River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-28
AN OLD SOLDIER.


ON a December evening in the year
1870 train, entering the depot with
much noise and hustle, elected Got
tlieb Braun into the city streets.
There was nothing remarkable in
the circumstance. lie was still and
Insignificant in appearance, with an
expression of patient suffering, and
one arm gone. Such was Gottlieb
Braun, one of those quiet natures capa-
bic of bravery. also capable of fighting
in the last trench, as he had done in
the war, which had manned, crippled,
and left him a penSioner. Had you ask
ed him where the arm was lost, he
would have replied with military brew
ity, Gettysburg" Or did you in
quire as TO the cause of an ugly sabre
cut across his brow, and wound in
the thigh rendering quick movement
painful, he would have added, ''Seven
Oaks and Shenandoah. Despair
had rendered him hero for brief
moment he had sought death in the
ranks and had not found it, but hope
had died within long before, when his
little daughter Gretchen was swept
away by the fever; lonely, quiet
man, of whom war had made a cruel
sport, and left alive. Humble as he
was, Gottlieb still cherished ambition;
in summer he was peddler back among
the hills ; In winter he mended shoes.
The ruin of large business houses cast a
shadow abroad the ruin of Gottlieb
Braun, s0ldier-peddler, occaSioned no
comment in the mercantile world, and
brought grief only to his own heart.
The autumn mists of mountain lakes
had claimed him as victim of ague,
and while he was i'll, strong men rob-
bed him of his little stock. Surely,
among the crimes on earth that cry to
Heaven, this robbery must be heard !
Did Gottlieb weep and replne Not
at all. He was now coming to draw
his pension of one hundred dollars,
and in the spring would start life again.
Here he was in the city streets, gaz-
ing about him blankly, without a
friend, and, still worse dilemma, with
no money in his pocket. 1t would
make no difference to any one how he
went or came, he thought and yet at
that very moment Christine Carlen.
terror in her wide blue eyes, was say
ing to the shop-man, Il never did it,"
The chance of being left supperless
and without shelter had a still worse
aspect when it is remembered that it
was Saturday night, with Sunday COM
ing, and Gottlieb would not receive
his pension until the following We'd
nesday.
Up among the mountains the Sab
bath meant nature-wOrship to GOttlieb;
skies were then brighter, and sun
shine rippled the silvery waters of
cascades; the breeze played 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 his pen and endeavOred
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 irresolutely,
pierced by the miserable conviction
that he was weary, hungry, and cold.
A carriage drove up, and gentleman
whose bearing betrayed fussy impor-
lance alighted.
s'Bless my soul ! am late, actually
late for a dinner party in my own
house y 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 the house,
and was met on the threshold by a
trim servant.
"iIave not arrived, ell q he said,
rubbing his hands. every good. Still
the fish maybe spoiled, Maria. Again
his pre-occupied gaze fell ON Gottlieb,
who. victim of circumstance. advanced
and begged for assistance.
Mr.. Gildwell listened with a certain
eXaspeFated cOmposure. 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 impulse whose
very heart must be divided into see
tiOns for distinct emotions whose
principles, measured by rule and com
pass. did not permit Gottleb Braun to
gather crumbs which fell from the
table spread for foreign attache and
Mr.. Thorn the millionaire.
The trim servant still stood at the
open door, permitting a glimpse of
marble vestibule, a rim of crimson
rig, the sweep of a velvet curtain, and
a group flovely children playing with
a poodle.
1T is against my rules to give
money. | dare say your story is true.
Served IN the war, chg And did not
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