Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23

| most spent. Indeed, it was as much as she couli
do to prevent herself from falling to the ground
called Anna hastily from her kitchen, and bade bel
attend to my visitor. heart of quick sympathy
beat in my old Annals breast, and, without asking
who my visitor was, she administered to her wants
| It was not without difficulty that this was accom-
plished, for Louisa Wagner-it pained me TO think
| of her by the name of grand-wss SO eager to dis
close her errand that, had she been allowed to have
way, she would not have tasted food until it wa.
| done. But Anna insisted, and so did /, and the
| woman l once had loved so dearly had not the
strength to reject the kindly offices which were
| forced upon her. When she had drank a basin Of
| nourishing soup which Anna had prepared-I never
really knew what soup was till Anna made it for
me; what treasure that woman was l-and had
somewhat regained her strength, told her was
| ready to listen to her.
al have come to you for help" she said
81 will give it to you" replied, If it is in my
power"
She bent h mead gratefully and hilmbly
"You see" she said, " that am very, very poor.
al grieve to see it." And, indeed was filled
with pity for her. Had the picture Of her, as she
was now, been presented to me eighteen years ago,
your side will become in few short years., should
have laughed at it in derision a monstrous mpos
sbiity Her eyes that were bright as the stars her
cheeks that rivaed the peach in delicate bloom her
skin that was soft as velvet-where were they now
All Beauty, Beauty, be not over. vain and conf.
dent Old Father Time has tricks in store for YOU
OF which you do not dream, as you walk, erect and
proud ard happy, through the fiowery paths Of
youth. Be humble, maiden, and grateful for your
far outside, and pray to God not to weigh you down
with grief and trouble These were some of the
thoughts that crossed my mind as / looked at the
pale, thin woman, who had walked fifty miles to beg
me to help her.
Presently she disclosed what she wished me to do
for her. Her husband, Karl Brand died six wears
ago, having done his best to mak G her life ubhappy
She did not tell me this she did not saw that he
had illtreated her, had passed his DAYS in the ale
house, had made her slave for him, had never ciyen
her loving word after the first few months of their
marriage. guessed it, and it was the truth He
bad led her a life Of misery, and when he died left
her in state OF direst poverty.
She took up her burden meekly, and battled on as
women do more brayely than men think, and cid
her duty to the utmost extent of her power. Her
parents were dead, and she had no friends in pcsi
ton TO help her. Indeed, she had LED me to infer,
more by the construction | placed upon her words
than by the words themselves, that the friends Of
her girlhood had fallen from her one by one-driyen
away, OF course, by the yagabond she had married.
But she had ole treasure, dear priceless treau
ure which compensated for all, which kept hope
alive even IN her sad life. She had a child, a son,
and his name w-s Nicolas Two o her children had
been born to her, but they had died, and Nico'as
was the only one left Aheavenly light came in to her
eyes as she spoke of him color touched her che eks
her skin seemed to grow white and softer There,
in the Mother, saw cnce again, fer brief space,
the presentment OF the beautiful girl had loved in
my youth. She told me much of her darling that
iaterestei me deeply-how brave he was, how truth
full, bright, integent-how that he was the pride
OF ner LIE and the best son loving mother was
ever blessed with.
He is growing fast" she SAID, her eyes beaming
with pride; and, please God, in few years will
be fine, handsome man. am anxious about him,
and want to perform my duty by him. wish him
to learn trade from honest master who will set
him good example. Your father Gustave Fink,
was an upright, just man, and it was his example
that helped you TO become yourself In our
little village there is no opportunity for lad to
learn a trade that will advance him in the world He
must learn it elsewhere and my prayer is that may
live to see him prosperous, honored, with vile and
children around him. who shall look up to him with
love and respect, they should do to father, and
with his old mother doing what sic can in the tay
to assist the household matters ind in the ugh sit
ting in corner by the freside, prasing the great
-l1f, ,fl, l.. zr..1
has showered upon her. All, what happiness, what
happiness ~
Her slight form shook, and her face was bedewed
with tears, as she spoke of his future.
Then do you PROPOSE" asked, =" to leave the
village yourself, if you find master elsewhere ,or
your q
80, no" she replied, with eager haste, az shall
be cog upon him, burden. How shouli be
abe to live? I am not clever, and 1 should be
among strangers. No /; l must stop at home, where
can manage to make living, and will wait pa.
tiently till my son is man. and says to me- Mother
come to me; have home for YOU o, Gustaye
FIX, you took bold step when you left our village
"a right step. The world has prospered with YOU
E" acknowledge it gra efully" | said
"This shop is your own-you are the master
| here"
=" 1t Is my own-I am the master here"
" Be my sons mas,er-I have walked ffty miles
to beg it of yoa. Teach him your trade
let him profit by your example Cour-
sci him, guide him You will los, nothing
by it. He is so good, SO quick, so willing,
50 obedient Ii you search the whole world through
you would not find another lad SO bright so easy to
teach and mod. oh, Gustave Fink, beg OF you
i implore your
So eager was she, so fearful lest I should refuse
her, that she would have knelt to me had not pre-
vented her. My mind made up while she
spoke. Long before she finished her appeal knew
what proposal SIZE was about to make to me- and
had resolved to do as she wished me to do Accent
it from ne, thGt not guided by any stupid sen
timentalty in the matter. No, no |; all that had
passed away, and / was now a practical man, who
would not permit sentiment to interfere with his
business. had shrewi eye for good bargain,
and here was one unexpectedly offered to me. Be.
sides, was it not fine revenge? 1t my stupid.
ty that never made me think before to- day that
wanted an apprentice. But l really required one,
and here he was, ready made in the person of Nico-
las Brand, the son of my old sweetheart, who had
had the bad taste to choose another man, and be.
slowed upon him the happiness hoped to enjoy
Louisa Brand, / said, "I will do what You &C.
SIRE Your weary journey shall not be fruitless.
will take your son as my apprentice, and will do
my best by him.
She simply said, Z" God will reward yeu" AMI
then she turned aside, and cried quietly to herself
She remained with me for quite three hours, rest
ing herself for her return journey home, and she
accepted trifie of money from to assist her on
her way. Not word OF the days that were gone
was spoken by ether CT us. That will show you
that there sentiment mixed up in Il is affair
did not mention the name OF Kari Brand, nor did
She did the slightest reference to the love had
borne for her escape our lips. What we thought,
we thought. 1t is necessary sometimes to keep a
strict watch tie mind so that it shall not upset
our worldly calculations. Her lips quivered ss she
pressed my hand, and bsde me good-by. But it
was not I whe caused her emotion-i. was the
thought of her son Nicolas from whom she was
soon to be separated.
But although in our waking hours we are gener
ally successful in controlling our minds it ie differ
ent when we are asleep. Then we become the slave,
and the mind is the master, the magician which
causes US to play the most extravagant pranss, and
to sccep. whatever it chooses to present to is