Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-11-01
NO. 259
Gales and Sketehss.
THE LITTLE SAVINGS BANK BOOK.

There certainly, in our day, appear to
be no more Miracles" said Locksmith
Werner, in Water street. sYet men stand
on precipices many times, and hand
which is a human hand. pulls them away,
and when they collect themselves they
cry out, What miracler 1t makes me
shudder when think what might have be-
come of me, if the heavenly spirit, which
rules all good men, had not seized me,
and if something had not been in me
which could have been worked upon by
the spirit.
Truly, neighbor Weber. the products
OF the looms in your mandatory are verv
artistic, and do not understand how they
are made; but the great loom of life, in
which a human career is only a single
thread, Is tar more artistically arranged
and much more difficult to disentangle.
l will relate to you my experience:
You know l grew up an orphan, and
had no relatives in the world. | was a
young. light hearted creature when was
a member of the craft in School street.
You all have known the master-a quiet,
reserved man, who spoke but little over
ordinary affairs, therefore his speech was
given more consideration when he chose
W
counted out my first weeks wages, he
gave me only half the money, saying:
Peter, half is enough; | will retain the
rest and lay it aside until we can 90 to
the savings bank" He did as he prom
ised; there was no gansaying his words.
On Palm Sunday, before church, be
went with me to the bank. My name
was inscribed in a large book, and l re-
ceived small book. in which stood in
beautiful penmanshp my name. On the
second page was the amount of my de-
post. 1t was seven thalers. The little
book was beautifully bound in marble pa
per, so soft to the touch, and so compact
that cannot tell you how much love l had
Tor the book. 1t seemed to recall my first
childish JOY, and certainly there is no hap
pier feeling extant 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 thyself,
hast won.h
constantly hugged my little book, and
read after church, at least a hundred times
my name and amount to credit. Ii ap-
peared miracle to me that the name
there written, Peter Werner, was nv
name. 1t was as though had come into
the world and observed how connecte ed
everything was.
A more contented Spring-time | never
passed than the Spring of '46. l remem-
Der it was also good wine year.
When | noticed how all nature thriyed, |
said to myself. Thou hast field that is
hidden from the eyes of men, neverthe-
less thou has something growing in 1t;
and thht field is the savings bank book.
Twas so self-satisfied that left off smok.
ing. L became mserly. and rested not un-
I'll had sufficient amount to add 10 the
first. As deposited my second, Finanz-
rath Mennlnger, who presided over the
bank. said to me: 81 congratulate you on
your wise disposition of your money
AS | re-read the second entry. To-day,
received five thalers," it did not seem to
me such wonderful affair as the first time.
| thought, dejectedly, it was only such
small amount. and require such small
Tune to save even that but soon forgot
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, oh 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 L confided it to my roommate He
jested and ridiculed my childishness.
What do you intend doing with the
trash P" he asked. 1.-The wealthy people
are the only ones who have good time.
While they eat, drink and sleep, their
money is working for them, and should
they happen to awaken early, they will
say, can sleep again. So long as man
cannot do that he is poor rascal" |
grieved 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
cumstances determine which one will re-
spond when called upon. | began smok-
ing again, spent my money occasionally,
and enjoyed myself. | was not happy.
Often | took my little book out OF its hid
ing-place, and reading what was inscribed
therein, would rejoice that the money was
where cosld not get at it to spend.
There was printed list of interests in the
book, and | could compute the interest
would receive on my money. NV CON-
rade was ready reckoner, and assisted
me greatly. l asked him to look over the
account. When he had finished the com.
putation he threw my little book on the
table, saying, "There lies the entire wealth
of Peter Werner. the great capitalist"
When l looked at my little book it
seemed to me that il had sickened. l
could willingly have begged its pardon as
| busted it and put it in its hiding-place.
thinking | would show it no more to my
jesing comrade.
About Christmas there was great fire,
and before the flames could be subdued,
the house in which the savings bank was
was consumed. | wept and trembled
when l heard that the books were not
saved. supposed had lost my pittance.
NV comrade laughed at me aud said:
"Foolr' don't YOU know that you are all
rightP It's State institution, and the
State must make good the loss"
l felt comforted-supposing all would
be well, as he had said. took out my
book. found everything in order, but was
careful not to allow my comrade to take it
out of my hand.
During the night my comrade awakened
me, and cried, Peter we are rich peo-
| pie, and we can arrange il so that the gold