The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-01-19
WAS Ir LUCK Z
BY JENNIE STERLING.

nealogy of some families, their
undertakings never prosper, or if
il happens that good luck seems
about to "tum up" disappoint-
mcntinyariably follows as if some
Nemesis pursued them,
An individual with Just such a
family history, on a certain day in
the year 1875, was sitting at the
small window Of a poverty-strick-
Ell looking dwelling in the out
skirts of Brooklyn.
Gle was a middle aged man, pale
and melancholy; yet having an
aristoyratic bearing, which even
shabby clothing could not quite
conceal, p. r.
While appearing to gaze at the
view without, his thoughts were
in realIty concentrated upon him
Lena" he said, suddenly ad-
dressing his companion, elena,
there is no use in striving against
fate. The family curse pursues
me even here; now just as leX
tpected to be installed as clerk in
Hopkins employ, a younger man
steps Dto the position.
40 day,I find | have reduced
THE slender soles Of my faithful
iboots TO such extreme attenua-
Ition that doubt if they can carry
me much longer in search of. em-
ployment ] am thoroughly dis
couraged" r, liz. y..
Ills wife responded with a'sigh;
all through The year, of their mar
ried life he had been discouraged.
| It was the same old cry under all
circumstances, whether Of good
or evil. ~ 4 Z 6 I
She was of that gentle type of
women who are born consolers.
who sun'erin silence, but are ac-
customed to look at the bright
side Of things, to point tG the sill
yer lining Of the cloud, to the
rainbow OF promise; but now, She,
| too, was losing hope and courage,
! being under the iniluence Of tor-
turing poverty, which was slowly
| pinching and grinding their lives
faWay. y-.tE.
Hermann she said at last,
"you are right; fate is against us2
Her husband turned quickly,
and looked inPiiHngly and anX-
iously into her face, = -7ar -'ae-
1t was d Pale, wan face, posses
sing traces Of former beauty; she
ianswered the look by repeating,
u say fate is against us"
This myoH Lena9 thenI am
! discouragplS let fate do her worst
thc said bitterly, folding his arms,
and sitting ljistlessly back into his
vi %Hcrmonn, You must lsoii the
lringw ,.Ygat.
What! sell the only reminder
tofo former greatness-Our heir
loom. WAat can yoube thinking
tof, Lena, gL'.l4
II am thinking efgold, z she'ue,
plicd, with an empty purse and
no credit, and eXaeting, importu-
mate landlord, andl no prospects
kfor the future. It's folly to hoard
'Ethe glittering baqble, for surely
Iit is nOthinr more to us, shut III
as it is in its leathern case"
"Yes, yes, | um God forsaken" j
thaye been selfish enough in drag
ging you down to my own level
will sell the ring for your sake
- but Lena, do not forget that q
curse may follow" 3 5a..r -
Hermann Ulrich emigrated
! from Germany with the expecta
ton Of Improving his condition in
the land of freedom. a.E
He belonged toa good ole
tocl1n family having Il fatality at
tached to its history. '' ..'
His father, from the wreck q
fallen fortunes, retained the ring
+ which lie placed on his sons lin
ger when dying. #---
7"'I charge you not to part witt
it." he said; "keep it for your boy
sake, for whatever good fortune
siis in store for it's Dossessor, 1
brings--lose, or sell this family
! legacy Il heavy curse will inevlta
bIyrolloW, 50 says our tradition
SO say ~ and thus was the goo(
/, baron's bequest brought safely
4 6yerthe ocean and kept as sa
cred treasure, not 50 much for 1T
..Iintrih sic value, as Tor It's associa
. tons, and the superstitions con
nccted with it.
FThel grandchild to whom i
would descend in the order 0
consanguinity, died shortly afte
-iahGr aGfydl pf New York. City,
The small sum Of money n
Il their disposal was soon exhausted
~ obliged TO move from place t
place IN search Of cheaper rent
tey last leeayed themselves il
Brooklyn, and .therelS Stran gers j
4 strange land, starvation seemel
probable. Nothing remained bu
a to, soil the ring and ritgwas no
ID without many severe struggle
d that, Ulrieh copsepted. ron.
CI6wps Ienas words decided hi
wavcring purpose. my boy ]
l. dead, and | cannot see my wifi
IT. starve,n he said TO himself iapolc
70 getically, 1