The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-11-15
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1.-THE great barns and out-houscs were
full to oyertiowing with earth's richest
'haryests, as in the days when Franz
Leinhardt, the wood cutter, gased envi-
oasly at them from his cot on the noun
..taip side. Plenty and to spare Franz
had, but there had been little comfort
or happiness in the little brown house
since he called himself its master. No
weary waytarer blessed his hospitality,
nor eager children CLEANED the scatter
iDgs Of his fields: he saved money to
make more money, to save more money,
not to purchase his own ease or luxury,
or to do good to others. Forsaking all
other pleasures and affections, he loved
Mammon only, and toiled and slaved for
gold Twas all he had to love. No
wife had gladdened the little brown
house with her loving smiles, nor chill
dren'SYoices woke It's slumbering echoes
n'Women," said he, "were extrayagant
and lazy; they were silly and useless;
and he was not rich enough to keep a
wife in ideness;" but | doubt if any of
the flir-haired, blue-e eyed maids of
tLundkolping would have had him for
all his gold. But while wealth flowed
into the strong box of Franz, and stuck
there as if wedged and welded fast.
Flemming'slittle stock OF worldly goods
had found wings and flown away, and
turn which way he would he found HIM
self pusrued by an overwhelming tide
Of jill fortune; yet there was many a
honey drop in his bitter cup Christina,
no longer roSy-cheeked and dimpe-
handed, was as tender and true as in the
'May-day of their love, and met fate
bravely, toiling early and late to help
provide for the six sturdy children who
made her merry with their laughter. 1t
must be admitted, however, that highly
as these heart-treasures are priced by
their possesSors, (and | have heard very
poor men say worlds could not buy one
of them), they are more likely TO drag a
man down to the mire Of poverty, than
raise hun to the sunny plains of aillu-
ehee. Through all these years while
Franz was growing richer and richer,
Flemming was slipping down the grim
descent till he landed at the bottom sick
and penniless.i His good wife wept and
prayed and toiled; but eightmouths are
hard to ill, and one cold bleak winter
day found the young Leinhardts keeping
q forced fast, with no corresponding
feast in prospect. The mother sat be-
side her sick husband with despair in
Der face, till the tears and lamentations
Of her children were unendurable; and
throwing shawl over her head, she
sailed out in the drifting snow and
clustering wind to try if, after years Of
arrangement, Franz could not be moved
to part with some of his boarded wealth
to save his kindred from famine. She
toiled along the rough road in the face
OF storm that nearly blow her away,
without feeling much of its fury, for her
heart was in her poverty stricken home;
but when she reached the little brown
house she trembled, hesitating to sup
plicate the pity of a man SO hard and
uprelenting.
She peeped timidly in at the window;
Franz was sitting in large arm chair,
before great blazng fire, smoking his
pipe with dreamy satisfaction. On the
mantle before him there stood n quaint
old clock, and while she gazed the wheels
began to whirr, and out popped queer
little man in red night-oap, holding
tiny bag in each hand, which he clauked
together three or four times, nodding
and rolling his odd little head all the
time. Franz took the pipe from his
mouth and nodded gravely to the little
mannikin, which darted into the clock
again, and all was silent Fonr O'Clock!
Already the night was closing in, the
snow fell in thicker flakes, and the wind
grew each moment more clustering
The poor woman felt there was no time
TO lose Her timid knock brought
Franz TO the door, and with broken
voice and sinking heart she began her
stpryi but no sooner did he understand
that she wanted help than he motioned
herimpadently from the door, saying;
"Go, go; am | to blame that my brolh-
er is a fool and has pack of children2
Had be minded me he would have no
such plaques IT'S only worthless idle
people who are poor and need help.
! wont encourage imprudence and mis-
management" Shut my husband is
sick; how can leave him to work for
my ehildren2" sobbed poor Christina,
"Iet him go to hospital, be induslr.
Ous and frugal aud take care Of your
children: 'tis your business, not mine" !
returned Franz roughly, "Ah me-" |
cried the poor woman, clasping her
hands, and raising her fearful eyes
TO the stormy sky, "it is night and win
Ter, my children are starving, surely |
shall go mad :" and as she turned sadly |
away, she said, "I' pray God the gold .
that has so hardened your heart may
never weigh so heavy on your soul that
you cannot mount to glory" and with
bowed head and slow step she disap-
peared in the storm and darkness. Franz
stood looking after her with something
like remorse in his heart, Till night
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