The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-05

SCHROEDER.


strained power, c0mDlneu Win Sieac Soi
tieness of manner, which made him 80
popular with the women, and particularly
with Frau Schroeder No American had
before touched that formal, well-regulat-
cd heart Peter was astounded at the
influence this stranger had gained in the
Won Hummel family. Had he not IN
timated, by his peculiar smile, that he
was sure that the Herr General Won
Hummel drank too much, and that the
family were more than once scandallzed
by his too susceptible weaknesses for the
fair sex? Had he not suggested IN the
same way that the learned Herr PROBES
sor's book on Enthnology was ridiculous,
as, indeed, some critics had already said
but insinuated that he was capable oil
greater folly. Honest Peter could not
understand it. Folinsbee, with his blunt
familiarity and frivolity would have
been coldly repulsed by Frau Schroeder;
Peter even now shuddered as he recalled
the blank and even resentful amazement
with which she had received the charac-
teristic humor of an American tourist to,
whom he had once, in their earlier mar-
ried life, rashly introduced to her. Who.
was this Mr.. 7. Barker johnson? Even
the usual caution regarding strangers
social and financial standing was with
held. Frau Schroeder spoke of him as
Californian capitalist. His banker
Peters banker too-knew him as man
of ample remittances. .......-.,.
For two weeks the stranger held un-
doubted sway at the Schroeder's. Din
ners and suppers had been given in
his honor. General Won Hummel had
sat late with him at table; the Herr
Professor had presented him with his last
volume and disclosed his future literary
intentions. Even Peter was conscious
Of being lifted into Importance in his
own family by his former residence in
the country of this popular stranger, and
his familiarity with Americans. Little
as he knew of the type presented by
johnson, he was compelled in sheer self
defense to assume thorough knowledge
of it, and I fear the poor fellow went
even so far-when the praises of johnson
were being hvmned in his ears-as to in
vent fiorid "reminiscences of other John
sons more extraordinary than this.
"Wunderschon!" gasped the apopleptic
General.
"Man knows when man in that won
derful country has been," said Peter,
shaking his head sententiously.
The Frau Schroeder did not endorse
this sentiment. "There are Americans
and Americans!" she said Significantly,
and Peter was fain to retire to his little
room, and, in company with. his pipe,
contemplate the portrait of Lincoln and
the faded trappings of his old military
service.
He was sitting thus one evening when
there came tap at his door. 1t opened
to Johnson-quiet, gentlemanly, and hui
morously sympathetic. Peter was lit
tie embarrassed. Since the exhibition
of his treasures to the Folinsbee party he
had grown doubtful of their effect upon
strangers, and had said nothing of them
to johnson. But that gentleman smiled
on Lincoln's picture as on brother hui
morist, and looked at Peters blouse and
cap with an evident instructive fore
knowledge of all that was laughable i'll
his history.
"You know dot Lincoln% queried
Peter timidly, pointing with his pipe at
the picture.
johnson smiled Itpresently appeared
that he not only knew all that cotempor-
ary history knew of the martyred Presi.
dent, but many facts yet unrecorded. To
Mr.. Lncoln's humor-as interpreted by
Peter in one or two well-worn anecdotes
Mr.. johnson accorded the recognition OF
a thoughtful smile, while in Peters
clothes he detected evidently some kin
dred and latent folly. Emboldened by
his sympathy, Peter confded to him tht
history of his life, his aims, his politica
theories and dreams, and even his reeen
disappointment at the conduct OF Folins
bee and his friends.
"Yes," said Peter, che called mine uni
form 'rags-dot was not an oopsid
ding to say, Mr.. johnson, and says mi
mineself, Der Repooblicans don't got NJ
memories eh%
Mr.. johnson smiled assentingly, pa
tiently, expectantly, quite as if he wer
previously aware of all Peter had toll
him, but was too polite to interrupt him
aThen, laying his hand on Peters shoul
der, he said softly, "You're too good
Republican, Peter, too brood over mer
sentimental memories Now, look here
like you and want to be frank wit
you. know you, and you're not pror
erly appreciated here-even by your ow
family. It's time, Peter, you should al
sert yourself. 1t is time they shoul
know you as you are. You are the stu
from which Liberators and DELIVERIES al
made. saw it when first saw you
long before you ever knew me"
The most modest and unassuming ma
mas somewhere within him the germ
self-conscious merit which needs only IL
sunshine of praise to bud and blosso
into life. Poor Peter had never know
praise before, perhaps he had new
missed it; but, tasting the strange fru
he found it good, and that, like 9th
forbidden fruit, it made him a god Ii
otbars ord with his face glowing wi