The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-14

"Ah me p sighed Thekla
"When | was poor, and no money
had for shoes or frock, | thought
the rich people had not any trouble
but much money, much trouble,
believe
$50 50 !" said the man, that is
Having no work to engage him
Fritz might have interested himseli
in the sights of the street. But he
was never easy out of his own room.
Especially was he anxious when in
crowd. Was he jostled? he thought
he was being robbed. Every man
who touched him was suspected OF
intent to pick his waistband, Re
turning to his room it was half ex-
pectation Of seeing Thekla chloro-
formed and the money she carried
gone. More and more he kept to
the room to guard her and the mon
ey. He distrusted every person
who gave him a sharp look, the
Prussian next door, the violinist
overhead, the cigar maker across
the hall. A dozen times in twenty
four hours he detected the oder of
chloroform and claimed that he was
being put to sleep through some
crack. DroWsiness at unusual hours
he attributed not to his inactive,
listless life, but to the an9sthetic in
the hands of robber. He became
morbidly interested in burglar-proof
inventions and skeleton keys. He
weighed the matter fbuyinga proof
safe for the moneys sake.
But" he said, considering the
cons Of the idea, people coming in
here would know what for had the
safe. they would find out | had
much money they would give US
chloroform throgh the cracks, and
when we be dead with it, we would
be locked in crazy-house. Then
they blow open the safe with pow
der, and there the money all find"
"Ah yes it is much trouble is
much money" the wife assented.
Il wish most we had yet the interest
hole to pour our money in. To fill it,
we worked hard but hard work is
not so worse as much worry-think-
ing, thinking, thinking all the time :;
face so mounful, heart SO heavy.
All, Fritz, we were so bad never.
You laugh not any more / laugh
not we have much sorrow Fritz,
very much Sorrow
1T is so, said Fritz, with melan-
choly emphasis. Then he dropped
his head on his breast, and both
were silent till bed time thinking,
what had best be done with
the money.
4 few days after this when Fritz
came in with beef and bologna sau-
sage, Thekla noticed that her mans
face was agitated.
"We must change our meat man,
he said anxiously. 'lfe has found
out that l have much money, /
think"
How? did you not tell him ?"
Il would tell him never" said
Fritz, almost iercely. 1T was this
way: ] had not in all money for the
meat and sausage. l had twenty
dollar. Then the butcher, he say,
'Ah. you are rich you have much
Then / think he would
set man to spy me home, SO |
came around and about many blocks
out of the way and l stop many
times, We must go not more to
him. lie may be put chloroform in
my meat"
"Ah, me! All, met we do have it
bad. In this one room / stay like /
was in prison. / go nowhere; / see
nothing; am with no person ac-
quainted together, in this big city.
All the time / be afraid for the
afraid my man get killed );
afraid | be dead with chloroform."
so, so!n said Fritz. at be worse
as to pick faggots and eat brown
bread. Much money, much trou-
ble.n
\ few days after this Fritz had
fright. His landlord called
for the rent. This was paid with
both The man and Thekla
feeling almost glad at being relieved
Of so much of the money which was
so sorely troubling them.
What are you working at. How
do you earn your money ?" the land
lord asked, not because he cared a
penny to know, but because he wish
ed to say a friendly word to his
prompt tenant.
But the mood of the Germans
made the simplest words sinister.
Fritz reddened, cast down his eyes,
stammered and said he made sau-
sages.
"And it is good ones he makes"
the wife added, trying to help her
Fritz.
Perhaps said The landlord, q
viii take some sausages of you some
day"
Then Fritz was scared, lest he
might be asked the number of his
shop. Thekla's heart was in her
But the landlord went
away without putting the question.
"And has it come to so bad, my
Fritz, my poor Fritz" Thekla ex-
claimed when they were alone. Her
apron was thrown over her head,
and she was crying in that heart
broken way peculiar to a stricken
conscience on a first transgression.
SIS it so bad rs we must make lies ?
Poor Fritz Poor Theklaw
"And haven't ] made sausage on
the farm? ?" said Fritz, trying 10 ex-
cuse himself. "And tell him some-
thing ] must. If he know nothing
do for my living, he will know /
have much money, and then we
should sure get chloroform."
''But the lie Fritz Alack alack !
chloroform were better. If children
we were Fritz, our parents would
beat us; yes, beat US dead it might
be, but have us liars, never, never.
We were good children, Fritz, bap-