Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-05-05
THE SHOEMAKER,S BILL.


waters, lies small village on a cOnsid-
erable hight, over the high road.
Behind the village towers a barren
rock, from which look down the remains
of an ancient knightly castle. The
small village has no church, but only a
handsome school house. In this there
lived, some years ago, brave school
master named-stOp, must not name
either the village or the man, because
perhaps he still lives there, and might
not like to be talked about, even by the
little people who may read this story.
The sehOolmaster and his wife had
eight children. That was rich bless
ing from God, but with the narrow in
come which the place afforded it was
also no small charge. One hundred and
fifty thalers income for the whole year
is not much-it comes to barely half a
thaler per diem; and if ten people, with
healthy appetite, are daily fed and
clothed for that, even on the hOmellest
German fare, it Is easy to see that
housekeeping will cost no little work
or self denial.
In the pleasant schOOlhOuse, there
fore, the daily fare was both scanty
and simple. Potatoes were the first
and last dish both at dinner and supper.
They had not even butter to eat with
their bread, but only salt, and in the
morning a dish of pOrridge or bread
and milk, and on Sunday cup of weak
coffee. These were the greatest deli
cacies that ever came on to the school
masters table. However, both parents
and children were active and healthy,
and the latter flOurished like roses.
With all their poverty they were a
very happy family, for the blessing of
God dwelt visibly in the house, and
love and peace reigned among parents
and children. The schOOlmaster was
faithful and industrious in his work,
and his school did him great credit.
The school children were trained to
sing capitally, for he was himself well
grounded in music. and instructed them
in it. His domestic as well as his public
life was without single blemish. For
this reason the parish made much of
him, and his superiOrs hOnOred him for
his industry and fidelity.
But, as it often happens, the brave
schOOlmaster remained in his ill-paid
post for twelve long years, only en-
couraged by his faithful wife. From
day to day their need increased; the
more the children grew, the more did
they require clothes and boots. The
expenses of these made it more difficult
to procure sufficient food; added to
these was the anxiety as to how they
were to obtain the means to educate
the elder children, who were now well
grown. The schOOlmaster was of a God
fearing and piOus disposition. When
at any time his heart was full and
heavy, he retired into his chamber and
prayed to his Heavenly Father. and
was cOmforted; but he could not bear
to see tears in his wife's eyes. This
distressed him greatly, and the weight
of care lay all the heavier on his heart.
The year 1917 came-a severe and sad
winter for the poor. The harvest had
been bad one, and a terrible potato
disease followed. The price of provi
sions rose fast and threateningly. Our
brave schOolmastsr had much to bear
that year for the sake of his family.
He had bill at the shoemakers for %
thaiers, which had gradually accumu-
lated, and the poor man did not know
when or how he should pay it. The
shoemaker would gladly have waited
some time for the money; but in his
house there were also poverty and
want, so he asked the schOOlmaster to
pay his debt as soon as possible. Care
and anxiety came into the school. The
poor wife took great pains that her
sighs and complaints should not add to
her husbands trouble, and it was only
at night when he slept that she wept
silently. In the day time she smiled
cheerfnlly, even when her heart was
sad and heavy. There were times,
however, when she could not be silent
on the one absorbing subject; then it
was that the piOus man took mis- wife
10y the hand, looked in her eyes and
said, "'Take no thought for your life,
what We shall eat. and what We shall
drink; nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on. Is not the life more than
meat, and the body than raiment
Behold the fowls of the air: they sow
not, neither do they reap nor gather
into barns: yet your heavenly Father
feedeth them. Are ye not much better
than they ?'- When the poor woman
was consoled, she smiled gently, though
sadly, and SAID "Yes, dear husband,
God loves us still: He will not leave
us or fOrsake u.s." And the school
master seated himself at his poor piano
and they sang together their favorIte
hymn:
sour God still lives.
NV soul be not cast down.
Art thou heavy ladenr
Then turn thee TO thy God.
He is rich in goodness;
He will raise the feeble;
His mercy duTeth ever;
His truth ii fsileth never.
Remember, o NY soul,
Our Lord and God still livesl
With these words sorrow took flight:
comfort and peace, hope and confidence
came to console these mourning souls.
Autumn came; the leaves of the trees
were decking themselves in gold, the
leaves became bare and even barer,
and the birds of passage left the cOun-'
try, to winter in warmer lands. News
spread through the village that rejOiced
all hearts. The king was coming! So
it was rumored on all sides; and the
good people who loved him consulted
and deliberated as to how they could
best prove their affection for the be-
loved father of the country, and their
Joy at visiting them.
Not far from the village was the
kings highway, near to where our
brave schoolmaster lived. Hewas glad
of this; for. although he had never seen
the king, he loved him dearly. So he
asked himself as to whether or not he
could on his part prepare some little
demonstration of loyal feeling; and,
after thinking over it, he determined
what he should do. He would choose a
simple hymn, with words of hearty
welcome, For this he required a suit
able tune, and to practice his school
children in both. They should stand
under the nut tree on the high road,
when the king drove past, to sing the
hymn, and in that way to receive and
welcome him. The idea commended
itself to the schOolmaster the more he
thought of it. Perhaps the hymn might
please his majesty, and. if nothing else,
il would surely awaken loyal feelings
in the hearts of the school children.
ON beautiful day in October, when
the sun was still warm and sh0ne pleas
antiy, the schoolmaster assembled the
mountain at the back of the village,
and seated himself on piece of rock.
from which he got fine view OF the
surrounding country: Here ne com
hearty and attractive hymn the tune
for it was soon found, and the children
were trained in it. In few days they