The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-09-06
THE LITTLE SAvlNGS.BANk BOOK


And hx your pull back when You start.
-PhilatelphiG Frees.
THE LITTLE SAvlNGS-BANK BOOK.
THERE certainly, in our day, appear
IL hc no more Miracles" said Locksmitll
Werner, in Water street. yet men stand
on prccipiCcs many times, and a hand,
which is molc than a human hand, pulls
them away, and when they collect them.
selves they cry, What miraclcv II
makes me shuddcr when think what
might have become of me If the
men, had not seized me, and if something
had not been in me which could have been
worked upon by that Spirit"
Truly, Ncighbor Weber, the products OF
the looms in your mandatory are very
artistic, and l do not understand how
they arc made; but the great loom of life,
In which human career is only single
thread, 10 far more artistically arranged
and much more difficult to discntang.c. If
man draws out a single human life thread,
1t appears to him, even as a real spinning
thread (which | recently saw through q
microscopy, 10 lie scvcn.fold twisted to.
gcther. relate you my experience:
You know l grew up an orphan, and
had no relatives in the world. was q
young, light hearted creature when was
member Of the craft in School street.
You all have known the mastcr-a Quiet,
reserved man, who spoke but little over
ordinary affairs, therefore his speech was
given more CO lsidcration when he chose to
advise or persuade any one. When he
counted out my first week 8 wages, he gave
me only half the money, saying: +" Peter,
half is enough; will retain the rest, and
lay it aside until We can 60 to the savings
bank" He did as he promised; there was
no gainsaying his words.
On Palm Sunday, before church, he
went with me to the bank. My name was
inscribed in large book, and received
Il small book, in which stood, in beautiful
pcnmanship, my name. On the second
page was the amount of my deposit. It
was seven thalers. The little book was
beautifully bound in marbled paper, 90
soft to the touch, and so compact, that
cannot tell you how much love l had for
the book. 1t seemed to recall my first
childish joy. and, certainly, there is NO
happier feeling cxtant than when one can
say for the first time, "Thou hast and art
something more than those around thee,
something that belongs entirely to thee,
that no one can see, and that thou, thy
self, hast wOn."
constantly Rugged my little book, and
read after church at least hundred times,
my name and amount to my credit Ii
appeared miracle to me that the name
there written, Peter Werner, was my name.
How wonderful 1t was that on writing,
had given man something which was
peculiarly mine, and that It would be
taken care of and even returned to me
with interest. 1t was as though I had
suddenly come into the world and observed
how connected everything was.
A more contcnted spring. time I never
passed than the spring of '46. I rcmem.
Der it was also good wine year. When
noticed how all nature thrivcd, said
TO myself, Thou, too, hast field that is
hidden from the eyes of men, never.
thclcss thou hast something growing in
it; and that field is the little savings-bank
book.
1 was so sclf-satisfied that I lef of
smoking. became miserly, and rested
not until had sufficient amount to add
10 the first. Al I deposited my second
saving, Finanzrath Menningcr, who pre-
sided over the hank, said to me: II con.
graduate you on your wise disposition Of
your money"
AS rcrcad the second entry, "To day
received five thalcrs," it did not seem to
me such wonderful affair rs the first
time. I thought, dcjcctcdly, it is only such
q small! amount, and requires such long
my dissatisfaction, and was as merry as
usual.
Whenever passed by the bank in which
my money was deposited, would look
up and say: "ThOu art there, o money,
and remain there day and night, bringing
me interest, tOo-that is good; work on,
and will help YOU"
Alas! that had spoken only to myself
But | confidcd it 70 my roommate. lie
jested and ridiculcd my childishncss.
",Ihat do you intend doing with the
trash ?" he asked. The wealthy people
are the only ones who have q good time.
While they cat, drink and sleep their
money is working for them, and should
they happen to awaken carly, they will
say. l can sleep again. So long a. man
cannot do that, he Is . poor rascal"
gricved considerably over this report.
was poor, but no rogue. Nevertheless ]
was influenced by what he had said.
There are two lives in every man, and cir
cumstanccs determine which one will re.
spond when called upon. began smok-
ing again, spent my money occasionally,
and enjoyed myself. was not happy.
Often l took my little book out of its
hiding place, and reading what wae in.
scribcd therein, would rejoice that the
money was where could mot get at it to
spend. There was . printed list of in.
tercsts in the book, and would compute
the interest / would recciveon my money
My cOmrade was . ready reck0ner, and
assisted me greatly. asked him to look
over the account. When he had finished
the computation he threw my little book
on the table saying, There flies the en-.
tire wealth Of Peter Werner, the greal
capitalist"
When l looked on my little book It
seemed 70 me that 1t had sickened. ]
could willingly have begged it, pardon q
l busted it and put it In its hidfne place.
thinking would show II NO more "a M
jesting cOmrade. .
About Christmas there was . great fire.
and before the fans could be snbducd.
the house in which the savings bank NJ
was consumed. wcpt and trembled
when I heard that the books were MOI
saved. supposed had Lost lay pittance
My cOmrade laughed ct me and said
"Fooll don't you know that you are III
right! IT'S . State institution, and Til
State must make good the los"