The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-01-05
OUR YOUNG FOLKS, COLUMN.
nc Legend or IInnr IkeIIer.

he would have been willing to spare
a little to the suffering poor around
him, but throughout all the town of
Bremen, those who suffered cold and
hunger knew it was no use asking
aims at his door, for the servants had
strict orders to drive all beggaTs away
from the door of his family mansion
and he was called Hans OF the Stony
Heart by all the town.
The ground was covered deeply
with snow; the wind whistled mourn
fully. A poor old man, almost naked
stopped at Hans door; he knocked
the door opened.
''Old man, begone!" said the foot
man; ''Our master does not think it
right to support or help lazy people"
"But / am not lazy; / am old and
infirm," said the old man.
"GO to the hospital, then"
az am hungPy-I am cold"
81 can't help that. What does it
matter to my master? BECOME as
quickly as pOssible!"
But the old man remained notion
less. "Lead me to your master; he
will not refuse me a morsel Of breadp
"YOu are joking, old man: Come,
go, or I'll make yOu!"
The old man made a step or two
X ~
Iifeless, on the threshold.
The fOOtman went and told his mas
ter what had happened, and asked if
he should take the poor old mau in;
Hans Of the Stony Heart replied:
"My house is not a hospital; throw
the old man into the street."
They dragged the ifeless body into
the street, and the falling snow soon
covered it up; but when they searched
for the body to bury it, strange to say,
It could not be found.
Then poor woman came to the
door as Hans was coming forth well
wrapped in costly furs, and showing
her half-naked bale, begged him to
give her something to keep her child
from peTishing of the cold; but Hans
Of the Stony Heart drove her away,
aud the child died even while the ser
wants yet had their Lands upon her
arms.
A few days afterwards Hans was
celebrating tile wedding Of his only
daughter, and while seated at The
table, at the wedding breakfast, q let
ter was handed to him. 1t announc-
ed the arrival Of a rich Indian mer-
chant, with whom ne had traded
many years-and requested Hans to
come at once In the carriage sent for
him and see the Indian merchant.
Hans, at once made his excuses to
his guests, and telling them he wish
ed to go after "a friend who had Just
arrived, and bring him the feast, bade
them enjoy themselves while he was
gone, and let his sOn~in-law do the
hnnOrs during his brief absence.
At his door Hans found handsome
carriage, with coal black horses, and
q negro fOOtman and driVer-the first
negroes he had ever seeu-bUt he
knew that the Indian merchant had
no doubt brought his own servants
with him, and at once entered the
carriage. He had scarcely gotten in
when the horses started oil at n furi-
GUS pace, and looking from the win
dow he saw that they were leaving
the town. lie called to the cOachmau,
but he paid no attention. to Hans, and
when he tried to break the windows,
they resisted all his efforts. Mute
with terror, Hans sat, expecting 10 be
overturned and killed every moment
After what seemed hours to Hans, the
carriage stopped, the door opened,
aud an iron hand seized the uUf0rtu-
nate man and forced him t0.desccnd-
while the horses started of again on
their furious race.
And Hans stood in a strange was! 6
place and man Of lofty stature stood
before him. More dead than alive
with his fright, Hans fell at his feet,
aud exclaimed:
''Sir, have pity on me-"
A bU Tst of hooking laughter was
the answer to his prayer. The man
then said:
"Hans Of the Stony Heart, God
made you rich he has given you a
happy family aud blessed you In many
ways, but you have not repaid his
mercies to you, by mercy to others.
You have allowed old men and babes
To die of cold and hunger at your very
gates, and have thrust them forth
into the streets rs dogs. You have
well been called Hans of the Stony
Heart. You have seen your neighbOr
suffer, without plying his suftering5.
Now you shall suffer in your turn.
You shall beg your bread, aud you
shall be treated as you treated others.
Your prineeiy mansion and your ware
houses are destroyed by fire, and your
wife and children have persisted in the
flames-and the people of Bremen are
talking of nothing but the terrible
chastisement that has overtaken you"
"Have pity, have pity!' cried Hans
Keller.
"You bad no pity for the poor. Now,
poor yourself, you will not receive
pity. Far from your home, you are
in a country whose language you do
not speak, though you shall under
stand allthat is said to you. God wills
your punishment, 1t is beginning.
Farewell!
The stranger disappeared.
The day began to dawn. Hans saw
n ruined hut at some distance from
him; he entered it and sat down on a
stone and wept for his lost fortune,
for his family, who bad perished; for
the misery which had come upon him,
and was about to crush him; he wept,
but he did not pray. he got up and
searched for house; after walking on
for long tune he discovered nam
let half buried in the snow. He knock
ed at the door of poor hut; it was
opened. Hans, clothed with elegance,
was welcomed by the people who told
him he was in the Steppes of Russia
he sank nown in complete despair.
The people offered him a frugal Tepast
and a poor bed. Hans, harassed, lay
down and slept. When he aWOke he
was alone i'm the house. The people
had stolen his clothes his money, and
left him a PEASANTS dirty dress, ragged
and soi!ed, and Hans was compelled
To pat the clothes on or remain with
out clGthing. Hungry and cold he
wandered forth, and was driven from
door To door by the folks, who taunt-
ingiy said 1--WE DO nOs want vaga-
bonds here"
For ten years he wandered thus,
ever striving to reach Bremen, but
was sometimes i'll from the uuaccuS-
toned hardslIips, aud sometimes ian
prisoned a. a vagrant. So he Jared
for ten years,
It was q great day of rejoicing in the
town OF Bremen. An asylum for the
destitute had been opened upon the
very spot once occupied 10y Hans