The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-11-26

NN w s'N0 ""ihiuS vi tne delay OF
two days. l rode away, having many
visits to make but returned that day
and resumed my investigation. There
was no change. slept that night at
Magdalen's. / went out and returned
at evening. No change. Only the
hands seemed less cold. l watched
anxiously. 1 felt the heart, the pulse.
thought perceived a very slight mo.
ton. l called Magdalen; called Karl.
Both came, looking at me with a sort of
bewilderment. 80 help me God said
In a whisper, as ifshe might hear me.
there Is life tell you, life.'
THAT whole night watched her. The
pulsations, though very slow, seemed
to increase in strength; and towards
morning, just when the sun began to
rise above the Alps, thought 1 could
perceive twitching motion, repeated
at intervals.
"Magdalen, said L, do thou stay
here; Karl, go thou in the next room.
When say, speak say in thy natural
voice at the open door: list 7rudchen
,eeU?" and repeat it,
"When the sunbeams began to dart
thro' the cottage window, the twitch.
ing increased, the pulsations increased,
the warmth increased. At my warn
ing Karl said, list Trudchen well?, re.
peating it at intervals some three or
four times. There was sort of conyul.
sive effort visible in the whole frame.
the lips trembled, the hands opened and
closed, then minute OF perfect still.
ness, then heard, like faint whisper.
Kari tis kommen, Kart It's komnaen y
And the whisper died away, succeeded
by stiffness again. When the voice Of
Karl repeated, rs Trudchen well?' the
eyelids opened little, the head began
to turn in the direction OF the voice, and
there came clear utterance: lMitter,
n'utter, Kart lis kommen y
"The mother pale with anxiety, ap.
preached, knelt dow n, took her hand.
kissed it, kissed her half.opened lips,
and sobbed 'Trudchen Trudchenr
Mother she then said, slowly and
scarcely audibly, "where is Karl? Moth
er, l heard the bells ring-'and then
she seemed to sleep again. After a few
minutes her breathing became louder,
stronger, and heaving deep sigh, and
opening her eyes fully, looked upon
her, smiled, and said Not yet to bed,
mother? 1t must be late. Then perl
ceiving the sunlight, she said is it
day, mother; methinks ! heard the bel.
ring. How is it, mother"
| 1--WE had already removed all ap-
pearance Of the last tokens of love be.
slowed upon her, and said she had been
very Ill, but was better now. And by
degrees l informed her that Karl was
coming; then, that he had come then
that he was there, and towards noon
she begged so hard to see him that she
got permission.
Sand now, my dear friend, you know
all about Tru dchen and if have been
long, forgive the medical man and the
old man"
Here he was interrupted by two
strong arms which clasped him tight
| from behind, while Well-remembered
voice said:
"Du Heber Herr DoctOr; what hap.
py day what IL happy day! !"
| The doctor arose at once, and grasp
ing the speakers hand, said to me, "An
old friend Herr Land AMMAN"
Three years had made some change in
Karl's appearance. Yet / recognized
easily in the dignificd magistrate the
weather beaten Karl, conducted home
by his numerous friends. He, too, re
membered me, and said with a smile OF
inward satisfaction:
"Welcome, welcome, mein Herr, well
come to the happiest day Of my life"
"Herr Amman," said l, smiling" "was
there not one even happier than this ?"
THAT was day Of God sent bliss my
friend" said he, with solemn tone, Eyes,
OF God-sent bliss" and he looked up
with hi. dark hazel eyes, as if his glance
went direct to God. "That was Elm
setgans td9," IA day of blessing) contin.
ued he. "Happiness does not come up
to what felt then, my friend. All, the
doctor told thet."
"He did," said ], "but left it to you
to explain the change see the whole
OF this; all, all, my dear friend"
Easy enough" said he, seating him
self, and holding my hand in both of
his. II went to America to make my
fortune"
81 know it," said |.
IL heard OF California it was In 1913.
l went straight to the mining region
ii was easier work then accumulated
In one week more gold than had seen
in my whole life. One night, half be-
wildered by my success, l thought Of
Pastor Liebing's parting words, Karl
shre GonP (honor God) and rose from
my rough couch and said, 'Du he6er
GoH,' If Thou bleSseth me with gold,
and allowest me to see Prudchen alive,
tenth shall give To build an Orphan
Home for the Berner Oberland."
"Month after month I worked and
boarded, and within two years / re-
turned TO New York, thence to my
home. Good friends more knowing than
1 in business, had taken charge of my
fortune. l came, and thou knowest
what happened. And when l received
Trudchen again there his voice became
thick, and he mastered his emotion
with great difficulty, l set TO work,
bought this land, built this house, gath
cred the orphans, and here they are. A
small token Of thankfulness to the AL
mighty Lord OF life and death"
He stopped, unable to speak; and
WAS myself not little moved. After
while l said: "And so you are Land
Amnlan?'
He smiled. money does many
things my friend. In this country,
among the poor, hard working noun
I