The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-13
GOTTLIEB BBAUN.

GOTTLIEB BBAUN.
On a December evening in the year
1870 a train, entering the depot with
much noise and hustle, elected Gottlieb
Braun into the city streets.
There was nothing remarkable in the
circumstance. He was small and insig-
niticlut in appearance, with an express
sion of patient suffering, and one arm
gone. Such was Gottlieb Braun, one of
those quiet natures capable of bravery,
also capable of fighting in the last
trench, as he had done in the war, which
had manned, crippled, and made him a
pensloner. Had you asked him where
the arm was lost, he would have re-
piled with military brevity, "Gettys-
burg" Or did yOu inquire as to the
cause OF an ugly sabre cut across the
brow, and wound IN the thigh, render
ing qmc6 movement painful, he would
have added, "SeYen Oaks and "She-
nandoah. Despair had rendered him a
hero Tor brief moment ; he had sought
death IN the ranks and had not found il,
but hope had died within him long be-
fore, when his little daughter Gretchen
was swept away by the fever q lonely,
cruel sport, and left alive, Humble as
he was, GOttlieb still cherished am
bltlOn; IN summer he was a peddler
back among the hills; in winter he
mended shoes. The ruin of large bust
ness houses cast q shadow abroad the
ruin of GOttlieb Braun, sOldier-peddler.
occasioned no comment in the mercan-
tile world, and brought grief only to his
own heart. The autumn mists of noun
tain lakes had claimed him as a victim
of ague, and while he was i'll, strong
men robbed him of his little stock,
Surely, among the crimes of earth that
cry out to heaven, this robbery must be
heard Did Gottlieb weep and repine ?
Not at all. He was now coming to draw
his pension of hundred dollars, and in
the spring would start life again.
Here he was IN the city streets, gaz-
ing about him blankly, without friend.
and, still worse dilemma, with no money
IN his pocket. 1t would make no differ
ence to any one how he went or came,
he Thought; and yet at that very mo-
ment Christine Carlen, terror in her
wide blue eyes, was saving to the shop
man, 81 never did itp'
The chance of being left supperless
and without shelter had a still worse
aspect when it is remembered that it
was Saturday night, with Sunday COM
ing, and GOttlieb would not re ceive his
pension until the following Wednesday
Up among the mountains the Sabbath
meant nature-wOrship to GOttlieb skies
were then brighter, and sunshine rippled
the silver waters of cascades the breeze
played among the leaves and in all the
voices of woods and air he heard only
the laughter of his child Gretchen. or
ten at such times he took pen and en-
deavored to write his thoughts of her
on the day of days, when heaven kissed
earth; but his great need would not
How IN words on paper he remained
dumb, the purple mountains raising a
prayer ell about him.
In the town all was different. He
paused on the curb-stOne irresOlutely,
pierced by the miserable conviction that
he was weary, hungry, and cold. A car
rage drew up, and gentleman whose
bearing betrayed fussy Importance
alighted.
Bless my soul l am late, actually
late for dinner party in my own
house = he exclaimed, testify, his
glance falling on Gottlieb Braun.
The gentleman, whose middle age was
smooth, rosy, and rotund, even as that
of GOttlieb was sharp and meagre, as
cended the broad steps of house, and
was met at the threshold by trim ser
want.
"Have not arrived, eh ?' he said, rub.
bling his hands. Every good. Still
the fish may be spoiled, Maria" Again
his pre- occupied gaze fell on Gottiieb,
who, victim of circumstances, advanced
and begged for assistance.
MIR. Gildwell listened with certain
eXasperated compOsure. He was a per-
son of weight in the world, wealthy and
noted for being connected with many
branches of charity; still he never gave
ut the door. A safe member of society,
this, not liable to be carried away by i'm
pulse whose very heart must be divided
into sections for distinct emotions ;
whose principles, measured by rule and
compass, did not permit Gottlieb Braun
to gather crumbs which fell from the
table spread for a foreign attache and
Mr.. Thorn the millionaire.
The trim servant still held the door
open, permitting a glimpse of marble
vestibule, a rim of crimson rug, the
sweep of a velvet curtaiu, and n group
VI ApNCly Cu4ANiAGu NlhN lElS5 VIII q EOOtAlS
ct is against my rules to give money.
/ dare say your story is true. Served
III the war, eh? And did not run away?'
"No," said Gottlieb, simply.
Mr.. Caldwell pursed up his lips sOurly,
and did not spare himself. At the risk
of having his guests discover him with
out a dress coat, he searched in a corpu-
lent pocketbook for a small red ticket.
"Take that TO the Poor Bureau. A
policeman will direct you. Now be of. -
Gottlieb turned away. Curious freak
of destiny As GOttlieb, a poor Ger
man, was thus dismissed, the attache,
also a German, was received with Excess
sive urbanity in the house he csRde.
scended to honor. The trim fecvant,
Maria, ran ont on the step after admit
ting the visitors, fumbliUg in her pocket
for pennies. Gottlieb had disappeared.
Half an hour later he found the bu-
reau, having twice Numbered and missed
his way The place was closed for the
night. He wandered on without pur-
pose to the corner. The bitter wind had
lulIed the somber clouds, gathering in
dense masses overhead, promised the
first SHOW of the year.
Mr.. Gildwell, adjusting his napkin and
presiding over table ghtterlDg with
silver and gorgeous with flowers and
LIGHT, was observing:
eff trnflles are not Indigenous in the
country, count, they may be cultivated. q"
Gottlieb observed n church, massive
and dark, with slender shaft towering
far above the surrounding roofs. The
church meant cool darkness, silence,
purity, after the reeking streets, if one