Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-09-20
"It"---A German Prize Story.


"It"---A German Prize Story.
Returning from business trip, entered
my wife's boudoir, and found her kneeling
before low chair, on which was boy baby
with large, round and wondering eyes. She
got up and came rustling in her siken robe
de chdmbre to meet me. She reached out
her hand and greeted me not more heartily
nor yet more formally than we were accus.
toned to greet each other in those days.
"There it is,' said my wife, pointing to
the child.
"What ?" asked I.
"Well, you know-did we not read of it
in the newspaper Don't you remember
the day before yesterday? And is it not
beautiful 2"
Now | did recollect that a few nights be-
fore she held the Gazette under the lightgof
my student lamp, and, pointing with her
finger to an advertisement, said to me-,
"Please read that" 1t was the well-known
appeal, the cry of despair from bleeding
heart, addressed to "good people," A
child was offered for adoption to persons
well off. "What would you think of our
taking it ?" my wife had said and / had
returned the paper with a shrug of my
shoulders.
"But, Martha, what have you done 2"
cried l, in a tone vibrating with anger.
You have really p"-
"Certainly, as you see. And then it be-
longs to me; l myself have settled every
thing with the poor mother, who is in real
ity to be pitied. have sworn to take good
care of it; and so 1 will indeed"
She took the little head, with its blonde,
silk curls, between her white hands, and
fondled and caressed it. Is it not so, little
one 2-you will be loved ?"
But the somewhat sickly and delicate lit
tie face showed no signs Of understanding.
/ at once gave up all serious objection.
Had we not been accustomed for years to
act independently of each other Our mar
riage was not happy one, although we had
not married for love. During the noise and
hustle of the crowded exchange, our fathers
had contracted this union.
AT the commencement we were to each
other a silent reproacn .f.s- when IoIIoweu
a declared war, until finally we to a
polite hut gloomy peace.
To be sure she was beautiful, she was
good and bright and sparkling. Others
called her an angel. And / q? Well, be-
lieve was no monster either. The analysis
showed the brightest colors, still the sun was
missing. We were six years married and
had no children. Perhaps had heaven seni
us them
Well, this child belonged entirely to her /
heard later that she had given $1,000,
the price of set Of jewels which she sold
secretly.
"Why did you not tell me of it ?" said l.,
half angrily.
"Because it would have been too late, if
had waited for your return to the city and,
besides, wanted to have it entirely for my
self; want to call it my own"
My horses, my dogs; her canaries, her
gold fishes--I could endure that but that
she wanted to have her child for herself
alone, that was too much for me. The
thought of it tortured me one, two days
long. On the third day, my wife having
gone out in her carriage, there came a
yelled woman and demanded entrance. 1t
was the mother. Like shadow she glided
into the room, and, with half suppressed
sob, begged to see her child once more. She
could not part from him forever without
imprinting one more kiss upon his cheeks.
opened my safe quickly. Here, my good
given you enough" Hot tears fell down
her wan cheeks she begged me not to
Judge her too harshly she had another
child, cripple and helpless she herself
was sick and would not live much longer,
and what was to become of the children +?
Then she thought | myself had to
finish the sentence which violent fit of
coughing had interrupted. "Yes," she had
thought; 81 will sell the healthy one, in
order that the money may help the cripple
when / am dead and gone"
When my wife returned gave her an ac-
count of the call | had had, adding that
had given to the unfortunate one exactly
the same amount as she had "And now,"
said |, "you see that the child belongs to
both of u.s." She bit her lip with her little
white teeth.
alt is all the same to me-" said she, after
a moments reflection.
"Our child |" | scarcely ever saw it. And
the changes that were made in our house
hold for his sake were made entirely with
out me. Sometimes, after the most impor-
tant things were decided, my consent was
then asked.
My wife and did not talk much about
the child, and when we did mention it, we
used only the name :" It," But this 4" 1t I"
could be heard through the house at almost
any time of the day.
Hush not so much noise 1t sleeps |
| 1t must have its dinner-lt should be taken
out for drive-It has hurt itself !" and 80
the whole house began to turn around our
at" This nameless neuter vexed me.
at must have its own name," said |.
al entirely forgot TO ask the mother--l
mean the woman-what its name is," an
swered my wife. She intended TO come
again. But she does not come she is GER
taiDly sick. Now | call it Max. Max is a
pretty, short name, is it not 2"
asIIf 4 L.s. A..
of my cigar A." Fritz would also be quite a
pretty name" "One cannot change the
name now, on account OF domestics," an
swered she shortly, and then called out loudly,
ais Max up already 2"
toward our child. At dinner it was always
served at little table in an adjoining room.
At such times we could hear, between the
scantily dropping phrases of conversation,
its merry prattling, accompanied by the
clattering OF its spoon. My wife had no
rest there was a continual coming and go
ing between us and him the soup might be
too hot and he might eat too much Wife"
said |, very quietly, but very decidedly,
from tomorrow 1t shall eat with us at
our table. 1t is old enough now, with its
two years"
From that time on at " ate with u.s. He
sat there in his high chair like prince
close to my wife--both opposite to me like
declared enemies, as it were. The yellowish
paleness of poverty had yielded to an aristo-
cratic pink in his little cheeks, which, now
becoming quite chubby, sat comfortably on
the stiff folds of the napkin. 1t worked
powerfully at its soupi and, now tina. it had
finished, set up the spoon as a scepter in its
! little round fist on the table. My wife and