Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-31
GODFATHER DEATH.
From the German.l

n poor uuD, VINO Hdu IHclNt CHliuItHi
for whose bread he had to work day and
night, was in despair when the thirteenth
came into the world. He rushed out of
his house, determined to ask the first
person he met to be the godfather to the
newly born. A bright and beautiful
form appeared to him.
Poor man." it said, g. pity thee. !
will hold thy child at the font; l will care
for him, and he shall be happy all his
life"
But the man said 81 know thee. /
| will nos have thee for a godfather, for
thou givest to the rich and leave the
poor to hunger"
Thus he spoke, who knew not that
Providence is all-wise in gifts; who only
felt that poverty is bitterness. SO he
turned from his friend and sought fur
ther; and soon dark shape appeared.
"Wilt thou have me to be the god.
father of thy child p it said. =" will
heap gold on him, and he shall enjoy all
the pleasures that earth affords"
"No," cried the man, y know thee
too we'll; thou dost deceive, and lead
men to sorrow and to sin.
He went on, and presently meagre-
legged Death stalked before him.
fTake me for thy godfather" said he
&C make all men equal."
II accept thee, answered the man,
"f for thou sparest neither rich nor poor
~ promise thee, said Death, that
thy child shall be rich and honored, for
nothing lacks to him who takes me for
his friend.
When the boy had grown to be man,
his godfather came TO him, and led him
forth into wood; then, showig him an
herb, he said:
Now will fulfil my promise Thou
shalt be a great physician. When thou
art with the sick, if thee seest me at the
head, thou mayest be sure this weed will
cure but if stand at the foot, no art
will save, for shall have chosen. But,
beware Use not this herb with the de-
sire to defraud me, or thou wilt weep the
day u
The young physician name became
famous throughout the world from far
and near men sought him, for his word
of life or death never failed fortune
smiled upon him, and he became rich
At last the King fell, and the skillful
doctor was called to his aid. When he
reached the royal bed, Death stood at
the foot. and stared in the sick mans
face But the physician would not de-
snair: for the sake of such patient, he
resolved to outwit the godfather, trusting
To be forgiven for the first offense. He
therefore turned the King head so that
! Death stood no longer at the foot, but at
| the head He then administered the
healing hcrb, and the King was cured
and arose. Death scowled on his god
child. and raised his long finger with
threatening gestures.
"This time pardon thee, he NUT
tered, "but betrsy me not again, or woe
to thee.
But sickness again entered the palace,
and the King wept day and night over
his only daughter; in his despair, he
nromised that she should be the wife OF
wbomsoever saved her. The physician
came and found Death waiting at her
feet but the maiden beauty and inno'
cence tempted him to defy once more his
godfather. In vain Death frOwned and
shook his clenched fist; the bed OF the
natient was turned, the herb was admins
tered. and health and strength returned
|
| Tins twice cheated of his prey, seized
his codchild with his ice cold hand, and
dragged him into his home beneath the
earth There burned millions OF flames
some large, some less, some very small,
in immsasuFable rows. At every mo-
ment some were eKtsngHished, and others
l[indled; so. that constantly appearing
and disappearing, they seemed ever in
motion. -.
"These," said Death, "are the life
lights of men. These highest and
brightest belong to childreni the next IN
size to married people. in their first,
best years; the least TO the aged-ih0ugh
some children and young people have
also small flames"
The physician asked to see his own,
and Death pointed to a faint glimmering
light. which seemed on the point of ex-
hiring. THAT" said he, ia thinel
"Ohl dear godfather said the
trembling man, "let me enjoy more life
I must be the husband of the little
maiden have saved
"In vain dost thou ash" replied
Death, "the old fame must, die before
! a new one can be lighted.
ooh. put it on another table that may
kindle as this expires, cried the physi-
clan.
Death feigned to grant the petition
but when he touched the little, flicker
ing fame, il fell and was extinguished,
aud Deaths cold hand clutched his god
child.