The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-09
AN OLD SOLDIER.

IN OlID
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-
nifcant in appearance, with an express
sion of patient suffering, and one arm
gone. Such was Gottlieb Braun, one
of those quiet natures capable of BRAY
cry, also capable of fighting in the last
trench, as he had done in the war, which
had MANNED, crippled, and made him a
pensioner. Had you asked him where
the arm was lost, he would have replied
with military brevity, Gettysburg"
Or did you inquire as to the cause of an
ugly sabre cut across the brow, and
wound III the thigh rendering quick move
ments painful, he would have added,
"Seven Oaks" and Shenandoah.
Despair had rendered him a hero for
brief moment he had sought death in
the ranks and had not found it, but hope
had died within him long before, when
his little daughter Gretchen was swept
away by the fever: n lonely, quiet man,
of whom war had made cruel sport, and
left alive. Humble as he was, Gottlieb
still cherished ambition; in summer he
was 6 peddler back among the hills; in
winter he mended shoes. The ruin of
large business houses cast shadow
abroad; the ruin of Gottlieb Braun,
soldier peddler, Occasioned no comment
in the mercantile world, and brought
grief only to his own heart The autumn
of, lol i
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 rob
berry must be heard Did GOttlieb weep
and repine? Not at all. He was now
coming to draw his pension of 500, and
in the spring would start life again.
Here he was in the city streets, gazing
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,
ne thought; and yet at that very moment
Christine Carlen, terror in her wide blue
eyes, was saying to the shopman, 81
never did it 20
The chance of being left supperless
and without shelter had n still worse
aspect when it is remembered that it was
Saturday night, with SUNDAY coming,
and 5iottlieb would not receive his pen
sion until the following Wednesday.
Up among the mountains the Sabbath
meant nature-worship to Gottlieb; skies
were then brighter, and sunshine rippled
tbe silver waters of cascades; the breeze
,EGayed among the leaves; and in all the
voices of woods and air he heard only
the laughter of his child Gretchen. Often
at such times he took pen and endeav-
ored to write his thoughts of her on the
day of days, when heaven kissed earth;
but his great need would not flow in
words on paper; he remained dumb, the
purple mountains raising a prayer all
about him.
In the town all was different. He
paused on the curb-stone irTesolutely,
pierced by the miserable conviction that
he was weary, hungry, and cold. A car
riage drew up, and gentleman whose
bearing betrayed fussy importance
alighted.
Bless my soul / am late, actually
late for dinner party in my own housed"
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, assembled
the broad steps of a house, and was met
at the threshold by a trim servant.
Have not arrived, ell z" he said, rub
bling his hands. every good. Still the
fish may be spoiled, Maria" Again his
preoccupied gaze fell on Gottlieb, who,
victim of circumstances, advanced and
begged for assistance.
Mr.. Caldwell listened with a certain
exasperated composIIre. 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
at the door. A safe member of society,
this, not liable to be carried away by inn
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 foreign attache and
MIR. Thorn the millionaire.
The trim servant still held the door /
open, permitting glimpse of marble /
Veshbule, rim of crimson rug, the I
sweep OF a velvet curtain, and group of .
lovely children playing with poodle.
LII is against my rules to give money. /
Il dafe say your story is true. Served IN /
ule war, eh2 And did not run awayl"
No" said Gottlieb, simply.
Sir; :. Slidwell pursed up his lips sourly, I
ana uld not spare himself. At the risk .
81 having his guests discover him with