Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-03-30
! Bread Upon the Wa'srs.
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

hopes are gone. Here We are, worn ou
with age-all our children removed from
us by the hand of death, and ere long We
must be the inmates of the poor house
| Where, now, is all the. bread you have
cast upon the waters?" -
The old, white haired man looked up at
his wife. He was, indeed, bent Gown with
years, and age sat tremblingly upon him
Jacob Manfred had been a comparatively
wealthy man. and while fortune had
smiled upon him he had ever been among
the first to lend a listening ear and help
ing hand to the call of distress. But now
misfortune was his Of his four boys not
one was left. Sickness and failing strength
found him with but little, and they left
him penniless. An oppressive embargo
upon the shipping business had been the
first weight upon his head and other mis-
fortunes came in painful succession. Ja-
cob and his wife were alone and gaunt
poverty looked them coolly in the face.
"True; we are poor, but we are not yet
forsaken."
"Not forsaken, Jacob: Who is there to
help us now?"
Jacob Manfred raised his trembling
finger to Heaven.
"Ah, Jacob, know God is our friend !;
but we should have friends here. Look
back and see how many you have befriend-
ed in days long past. You cast your bread
upon the waters, with a free hand, but it.
has not returned to YOU" EG 3Ez - 81
Hush, Susan, you forget what you say.
To be sure / may have hoped that some
kind hand of earth would lift me from the
cold depths of utter want; but do not
expect it as reward for anything i may
have done. If have helped the unfortu.
nate in DAYS gone by, L have had my full
reward in knowing that l have done my
duty to my fellows. o, of all the kind
deeds have done to my suffering fellows,
L would not for gold have one of them
blotted from my memory. n All, my fond
wife, tits the memory of the good done in
life that makes old happy Even now,
can hear again the warm thanks of those
whom have befriended, and again can
see their smiles" q b9f5I8IQ 9Ta y e
ayes, Jacob, - returned the wife in a
lower tone, 81 know you have been good,
and in your memory you can be happy;
but alas. there is a present upon which
we must look-there is reality upon
which we must dwell. We must, beg for
food, or, starye ~
F. "Beg." be replied, with 4 quick lshud-7
der. .SooJ<'
'fNo, Susan 1--WE are1-"a t,esrfRT4 eETY
He hesitated and a big tear rolled down
his furrowed cheek.
1--WE ARE what Jacob ?n1sd2zW u1eituo
pWe are going to the poor house!' 1yfq3.
3 80, God - / thought sov' fell from the
poor wife's lips, as she covered her face
with her hand 'T have thought 50, and
l have tried to school myself to the thought;
but nay poor heart can not bear IT, pst9E1l.
'tDo not give up, Susan, softly urged
the Old man, laying his hand upon her
arm. .s'sIt makes but little difference to us
now. We have not long 'toTFremain on
earth, and let us not wear out our last days
in useless repinings. Come, come.
n.But when-when--shall We ;goYSs y
"NOw-to-day.n
s.Then God have mercy on usv'
HE will,n murmured Jacob.
That old couple sat for while in silence.
When they were aroused from their pain
full thoughtsi it was by the stopping of q
wagon I'M front of the door. A man en-
tered the room where they sat. He was the
keeper of the poor house.
"Come, Mr.. Manfred" he said, 1.-THE Sc
lect men have managed to crowd you into
the poor house. The wagon is at the door,
and you can get ready as soon as possible"
Jacob Manfred had not calculated the
strength he should need for this ordeal.
There was a GOODNESS in the very tone and
manner of the man who had come for him
that went like an ice bolt to his heart, and
with deep groan he sank back in his
seat 1
"Come, be in hurry impatiently ur-
ged the keeper.
At that moment heavy covered carry
all drove up to the door. EST.sasG
SIS this the house of Jacob Manfred?"
This question was asked by man who
entered from the carryall. He was kind
looking man, about forty years OF age. \ <
hot De- y,,xy ,,or
"Then they told me truly" uttered the
new conner. care you from the aims
house ?" he continued, turning toward the
keeper.
"Yes.pagw AEka TFNEga.sg
And you are after these people"
"Yes.n
"Then you may return. Jacob, Manfred
goes to no poor house while I live."V SO"
/ The keeper gazed inquisitively into the
features of the stranger, and left the
house. sr-.rr,- q a,t s7--r.ss - =
"Don't YOU remember me-" exclaimed
the new conner, grasping the old man by
the hand. ssM "a 8sE #EsGT = '9sffsfa
"I can not call you to my memory now"
"Do YOU remember Iucius Williams ?''
civilian 2n repeated Jacob, startling up
and gazing earnestly into the strangers
face. ,,..,.,,. -.
"Yes, Jacob Manfred d-Lucius Williams.
That little boy whom thirty years ago, you
saved from the house of correction; that
poor boy whom you kindly took from the
bonds of the law, and placed on board one
of your vessels a9I q .'ah' ''s 20 ~
"And are you- 71-7zl-
"Yes-yes. am the man you made.
You found me a. rough stone from the
hands of poverty and bad example. twas
you who brushed off the evil, and who first
led me to the sweetwaters of moral life and
happiness. have profited by the lessons
YOU gave me in early youth, and the warm
spark which your Kindness lighted up in
ever since, With an affluenee for life I
have settled down to enjoy the remainder
of my days in peace and quietness. Iheard
of your losses and your bereavements.
Come, have home and heart, and your
presence will make them both warmer,
brighter and happier. Come, my more
than father-and you, my mother, come
You made my youth all bright, andI will
not see your old age doomed to darkness"
Jacob Manfred tottered forward and