The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-02
COMPENSATION.


20 Fatherland dearestl Fathcrland mne"
Zach, mein Colt, have no letter
from homer
We were sitting, Herr Schenning and
], in the shade of some young redwoods,
far up the mountain side, having
strayed a little from our band Of picnick-
ers. The trees, scarce moving in the
breeze, dropped their long shadows
down. the grassy slope, where in the
sunny places the yellow butterflies fit
ted IN and out among the purple lilies.
The madronas spread their broad and
shining leaves to the sun. delighting in
its fervent heat, and making cool shades
where the deer might rest when there
were no picnickian revels to desecrate
their solitude. Through our sympathy
with this beautiful spirit of solitude.
there had fallen upon us long silence.
"What news have you from home"
asked Herr Schenning at last, merely
by way of saying something.
Without the movement of muscle
to show that he had heard me. he con-
tinued to gaze at the mountains, or
rather, far beyond them, to some white
cloud slowly sailing through the blue.
was about to repeat my question, but
paused, seeing the color deepen on his
dark German face, and presently, with
great sob, as the flood-gates burst,
came the cry:
Zach, Colt! have no letter from
homer
He buried his face in his hands, and
with dismay | saw the swift-falling
tears slip through his fingers; but the
storm was as brief as it was intense.
Herr Schenning was not one to give
way to maudlin grief.
you must think | am a glittering
IDIOT" he said, as he laughingly shook
the last tears from his fingers.
NO" answered. 81 think you are
homesick, and l know the misery OF
that malady."
"Yes in fact I had q sudden and
overpowering attack Of it. Your ques-
ton was drop added to my hearts
full cup. That tree pointing to
fir tree that lowered TO the sky--''with
its great waving arms and whispering
boughs, had borne me far through
yonder calm sky to the Fatherland I
was boy again. and had strayed to
my favorite fir tree at the edge of inc
forest; rocked in its branches, heard
the wild songs of the woodland; saw
the silvery cleaning of Murg flowing
down to the Rhine; saw the blooming
orchards, the bird.haunted grove, and
the little white house OF Blumenwald.
The fragrance of its flower-garden
came TO me across the meadow, and |
knew who walked there, wearing in
her golden hair the blue flowers that |
loved-my little Barbara. can not
remember when l did not love her, and
think Of her as mine. For her | stud
led, and struggled, and won my school
day prizes; for her | sought to become
wise and honored; for her sake, who
had no gold for her dover, only her
sweet self, more precious to me than
all the gold of California heaven
knows too precious, / thought, to be
degraded by the slavery of our old
world lie Of poverty-for her dear sake
Iput aside the little clinging hands, and
kissed her pleading mouth, and came
away to this great, golden land Of
America. l, so wise with my Latin and
Greek, so skilled in metaphysics, SC
deep in all the subtle science Of the old
world savants, came TO California u
make my fortune / laugh to thin
how have CROPPED and stumbled in tn
broad, bewildering light of this splen
did young world, while those who cal
scarcely write the plebeian names the
bear, dip down into the mysteriou
earth and lift their hands with glitter
ing treasure. At home, l might hav'
walked with princes. Here, poor, i'll
clad, and--shall l say itp--sometime,
weak with hunger, wander uncarec
for, except when some gentle heart like
yours brings me, for pity of my loneli.
ness, into a pleasant day like this. But
forgive me for showing you such q
broken spirit"
Broken! Oh, dearr' / exclaimed.
struggling wildly with my tears. II
should think II would be like that Of
Mrs. Plovinst's father, pulverized,
crushed quite out Of you. Herr Schen-
ming" l added, abruptly. ''why don't
you put your pride in your pocket, and
20 homer"
He laughed.
Alas! my pockets are too small,
anu, besides, it would not be accepted
LOT iare; No; l have committed sui.
cue, nave no place, there or here. II
ishould one day slip from the 81 n Loved
heights into some black abyss wbare
ever the starlight fails, l should not I hs
missed" NV ''
"WhatW ! said, mot even bv ,;,,o
Barbara, who is waiting for Won n
her Blumenwaldp' :"
''Mein Gottr' he cried, In auotber
excess Of despair, "there is no one
waiting for me. Think you such q
fool, such beggar as l would be worth
thatp No, the father was right; he did
we'll TO marry her to Herr Heimsteher
whose broad orchards stretch to the
verge OF our loved forest Frau Bar.