The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-09-15
Thrift, or Nothing Is Useless.

| VI AtVsAAn3 40 SDChNCCs
John Schmid was an old soldie
with wooden leg he was so pool
that for some years he was oblige,
to solicit aims from door to door i
villages near to that In which he lived
which was situated on the lake o
Constance. Now, however, old Johl
Schmid sits at his ease in his arm
chair he is in Independent circum
stances ;yet few people guess how b
came by his wealth. One afirms tha
he discovered q secret treasure other
have gone so far as to hint, that b.
made compact with the Evil One
When such hints are dropped in m,
presence, / fail not to reprove tn
speakers. know better the mean
by which the old soldier got rich, and
will tell you how it was.
John Schmid had three sons, whom
he had brought up well In spite Of hi
poverty; for he not only furnishe,
them with good advice but with
good example, and suffered man.
privations that he might send them t.
school. One morning in spring, a
the old man was dividing among
them the bread which was to breal
their fast, he said, "My children, yol
are now old enough to gain your owl
livelihood; but you must not bes
while there are other means Of OBJ
tanning it-that would be takinI
bread out of the mouths of those wht
may want it more than you. PIERRE
he continued turning to the eldest
"you are fourteen years old, and have
sharp eyes-use them to seek employ
ment. You, Gabriel, though a yeal
younger, have strong arms-set then
to work. You, George, though only
eleven, have stout legs-proft by
them"
"But what" exclaimed the three
boys at once, "what would you have
us to do~
John Schmid answered, 81 know
that you have neither land to cult
vate, wood to fell, nor flocks to tend
but there are many things that arc
thrown away % useless, but which
with O little industry may be collect
ed and made profitable. By-and-by
l will show you how. Do not spend
the money which you will earn in
obedience to your wants, but econo-
mize it for the necessities of the future,
be it ever so little. Could you save
only batz day, each would amass
at the end Of the year tweny-fOur
FORMS"
Upon this John Schmid set about
showing his sons how they might
earn their bread. He desired them
to go in different directions to collect
the following articles first, bones, the
largest of which they could sell to
the turner's, who made them into va
rious useful and ornamental articles,
while the smaller were required by
farmers for manure. Secondly, pieces
Of broken glass, to be disposed of to
The glass-workers for re-casting. AS
it was spring, he charged them to
get together all the rose leaves and ell
.ler blossoms which fell in their way,
and for which the apothecaries give
good prices. He also reminded his
sons, that by q little inquiry the chem
sts would point out what other
plants and roots they required. Up
holsters would purchase cows hair,
3addlers, coach-makers, and chair
horse hair. Besides these
articles, he mentioned rags for paper
makers, bristles, for brush manufac.
turcrs, Quills, pins, hedge-wood, bird
weed, and several other things which
might be turned into money with no
other trouble than that of seeking out
and collecting them.
The sons did as they were desired,
under the guidance of their father.
During the spring and summer they
collected and sold with such success,
hat their profits daily augmented.
When autumn came. they sought
.hings of different kind. Where
,ver they could obtain permission
hey gathered wild fruits, some Of
which could be made into vinegar
md other useful articles. From the
woods they obtained quantities of
lcorns and the seeds of other species
If trees, for which they obtained
rood price sometimes from foresters,
It others from grain-dealers. They
llso got together heaps ofhorse-chest-
luts, and took them to the mill to be
.round. The miller thought they
we're going to eat this bitter flour,
md made himself merry at the eX-
lense of their curious taste but j ohm
Schmid's sons let him laugh, and
ook their rse-chestnut-flour to the
,ookbinders, car-board-makers, and
,thers who make use of paste, nc
of which it increases.
Immediately after a warm shower,
he Schmids sought for mushrooms,
which they disposed of to the cpl
:ures of the neighborhood.
Having saved a quantity Of birch
wigs, rushes, and osiers, the old man
md his sons occupied the winter
months in making brooms, chair
,Ottoms, and baskets, so that their
cottage appeared both like ware
lousc and a workshop. In this way
he spring returned, and old John
Schmid thought it advisable to see
what had been gained during the
;car. On opening the box in which |
he cash was deposited, he found that
ach of his three sons had contribu-
ed more than q batz q day ofsav-
ngs, for tho money box contained |
O4 florins and 23 kreutzers. At the |
light of the hoard the sons were de- |
lighted, for they had never before |
cen so large sum at once. John
,chmid immediately carried the
money to a Wholesale tradesman in q |
arge town, and deposited it with |
lin at interest.
John Schmid, now no longer beg
ar, employed himself solely in help
ng his sons TO sell Off the merchan-
Iisc they collected. This went OH |
or four years, at the end of which |
he family had amasse,l Gil flOrins
rs, however, their riches increased,
he yoIng men grew independent in
heir manners, and disputed among
themselves one accusing the other
# not working hard enough, of sell
ng too chcapiy, or of extravaganza
n treating himself TO a cup of wine
athcr too often. Poor old Schmid,
Ione all he could, he was unable on
ONE occasions to settle these discus
ions. Nothing seem likely TO cure
he evil but separation and address
ng his sons, he said, "Take each of
.ou one hundred tlorins, and seek
our fortunes in the world, industry
nd economy always prosper. The
est ofthe capital shall remain in the
lands of the banker, in case that any