Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-17
a Pipkin. a Pen, and a Glove

And say to Mrs S.. "My dear,
Our brand-neW house is just the thing !"
a Pipkin, a Pen, and Glove.
In the large hall of princely castle
in Hungary, the eye of the visitor can
not fail to perceive, amid the most
magnificent articles of furniture, three
very insignificant and mean OBJ
jects placed upon costly stands: these
are, an earthenware pipkin, pen, and
a glove-article which have great value
in the eyes of the noble family from
the following reason.
Some hundreds of years ago in the
reign of the Empress Maria Theresa,
there lived a poor but industrious
student, the son of a tailor, who only
by means of the assistance of benevo-
lent people was able to devote himself
to his studies. After he had completed
them he entered barrister's Office as
a clerk, and not long after it happened
that one of the companions of his
youth, who belonged to the same vii
lage, and had once been his best friend,
was condemned to death for an act
which he had committed, not through
malice, but merely through thought
lessless, and which in the present day
would only be treated as slight
ofense, but then was punished with
death.
The young man felt the deepest COM
passion for his unfortunate friend, and
he made a resolve to write petition to
the Empress and implore a pardon.
This noble action was crowned with
success. The Empress was moved to
pity by his request, and pardoned the
condemned. She inquired for the
author of the petition, and at once offer
ed hi man important post at court. He
willingly accepted the honorable posi-
ton, and SO rose, by his industry, his
commanding talents, and vast informa-
ton, through which he won the En-
press favor, that at last he attained the
dignity of Hungarian Chancellor.
While he occupied this position he
once made an official journey through
Hungary, and when passing through a
forest his carriage broke down. He
left the coachman with the horses, and
went in search of some one who could
give assistance. A footpath led him
deeper into the forest, and then to a
solitary house. He entered it and
found lonely inhabitant, to whom he
related his distress. He expressed him
self as ready to go with him and help
him.
During the conversation the Chan
cellor remarked glove which lay up
on the table, and seemed quite out of
character with everything else in the
room. The glove was new and fine,
while everything else in the apartme nt
looked poor and neglected. His atten-
ton was all the more drawn to it be
cause he perceived how anxious the in
habitant of the cottage was to con-
ceal it.
He suspected that there was some
thing strange connected with this glove
and he determined to trace the mys-
terry; but his manner was quite natu-
raj, as if he had remarked nothing.
During the following nights he cautious
ly placed watchmen in the neighbor-
hood Of the house. On the second
night number of persons came singly
from different directions to meet at the
house in the forest. The watchmen at
first supposed it was haunt for rob
bers, but to their surprise they per-
ceived in the clear moonlight that the
corners, by their attire and appearance,
belonged to the highest ranks Of socie-
ty. The Chancellor was informed of
what they had seen. He at once took
the necessary measures, and made the
discovery that many influential persons
of the richest and noblest families in
the land had bound themselves togeth-
er in widespread conspiracy against
the reigning Imperial house, and held
their meetings in this lonely cottage Of
the forest.
The Chancellor cautiously set to work
to obtain proofs of the guilt of these
people, and at once took measures to
render the conspiracy void, and to re-
move all cause of danger to the crown.
The Empress brilliantly rewarded him
for his faithful services, through which
he had saved her life and throne. She
elevated him to the rank of Count,
afterwards to that of Prince, and pre-
sented him with several large and
wealthy estates, among them the castle
in which is that splendid hall where the
three previously mentioned articles are
carefully preserved, because to them
the founder of the family owed his
his greatness and good fortune.
In the earthenware pipkin he had
when a poor student, collected the food
which charitable people gave him, in
order to render it possible for HIN to
pursue and complete his studies. With
the pen which lies beside it he wrote