The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-07-29


/, Sometimes the birds are little too odd 10 DC
real the dragons are almost too lunny ior
, co,h dral, and the flowers aud leaves are not
constructed strictly IN accordance WIN o't
: any; but, or the whole, You itel that Il lh'h@9
/, in nature are not like those in the carvings,
/. tney Al least ought to be-So charming 50
/, drpll, 50 satisfactory are they
In 81. Andrews church, OF which young
: J,o's mother had so many tender memories,
| stands a large carvcn pulpit, OF a peculiarly
=, daring design tor artists who wurE IN wood
/, II represents rocky crag near the seashore.
n Inst brncath the cray lies fishing boat, in
/ which stand the figures of the Apostles An
:. drew and Peter Behind them, on the right,
Their fishing nets hang upon Tree Inc
apostirs are looking earnestly at CURE ol
! The Savior, which STANDS IN an attitude as II
beckoning them as il saying: Folio" me,
aud [ VIII make ye fishers OF men Two OF
the ceverist Artists in the Netherlands gave
much time and talent to this delightful cav
mo Van Hool did the foliage, the nets, the
rocks. Van ,iAccl the figures of the apostles
and the Savior. The latter figure seems TO
have genuine inspiration III it; the sculptor
| has wrought marvelously, bringing effects
out of stubborn wood rarely obtained before
When evening light-last ray OF The declih-
ing sun, reflected through the stained glasses
! of the church, and softcned to the delicacy OF
summer twilight falls gently upon TINS
group, the sacred figures seems TO nave all
the supreme finish of marbe-nay more, they
appear to live!
l 81 thought the good mother Annekcn, as
on The appointed day, one year from the ume
when she had sent forth her child into the
world to give genius scope, and 10 escape
from his hardhearted father, she led the tee
,l,f ltaI 1,In i a ia r.
lex into ST. Andrews church. AS the cou-
pie came in view of the pulpit, memories en-
dearing AID solemn, came to them; the spec
tiers of their vanished youth rose up before
them, not in mOcNing shape, but rs goou
| splrits, come to cheer them on the pain OF
! life. Old Jan remembered how he had seen
the fair maiden standing near the pulplt Win
her hands folded and her eyes clostG IN
nraver. and how he had sworn To win her as
| hi, wife He was glad he had come INTO the
church, and then-he thought OF his son.
| At that moment there was joyful cry rom
the mother and young Jan, wonderfully IA
/ proved in voice, in manner, ana IN health,
! rushed into her arms. A hundred kisses, anu
halt hundred words sutiiced tor them, iof
the good little mother had kept herself IN
! formed of all her sons progress, tEro1gh the
medium of old GasKcr Willems. But the
father was astonished beyond measure. He
stepped back, trembling; aud, shading his
ewes with his hands, he looked long at the
youth.
&" Heg day, SOM" he cried Eve thought
we had lost you! But here you arc back
again, and no word Of rcpentance?
Old Jan tried to be severe, but his voice
soflened at every word
Father" said the youth, VI bring you
peace Offering
Just then Gasker Willems came hobbling
up, bearing a large box, which he placed up.
on the cathedral floor. Young Jan opened
| il, and took from 1t piece OF wood carving.
"Quickly" said Gasker Wilieus, after
he had been greeted "look at this before the
beadle sees us for it IS the time when many
stroll into the church Quickly, and then
let us all 90 to my house
Young Jan stepped 10 point near the pull
pit where the light still fell with some
sharpness, and held up the carving. Then
the asionished parents saw that it WAS an eX-
act reproduction, or tiny scale, but done
with surprising finish, on the pulpit before
which they stood at that instant but mis-
was not, all In front OF the mini,ure pulpit,
stood a maiden, with eyes dOwnCast, and hands
folded in prayer; and near her, watching
her reverenty, with parted lips and expect
ant air, was brave young bargeman, exact
| ~ ike tnOSe one may Sep every NdJ VI INV
Scheldt In this carving old Jan and his
wife saw the story oftheir first meeting told,
as the mother had SO often told it to her sou.
Father said the youth, this, and anoth.
or like 1t, have been my years work. The
! fellow to this has been sold to a prince tor
large sum of money; aud the prince wishes
to help me to study until | can help myself
more Blu: shall not need him; and neith'
or mother nor you will ever work more, tor
the princes bounty, with my future work,
will be enough for US ali Father will you
take my Offering
Old Jan bowed his head, and took the cary
ing He knet down Hpon the cathedral
floor, and took his son in his arms.
| II was au old BRUTE he SAID; snow did
| I ever become such a ScOundrely'
On the way to Gasker W!llem's where the
party took supper, the good mother told the
husband of her stratagem to help her child
Old Jan said but this: "a good wife is a
good thing: but | have not merited one"
Gasker Willems, who was bringing up the
rear with the carving in his arms, said:
Say rather that you have me.ited nothing
like the rest of u.s. but that God is good, and
moves IN mysterious ways; and that your
tough heart could only have been soitened
by the stratagem which he sent into the
mothers mind!
well, WELL" said old Jan, 81 mus. try
and get grace enough to thank Him sincere
! ly st Nichoids.