Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-08-30

himself began to be of their opinion.
He had now only a small barge; was
obliged always to live in it, and was
very poor and discouraged. Sometimes
his heart was softened toward his pa
tient wife, and he would say.
"You will be the first to be killed by
my poverty. 1t would have been better
for you if never had seen you in st.
Andrews Church."
Then she would answer: 'No, in
deed! Our fortune is yet to come out
of that church, JAM"
She said this 80 often, and with auch
emphasis, that one day he looked at her
curiously and said:
"Why, Anneken, what do you mean ?"
Tomorrow" she answered, we shall
see. Jan, it is many q year since We
have taken holiday. We are as good
as the rest Of the world; let US live our
youth over again; let US stay in Ant
werp, and at sunset tomorrow let US
visit st. Andrews Church, and stand
by the pulpit where-'
"S.uffv' the old man was saying,
when the mother put her hand upon
his mouth. He no longer threatened to
beat her; his punishments had sobered
him; his heart almost yearned for his
lost son.
''By the carven pulpit" continued
the mother, "where We may say a
prayer for our lost son."
"Well, If you will have it so, Anne
ken," he answered, almost gently.
In the Netherlands there are many
churches filled with rare and exquisite
carvings, with altar-pieces, shrines,
pulpits; vestries, fonts and sacristies
laden with a 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 Reubens, the painter, lies
buried, there are hundreds of rich and
fantastic carvings, out of which the
fancies Of the elder artists peer Curl
ously at the prosaic present. Sometimes
the birds are a little too odd to be real,
the dragons are almost too funny for a
cathedral, and the flowers and leaves
are not constructed quite in accord
ance with botany; but, on the whole,
you feel that if things in nature are not
like those in the carvings, they at least
ought to be-so charming, so droll, so
satisfactory are they!
In st. Andrews Church. of which
young JAMS mother had SO many ten
der memories, stands a large carven
pulpit, of peculiarly daring design for
artists who work in wood. 1t repre-
sents rocky crag near the seashore.
Just beneath the crag lies fishing
boat, in which stand the figures of the
Apostles Andrew and Peter. Behind
them, on the right, their fishing-nets
hang upon tree. The apostles are
looking earnestly at n figure of the
Savior, which stands in an attitude as
if beckoning them; as if saying, "Fol-
low me, and 1 will make We fishers of
men. Two of the cleverest artists in
the Netherlands gave much time and
talent to this delightful carving. Van
HooI did the foliage, the nets, the rocks;
Van Gheel the figures Of the apostles
and the Saviour. The latter figure
seems to have genuine inspiration in it,
the sculptor has wrought marvelously,
bringing effects out of stubborn wood
rarely obtained before. When light
the last ray of the declining sun, re-
fected through the stained glasses of
the church, and softened to the delicacy
of summer twilights-falls gently upon
this group, the sacred figures seem to
have all the supreme finish of marble
nay more, they appear to live!
So thought the good mother Anneken,
as on the appointed day, one year from
the time when she had sent forth her
child into the world to give his genius
scope, and to escape from his hard
hearted father, she led the feeble and
now quite subdued old Jan Cammerick
into St. Andrews Church. AS the cou-
pie came in view Of the pulpit, memo
ries, endearing and solemn, came to
them; the spectres of their vanished
youth rose up before them, not in mock
ing shape, but as good spirits, come to
cheer them on their path of life. Old
Jan remembered how he had seen the
fair maiden standing near the pulpit,
with her hands folded, and her eyes
closed in prayer, and how he had sworn
to win her for his wife. He was glad
he had come into the church, and then
he thought of his son.
At that moment there was joyful
CRY from the mother, and young Jan,
wonderfully improved in voice, in man.
ner, and in health, rushed into her
arms. A hundred kisses, and half a
hundred words sufficed for them; for
the good little mother had kept herself
informed of all her sons progress,
through the medium of old Gasker
Willems. But the father was aston
ished beyond measure. He stepped
back, trembling; and shading his eyes
with his hands, he looked long at the
youth.
"Hey day, son p he said; "we thought
we had lost you! But here you are back
again, and no word Of repentance?"
Old Jan tried to be severe, but his
voice softened at every word.
"Father," said the youth, 81 bring
you a peace-offering."
Just then Gasker Willems came hob
bling up, bearing a large box, which
he placed upon the cathedral floor.
Young Jan opened it, and took from 1t
a piece of wood carving.
"Quicklyr" said Gasker willems,
: after he had been greeted; ''look at
this before the beadle sees us, for it is a
time when many stroll into the church.
Quickly, and then let us all 60 to my
, house."
Young Jan stepped to a point near