Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-11-13
The Butchers Apprentice.

But God will care for it in earth or heaven -
He sees the sparrows fall"
The Butchers Apprentice.
A butcher in German town had an
apprentice living with him, to whom
he gave one day thousand guldens to
pay to a man living in another town
for some cattle that he had bought the
month before. On the afternoon when
the young man started off to pay the
money, he took with him a bic and
trusty dog, and in his hand he had
stick, with heavy brass knob on the
end of it for handle. As he left town,
he felt In his pocket for his purse, and
taking it out, counted it over again to
see that it was all right. Then he said
to his dog:
"Now, Caesr, if any persons try to
ROB us on the way, you must take care
OF three OF them, and I, With my
big stick, will be able to take care OF
three more"
Caesar, of course, did not say any,
thing, but wagged his tail and trotted
along.
Jock-for that was the young mans
name-put his money back into his
pocket, and whistling O tune, went off
gayly, too. After going several miles.
they reached beershop, on the edge
OF dark, thick forest, which they had
to go through before reaching the
place where the money was to be paid
tor the cattle. Jock thought it best to
spend the night there, and take an
early start in the morning through the
forest, for people had been known to
be robbed in passing through it. Dur
ing the evening, Jock drank good
deal OF beer, and the more beer he
drank the more freely did he begin to
talk. AS the evening grew late, he
said to the beer-dripkers around him
"Gentlemen, have got in my pos
session thousand guldens, to be paid
ID the town of L., which lies
through the forest; and though it has
been said thatrobbers are in the forest.
would like some of them to try their
hand at getting my money from me.
My big dog, Caesar, can take care of at
Least three men, and I am sure, with
this brass-headed stick, I myself can
take care of three more,n
All the beer drinkers around him
were struck with Jocks telling his
business so freely; but there was one
man off in the corner who was more at
tent've than anybody else, though he
did not say word.
The next morning Jock started off
early with Caesar, though he had a
headache, from the beer which he had
drank the night before:
When he reached the middle of the
forest he saw a person sitting by the
roadside, who seemed to be q beopar.
and who asked Jock for some money.
Jock pulled out a few kreutzers, put
them into his hand and marched on "a
gayly as ever. After going a few hun
dred yards, he saw another person by
the roadside, who also asked him for
money {; and so on till he had given to
live or six men, who, to all appearances,
were beggars. He at last met a man
who was we'll dressed, who approached
in pleasant manner.
''Shall we sit, down On that bank and
rest, and have little talk together Z "
said the strangea to Jock.
'Oh, nor replied Jock, II have
no time for that. l have thousand
gnlcens in my pocket, and must hurry
off to L. to pay 1t for some cattle
which my father has bought"
Indeed !" replied the man. ''That
IS large sum of money for you to
take with you. But 1 suppose you
are strong and trusty young man, and
you need have no fear of robbers.''
"Oh, no !" replied Jock.
." What sort of stick is that You
have ?"
"Oh, that is a stick which belong
ed to my grandfather, and perhaps to
his grandfather. It has heavy brass
knob ut the end of it, which serves for
Il handle, and I have found it very
useful many time."
Let me examine it, if you please. !"
Then Jock thoughtlessly handed
the stick to the stanRer, and when
the latter had hold of it, he said to
Jock:
~ call this stick mine, and I order
You, if you do not wish to suffer at
once, to deliver into nv hands vonr
thousand golden puldens."
Then Jock saw how foolish he had
been to let out the secret at the inn of
his having the money, for this man was
no other than the one who was sitting
III the corner, who had listened to him
as he told his secret the evening be
fore. But now the dog Caesar rushed
at the man who was holding the stick.
and tried to seize him by the throat
But the man Was too quick, and be-
fore the dog could spring upon him.
with one blow of the brass-hea,leii
stick he knocked him fiat upon the
ground: He gave poor Caesar a blow
from which he died soon after.
Jock saw that it was no use to con.
tend any longer with the man, for poo,
Caesar had not been able to take care
OF three men, and he found that he was
not able now to take caro- of one him.
self. So he was compelled to deliver
mp the money, and was even glad to
get off with his life. But shrewd
thought struck Jock then, and before
parting with the rohber he said:
81 shall be verH: much ashamed to
return to my employer and tell him ]
have been robbed, and yet not be able