The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-17
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THRIFT; OR, NOTHING Is USELESS.
FROM THE GERMAN.

FROM THE GERMAN.
John Schmid WAS An old soldier with . wood
be waa obliged to solicit aims from door to
door, in the villages near to that in which he
lived, which was situated on the Lake of Con-
Mt ease in his armchair. He is in independent
circumstances, yet few people guess how he
came by his wealth. One affirms that he dis
covered secret treasure; others have gone so
far as to hint that he made compact with the
evil one. When such hints are dropped in my
presence, I fail not to reprove the speakers. i
know better the means BY which the old SOL
der got rich, and will tell you how it was.
John Schmid had three sons, whom he had
brought up we'll in spite of his poverty for
he not only furnished them with good advice,
but with good example. and suffered many
One morning in spring, rs the old man was
dividing amongst them the bread which was
to break their fast, he said, My children, you
are now old enough to gain your own liveli-
other means of obtaining it that would be
taking bread out Of the mouths of those who
want it more than you. Pierre" he continued,
old, and have sharp eyes; use them to seek
employment You, Gabriel, though year
younger, have strong arms; set them to work.
You, You George, thong b only eleven, have stout
But what" exclaimed the three boys at
once, would You have us to dop
John Schmid answered, II know that you
nor aocks to tend; but there are many things
thrown away as useless, but which, with q
little industry, may be collected and made
profitable. By and by will show you how.
in obedience to your wants, but economize it
for the necessities of the future, be it ever SO
little. Gould you save only q BATE day, each
would amass at the end of the year twenty
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
largest of which they could sell to the turner's.
who made them into various useful and orna-
mental articles, while the smaller were required
by farmers for manure. Secondly, pieces of
broken glass. to be disposed of to the glass
workers for recssting. As it was spring, he
charged them to get together all the rose
leaves and elder blossoms which fell in their
way, and for which apothecaries give good
prices: He also reminded his sons that, by q
little inquiry the chemists would point out
what other plants and roots they required.
Upholsterers would purchase cows hair; sad
hair. Besides these articles, he mentioned rags
for paper-makers, bristles for brush-man ufac-
turers, quilts, pins, hedgewood, birdweed, and
several other things, which might be turned
seeking out and collecting them.
Tho sons did rs they were desired, under the
guidance of their father. During the spring
and summer they collected and sold with SUCH
When the autumn came, they sought things
of different kind. Wherever thew could oh
tain permission, they gathered wild fruits,
some of which could be made into yinepar and
other useful articles. From the woods tbsv
obtained quantities of acorns and the seeds of
other species of trees, for which they obtained
a good price, sometimes from forresters, at
others from grain-dealers. They also got TO-
gether heaps of horse-chestnuts, and took them
to the mill to be ground. The miller thought
they were going TO eat this bitter flour, and
curious taste bat John Schnid's sons let him
laugh, and took their borse-chestnut -four to
the book-binders, card oard-makers, and 9TH
ers who made use of paste, the glntinousuess
warm shower the young Schmids sought for
which they disposed of the cpl
cures of the neighborhood.
Having saved quantity of birch-twigs,
rushes and osiers, the old man and his sons oc-
cupied the winter months in making brooms,
chair-bottoms and baskets, 80 that their cot
tage appeared both like q warehouse and work
old John Schmid thought it advisable to see
what had been gained during the year. On
opening the box in which the cash had been
deposited, be found that each of his three sons
had contributed more than n BATE q day of
his savings, for the money box contained one
hundred and four tiorins and twenty three
kreutzers. At the sight of the hoard the
seen so large a sum at once. John Schmid i'm
mediately carried the money to a wholesale
tFadesman in o large town, and deposited it
with him at interest.
John Schmd, now no longer a beggar, en-
ployed himself solely in helping his sons to
soil off the merchandise they collected. This
went on for four years. ae the end of which the
family had amassed six hundred and fourteen
forms! AS, however, their riches increased,
the young men grew independent in their man.
ners, aud disputed amongst themselves; one
accusing the other of not working hard enough,
of selling too cheaply, or of extravaganza in
treating himself to cup of vino rather too
often. Poor old Schmid! Do all he could, he
was unable, on some occasions to settle these
Nothing seemed likely to cure the
evil but separation and, addressing his sons,
he said, "1ake each of you one hundred forms
aud seek your fortunes in the world. Industry
and economy always prosper. The rest of the
capital shall remain in the hands of the banker
in case that any unforeseen misfortune should
fall on any Of us so as to need it. But
while it remains untouched, the interest will
be added to tho principal" To this the young
men agreed and, taking each his apportioned
sum, babe adeu to their. father. They took
their departure, each in different direction.
Pierre went eastward, Gabriel westward, and
George towards. the south. John Sckmid
grieved to part with his children; but he knew
1t was for their good, and bore his regrets in