Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-19


prepared for him as the boat grazed the
side Of the lock, he jumped out, and was
speedily lost to view in the crowd.
Two hours later he had been received AT
the house of Gasker Willems, in the little
street near st. Andrews church. lie slept
in an old carven bedstead, whose headboard
was a pictured history of the destruction Of
Pharaoh's host whose feet were griiIins
claws whose ourtain-posts were lovely an
gels with uplilted faces angels whose very
silence seemed etenally to praise God
CHAPTER ~.
A year brought a sad change to old Jan
kammerick. At first, when lie learned Of
his sons fight, he ascribed il to meddesome
neighbors, and his rage knew no bounds
lie stoutly insisted that he would never try
to bring back the yagabond woodhacker
lie would not hear the boys name spoken.
Sometimes, when he saw that the mother
looked paler than was her wont, and that she
wept silently when she was polishing her
pots and kettles, his conscience smote him
But he would never have been really sorry
If misfortune had not come upon him. One
of his bargemen, whom lac had once beaten,
souttled the barge and fled. Jan and his
wife had narrow escape from drowning.
and had it not been for friendly aid would
have lost all their pots and kettles. Young
Jan had been sent away 10 Brussels 10y The
good Gasker Willems, a few days before
this, and knew nothing of it until many
days aiterward. lie was busy with his art,
in which he made astonishing progress.
The next misfortune which befell old
Jan was the loss of his little house on the
banks of the Scheldt. A fire burned out the
interior, and cracked out the stone walls
Old Jan had not money enough to rebuild it.
| Then his limbs began TO fail him; they
shook and trembled. The neighhors said ;
1t is because he kicked aud beat his son !"
Aud old Jan himself began TO he very much
Of their opinion. lie had now only small
barge was always obliged 10 live in it, and
was very poor and discouraged. Sometimes
his heart was softened towards his patient
/ wife, aud lac would say
You will be the first to be killed by my
poverty. II would have been better for you
If never had seen you in st. Andrews
church."
| She would answer: No, indeed Our
! fortune is yet to come out of that church, jan
She said this so often, and with such EN-
! phasis, that one day he looked at her curl
ously and said
"Why, Anneken, what do you mean r.
Tomorrow" she answered. 1--WE shall
see. Jan, it is many year since we have
taken a holiday. We are as good as the
rest OF the world; let us live our youth over
again let us stay in Antwerp, aud at sun
set tomorrow let us visit st. Andrews
church, and stand 10y the carven pulpit
where"
" stuff " the old man was saying, when
the mother put her hand upon his mouth.
lie no longer threatened or beat her his
punishment had sobered him his heart al
most yearned for his lost son.
"By the carven pulpit continued the
mother, "where We may say a prayer for our
lost SON."
"Well, il you will have it so, Anneken,
he answered, almost gently.
In the Netherlands there are many old
churches filled with rare and exquisite cary
ngs, with altar pieces, shrines pulpts
choirs, veStries fonts and sacristies laden
| with wealth of intricate work done in
wood, by skilful hands and in Antwerp the
richest specimens Of this curious labor are
TO be found. In the great cathedral Of
st. Jacques, where Peter Paul Ruhens the
painter, lies buried, there are hundreds oil
rich and fantastic carvings, out OF which the
faneies of the elder artists peer curiously al
the prosaic present Sometimes the bird,
are a little too odd TO be real, the dragons ar,
almost too funny for a cathedral and Tia,
flowers and leaves are not constructed strict,
in accordance with botany but on the Who'll,
you feel that if things in nature are not like
those in the carvings, they at least ought t.
be-so charming, SO droll, so satisfactory ar,
, they
, In st. Andrews church, of which youn,
Jams mother had so many tender memories
, stands large carven pulpit, of a peculiarl,
daring design for artists who work in wood
1t represents rocky crag near the seashore
just beneath the crag lies a lishing-boat, il
which stand the figures of the apostles An
drew and Peter Behind them, ON the right
their iishing-nets hang upon a tree. In
apostles are looking earnestly at figure o
/ the Saviour, which stands in an attitude a
/ If reckoning them as if saying, Follow
| me, aud | will make you fishers of men.
Two of the cleverest artists in the Neither
| lands gave much time and talent to thi
delightful carving. Van lIool did the fol-
, age, the nets, the rocks Van Gheel the fg
, ures Of the apostles and the Saviour Tn
| latter figure seems 10 have genuine inspira
A ton IN it, the sculptor has wrought marvel
2 lousy, bringing effects out of stubborn WOO
I rarely obtained before When evening ligh
' the last ray of the declining sun, reilecte
I through the stained glasses OF the church
l ana Soiteneu 10 the ueiloaoy oil summer WI
+ hghtr-ials gently upon ms group the 50
Y Sreu HsureS seem 10 nave all Vhe suprehi
e hhish oil mfoie-h"y more they appea
r 10 iiVe
e 90 thouSht Tue good mother Ahneken, a
a on the appointed ual, one year from III
4 t,ile "neh sue hau sent lof'h hef ehlld ihV
t the world 10 give ms genius scope, and .
] escape IRON ms hard-hearted father she le
a t ,l feeble and now quite suouued 9id Ja
e hainmef,ok mo ~: andrew church a
l tne coupe came III Vlewoi the pulpit meme
y res ehuearihs ana solemn came 10 them
,he speetres oil tleir vanished youth rose u
r before mem not IN hlocking shape Dut a
good spiriE' come 10 cheer tleii, on IA
S pam oil me- va Jan remembered now u
; had seen tne iair maiden standing near IN
e pulpit with her hands lolded' and her eye
1 closed III prayer ana now ne had sworn U
WIN her ior h's "lie.
t Al t,lat moment there was a joyful err
l from the mother' anu young Jan, wonder
A iully improved IN voice. III manner, and Il
1 healtll' rushed INTO her arms a hnndre
1 Kisses ana nan hnharea worus snlhce
$ Tor them ior tle goou niue motner ma
e kept herseli informed Oh Az her son prog
ress through ,'ie lleu'u'u oil o'u uasSer WI
i iehls. but the ia'her was aS'ohished p'
n yond measure lie stepped Daek' trembling
$ ana Shading ms eyes WIN ms halidS'