The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-12-25

| on the platIorm, accom- panied Dy DeI yOuCnlul
brother, and with her blind father leaning on
her arm. burst of enthusiastic plaudits
| greeted the young cantatrce as she gracefully
/ courtesied to the assemblage. A band of noun
| tain musicians supported their parts admira-
bly,, and exerted themselves to the utmost to
do honor to their countrywoman George Ma
del accompanied his sister on the violin, to the
| admiration of all present, and Veronica her
self sang as she had seldom been heard to sing
before; her voice reached every heart, and
charmed every ear.
All the pieces named in the programme had
| been performed, moments pause ensued,
and, after repeated acclamations, the assem-
| blage were about to disperse, when, suddenly,
1 young Madel touched his violin. A familiar
air arrested every ear, and Veronica, with a
voice as pure and clear as in her childish days,
commenced the verse so we'll known to all the
| miners of Seeberg-the same she had sung on
| that eventful Christmas Eve. At this moment
| the whole of the assemblage present started to
| their feet as one man, the band of musicians
laid down their instruments, and every voice
Joined in the chorus
| 'Cheer up, brave hearts, cheer upl"
The celebrated cantatrice was, for the mo-
ment, forgotten and Veronica Msdel was on
ly remembered as the young mountain peas
ant, the dutiful daughter, the loving sister, the
| obedient pupil. The good old schoolmaster,
oblivious of his dignity, rushed to the plat
| form, and, with tears in his eyes, folded to his
| heart the pupil who had SO lar surpassed his
utmost expectations. Veronica, turning to.
| wards the assem- mblage, with II simple grace and
| humility of manner which touched every
| heart, owed that to this good old man, under
| God, she owed all her success.
| The worthy citizens of SeeOerg had prepared
a banquet in honor of the young cantatrice,
but, during the interval which elapsed between
the concert and the banquet, NJ. Rossel drew
l., do E mo- hn in
the familiar tone of earlier days. he said:-
"Will you come with me- my good Veronica,
| for one half hour ? This money you have in
| trusted to my care is weighing down my pock-
| et l should like to distribute some of it this
| evening, and to deposit the remainder of the
sum in safety at my own house"
| Veronica, though some bat wearied after the
| exertion and excitement of the day, could not
bear to refuse her old masters request, and,
committing her father to Georges care, she set
forth, under the escort OF the kind hearted
schoolmaster. The darkening shades of even
ing prevented the young singer from distin-
gushing surrounding objects; and she allow
ed Rossel to guide her as he pleased, unconsci-
Gus whittier he was leading her.
81 should like you," observed the old man,
"to see some, at least, of those whom your
bounty is to be bestowed. On the ground-foor
of the house have now reached, we shall
find family in deep distress"
Entering dark passage, the precentor, fol
lowed by Veronica, lifted latch, aud passed
into spacious, but gloomy, apartment, light
ed by single candle, and offering striking
contrast to the brilliant concert hall they had
just quilted. pale, carewern wsman, miser-
ably clad, was pacing the room, vainly striv-
ing to lull her infant to rest. Two other chill
dren, about three and four years Of age, lay
sleeping on tattered mattress, in one corner
of the room whilst pallet near the stove,
10 1ia al hxyo ofr nil
The two strangers were received by this un
happy wife and mother with that cold indiffer-
ence which is so frequently the companion OF
despair. ...... .....
"fs your husband asleep?" inquired NJ. Ros
sci. ""sN
/ "Asleep! oh no." replied the woman. al
know not what will become of US"
The schoolmaster then approached the sick
mans bed, and, addressing him kindly, said
GLOW are you to day, Kunkel"
"Just as | am always" replied the sufferer,
"and SO long as l feel that piece of money
burning in my throat, I shall never get bet
ter" 4
"Cannot you dismiss that deusien?" inter
rupted Rossel. "The doctsr and have told
you hundred times that that burning sensa
ton in your throat is a natural result Of your
disease and what is the use of indulgng
fancy which only aggr&vates your malady?"
"I ought to know what feel, better than
either you or the doctor can tell it to me-" re
joined the sick man, somewhat impatiently
"and know that feel one hard, burning spot
in my throat, Just as if l had tried to swallow
piece of red-hot copper. No water can cool
that spot; it is always the same, always burn
ing"
Veronica's thoughts recurred to the suffering
she had experienced when her hand was burn
cd, and her pity for the poor man redoubled.
"Well, Kunkel," replied the schoolmaster," 81
can only repeat what said oefore-this is all
figment of your own Imagination. How in
the world could piece Of burning money 6nd
its way into the centre of your throat?"
ooh, know it {! know it we'll p exclaimed
the sick man. at was last Christmas Eve that
1 felt for the hrst time that burning spot"
"You felt it on that evening because the ul-
ceration of your throat had just become more
acute and widely spread"
"Oh, no no there was another reason than
that!" groaned the unhappy man. "Itwas on
. Christmas Eve, twelve years ago-step do
you hear that cry under the Window 1t was
Just such cry as that the poor child gave when
rewarded her Christmas carol by dropping
| piece of burning money into her hand. Oh,
l deserve all my sufferings richly, too well
knowY'
| As Veronica heard these words, q cry OF dis
| may burst from her lips. 1t seemed as if the
retrbutive justice of God had fallen upon this
unhappy man before her very eyes. 1t was to
her solemn and overpewering emotion; and
| the young singer covered her face with her
| hands, and burst into tears.
| The old schoolmaster, deeply moved, turned
| towards Veronica.
"Kunkel," said the schoolmaster, in tone Of
| deep solemnity, "here is the very hand which,
| twelve years ago, you were 80 cruel as to burn.
| This hand is new held out to you in token of
| forgiveness and see no trace remains of the
| wound you then inflicted and no unkind
| thought harbors in the bosom of her who has
now come to minister to your wants"
Kunkel raised his head, and looked at We.
ronica. "No no" he replied, signing heavi-
| ly; cit is impossible; that fine lady cannot be
the same as the poor child whom so cruelty
injured twelve years ago. You are making a
mock of me, M. Rossel."
| "Believe me, Kunkel, what have told you
| is true. Through Gods goodness, that burning
| penny has turned to a mine of gold in the hand
of Veronica Madsl and here" added he, lay
| ing pile of crowns upon the table-"here is
a share Of her gains, which she has brought to
you"
| Kunkel, with an air of bewlderment, gazed
| alternately at Veronica, at his wife, who stood
| weeping by his side, and at the money which
lay upon the table, 81 wish could believe
| what you tell me-" he exclaimed; "but it seems
to me impossible. Do you remember, lady, the
song that you sung beneath my window that
| Christmas Eve? That song, and the cry Of an
guish which followed it, still ring in my ears.
| If you can repeat it to me now, shall believe
i that what M. Rossel tells me is indeed the
truth"
Veronica, with voice tremulous from eme-
ton, sang the well-known miners song; and,
as she sang, the little infants cry was hushed,
| the broken hearted mother listened in admir-
ing silence, and the sick man, folding his hands
across his breast and raising his eyes to heav'
en-, exclaimed: "God be merciful to me sin
ner ~
Veronica seated herself by his side, spoke tc
him of pardon and of peace, until, at length, o
ray of hope beamed from the sufferers eye.-
He stretched his wsared limbs, as though seek
ing that repsse which had long been denied te
him and then, with gentle sigh, he fell
asleep.
The schoolmaster, familiar, by long expert
enee, with scenes OF suffering and OF death
quickly perceived that the vital spark had
Aed He laid his hand upon the marble brow
of the departed; and, repeating the burden .
the miners song, he said, turning towards the
weeping widow
"'Cheer up, brave hearts, cheer upP
| "I trust, my poor friend, that your husband
is at rest after his long struggle; and you and
ysur children shall not be forsaken. Put you
| II ~ Il fokL nrI w