, 1880-10-04
Work VS.. POyer.y.

In Prussian roadside inn, one hot
summers day, several men were sm"k-
ing and drinking The room wss dirty
locked quite in keeping With it, we're
railieg at the way III which Providence
did her work, and contrasting the lux
ury and idleness of the rich with the
misery and hardships Of the poor.
During the conversation Il stranger,
a young man, came lii to eat his bread
and cheese while his team rested in the
shade before the inn. For time he
listened silently to the talk, and thep
,ined in. saJii G, "You must ssrlke!"
''Strike against what ?" asked the
peasants.
"Against poverty" answered the
young man; "ani the weapon with
which TO strike is work"
''Well said. Sensibly spokenf'
laughed the peasants.
s 1t would have been we'll for me had
always been rs sensible cuniIuued
tue stranger, Z" bnt / used to be an lille
rogue. / was strong and healthy, but
wouldn't work, ami if now and then
[ was obliged to DO anything, / was off
%
ming the mouey was oat and the bEaudy
was in. ! went from place to place
that means, that everywhere l was
turned away, fer no master wants
ioaier about. Ia SOON had enough OF
farm service. and then / went about to
fairs and public houses III q fiddler.
Wherever auy one would hear me. J.
scraped my violin, but with all my
scraping l. WIS never able to get o
whole shirt to my back. Soon 1 grew
tired of music and then tried beggi q.
| went up and down the country, IUt
mot doors were shut IN my face. Peo-
pie said d healthy young fellow like L
was ought to work. Tuat enrased me.
| grum bled that G ID had not made me
l. rich man, and 1 was envious OF all
who were better off than myself. l
would have liked to turn tue world up
side down that 1 might have been able
to lord it over the rich. One day
went into an inn, sat down in u corner,
and began muiteriug my begging
speeches. At IA table not far from me
sat gentleman Tue is, as | afterwards
heard, writer Of bu~ks); he Kept
glauclng ut me aud l kept glancing at
hlm, for L thought he wOaid be sure to
give me good ains, aud so he did. I'm
spending It stlli."
"What was Ii p asked the men, who
had listened att ntively.
9 He came up TO me and asked mo
about my early life. [ toIl him | had
| been u farm servant uud sent from
place to place III short, told him
erything. He listened qui-tly,
shook Ills heal, and at last said, 'Show
out my hands; he examined them ali
over, pushed up my shirt rt-sleeyes, and
again shook bis head.
80 What powerful han!s! What
strength there must be ii those armsP
he said. My lad goa mast JON In the
war
"In what war? ask d.
"' in u war against your miseryP
he exclaimed in loud voice. You
| fool you Imagine you are poor-pOor
| with snch haudei What mad idea!
He only is poor who is sick i'll body
or iii mind. You are healthy in body
| and in mind. GJod heavens! with
| such hands, pOori set your wits to
work, and reflect upon the treasure God
has given You i'll your strong. healthy
limbs. Recover your senses and LIZ arch
forward III the war
Bravo That was very good,
laug he'd the pc SAINTS.
And SO l joined in the war;" con.
tinued the young man. - 1 looked for
place. and nov am farm servant
as bt btfore-nothing better and no rich
er; but [ am coutent and industrious,
and l have served the same master
these five years. aud shall stay with him
until one of rs dies