the more
for making no complaints, he came him
self, gave Lena money to buy him good
and neat clothes, and babe him come r.
his no se in the great city in month
from that time.
Here Konrad was placed at ence il
the training school, and had to d 6
close examination; but Konrad, I'm {
little boy, had not wasted his time and
! opportunities, and now that he was largl
one he felt the benefit He was admit
ted, and continuing to do his best as b.
had done before, found himself in few
years the master of one of the govern
ment schools, aud able to hire a com
Portable and pleasant House, into whisl
he Immediately moved his "Aunti
+ Lena" the proudest woman, and tn.
happiest, in all the town in which the,
, lived. When the next Easter feast cam
around and she walked to the churcl
leaning on the arm of her fine, manly
looking foster. son, in her skirt of THO
black silk, her velvet waist, neatly trim
med neck handkerchief, snow white car
and pocketed apron, O more respectful
person was not 10 be seen; and no prayer
and praises went up that day from NOR
! earnest hearts than from those of Il
seams tress and her foster,son.