The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-11-26

The Singing CObbler of Hamburg.

~ PeN'AN~N
streets of Hamburg on their way to hear
the music in Altoona, an old shoemaker,
sitting under a shade before his door, was
busily engaged with shoe. He rested
from his work, singing one of the most
beautiful psalms in old German, scarcely |
lifting his eyes from the sole, which occu-
pied his whole attention, and quite in
different to the crowd that passed before
him when young man stopped suddenly,
and addressed him: "Well my friend, you
seem quite happy and contented?" The
speaker had the dress and appearance of
student. His marked features, his black
eyes, his high nose, and his dark complex
ion, showed that he belonged to the race
of Abraham The cobbler lifted his eyes,
and answered cheerfully.
"Happy and contented l am, in truth,
sir; and why should not be SOP"
al don't know, but all are not as you.
Your poverty might distress you. / sup
pose you have only to provide for yourself?''
"You are mistaken there, sir" he an
swered 81 have to feed wife and seven
children with the work of these hands.
am poor man, it is true, but with all that,
you see can sing and do my work"
"I must confess said the young man,
"that am very much surprised to see
poor workman like you so contented with
his lot"
"Stranger," said the cobbler putting
down his work, and taking hold of his arm
with solemn look, and grave and serious
expression, "stranger, am not so poor as
you think. You must know am a son of
the king" G4
The student turned his head, and went
away, saying to himself, +" The poor man
is evidently mad 1t is his madness that
makes him so happy. Reality is but
dream to him, and the dream is reality. l
thought should hear from him the secret
of his happiness, but have lost my time"
A week passed by and the young student
having again occasion to pass the same
street, found the cobbler sitting on the
same place, still occupied with his soles,
and singing as cheerfully as before. The
young man in passing, lifted his cap with
sneering salutation, exclaiming, "Good
morning, Mr.. Prince"
"Stop, my friend" said the cobbler,
putting down his work; ga word of expla-
nation, if you please. You only left me SO
suddenly the other evening, because you
thought / was mad.' t.
"I must say believed it, y answered the
other.
"Well, my friend, am not mad. What
l have said, have said in earnest. / am q
son of the king. Would you like to hear a
song on my royalty? will just sing one. 5"
The young man did not doubt that to ac-
cept the offer would afford him some amuse-
ment, and great satisfaction to the poor
man, and he therefore asked him to sing.
The cobbler began to sing hymn on this
verse: "Thy kingdom come" When he
finished, he asked the young man if he had
understood it I; but he seemed still to be
under his old impression.
81 must them" said the old cobbler,
"explain to you in detail concerning the
kingdom of Christ, and the glory of the
king"
llC DcRdl, bnSn VIVA lub DlNihS pIOIulSc
made in the beginning, at the banishment
from Paradise, that the seed of the woman
I should bruise the head of the serpent. He
showed him this promise, increasing in
light from age to age throughout the proph-
I. ecies, revealing always with clearer eyi-
: dence the Rsdeemer's kingdom. He show
ed him how all things which are written
in the law of Moses, in the Prophets, and
in the Psalms, about Jesus Christ, have
been fulfilled. And, with eyes glistening
with hope and love, he showed the young
!; man in language which the depth of his
Q Feelings made eloquent, how the subject Of
this glorious kingdom is child Of God, an
heir, joint-heir with Christ the king and
how he shall reign with him for ever and
for ever. ti iaa! ni
q "Now," said the oobbler, taking the
IS hand Of the young Jewish student, who sal
beside him, and whose whole mind wal
filed with things he heard for the frs
time in his life, about the old PROMISE
made to his forefathcrs; "Now, young
man, don't you see, how could say, ! an