The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-09-14


and economy always prosper. The
rest of the capital shall remain in tho
hands of the banker, in case that any
unforeseen misfortune should fall on
any of us 80 as to need it. But while
it remains untouched, the interest
will be added to the principal" 10
this the young men agreed; and tax
ing each his apportioncd sum, bade
adieu to their father. They tooE
their departure each in different di-
rection. Pierre went eastward, Gabri'
el westward, and George toward the
south. John Schmid grieved to part
with his children; but he knew il
was for their good, and bore his re-
grets in silence. =.
Years rolled on. John Schmid
grew old and weak, but he would not
touch kreutzcr of his childrcn's capi-
tai. At length he fell ill; and some
of his neighbors, pittying his lonely
state, sent him relief; others declared
they had poor enough Of their own
to support, and though he had lived
in their village for twcnty-onc years,
threatened to send him away as a
stranger. Upon this old John wrote
to the merchant who held his money,
saying, "Scnd me 800 ilorins of the
capital / deposited in your hands
for | am aged and weak, and for
fourteen years | have not heard OF
my children. Doubtless they are
dead. 1t will not be long ere | fol-
low them to the grave.
The honest merchant promptly re-
piled to the old mans demand. 81
return you,' he wrote, "thc sum you
ask. The balance remaining is per-
haps greater than you imagine. 1t
has increased, little by little, to moro
than l,0C) ilorins.
When the money arrived the pear
ants stared with wonder, and dcclar-
cd that John Schmid must be con-
iurcr. But the old man himself, in
spite of his riches, was unhappy lie
wished to join his sons,whom he
thought to be no more. lie would
often cxclaim, 81 shall die in solitude ;
no son is left to close my eyes"
However, hc recovered from his i'll
ness, and it was destined that he
should not die alone.
One Sunday evening he was seated
with other peas ants under q linden
tree, when servant on horseback
rode up, and inquired if any ono
could direct him to tho cottage of
John Schmid? The villagers, full of
astonishmcnt, replied, "Iou need not
seek him in his house, for he is here.
AS they stared and whipcrcd inqui'
RIGS to one another as to what WAS to
come next, two handsome carriages
entered the village, and stopped be-
fore old John Schmid's door. Three
wcll-drcsscd gentlemen and two Ia
dies descended from the coaches, and
as old John made his appearance
threw themselves successfully into
his arms.
"My dear father" said the eldest,
"can it be possible that you have for
gotten us? | am Pierre. | have
become awholcsalc grocer at Varso-
vic, in Poland, and this lady is my
wife, Then the second spoke: 81
am your son, Gabriel, and also bring
you Il daughtcr-inlaw. ] to, reside
ut Vasovie, and deal in corn." Pres
emily the third son came forward.
a." he said, "am George. have re-
Gently returned from India, where !
have made {. fortune by commerce.
Seeing by the Gazcttcs that my BROTH
crs were in Poland, ] joined them,
and we all agreed to travel hither to
seek you, and TO make you happy for
the rest of your life" Poor old
was overcome, and shed tears.
lie invoked blessings on his chill
drcn.
10 YOU" exclaimed one of them
"wc owe all of our good fortune.
Had you not taught us that nothing,
be it ever so dcspiscd, is useless
had You not made us industrious,
pcrscvcring, and economical, We
should still have been mcndicants."
The rest of John Schmid's lie was
snent in happiness, for one or the 9TH
cr of his sons always remained with
him. The money which had acct
during their long absence,
was drawn from the merchant in
whose hands it had so much incrcas-
cd, and employed in building a school
for the gratuiti0us education of poor
children.
TO those who, like me, were aware
of the means by which the Schmid's
grew rich, their rise in the world is
known to be the certain result of in
tcgriIy, indusir! and perseverance in
to account things generally
considered useless. Spite, however,
of all ! can urge, ono or two of the
most prciudiccd villagers shrug their
shoulders when John Schmid's name
is mentioned, and insinuatc that he
must have made "ompact with Il GER
tain namclcss person.
How MOukcvS arc tuIiwhi