Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-06-14

FROM THE GERMAN OF ALEX. v. ROBERTS.

1.-THE original of this translation, by Mrs. Rosalie
Ortheiler of Albany, n. Y, is prize story written
for The Wiener Algemeine Zeitung. There were
seven hundred and fifty contributions handed in,
and of these Mr. Roberts It took the first prize
800 forms. The judges were some of the most en-
lghtened men of German literature Bauernfeld,
Laube Gross and several others.l
Returning from business trip, en-
tered my wife's boudoir, and found her
kneeling before low chair, on which
sat boy baby with large, round and
wondering eyes. She got up and came
rustlirg in her sllken robe de chambre
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, y said my wife, pointing
to the child.
''What?" asked I; but she stopped
down before the little stranger, held
biscuit close to his little upturned face,
and half turning toward me, replied:
"Well, you know-did we not read of
it In the newspaper? Don't you remem-
berthe day before yesterday? And is
it not beautiful 2"
Now I did recollect that a few nights
before she had held the Gazette under
the light of my student-lamp, and point
ing with her finger to an advertisement,
said to me, "Please read that" 1t was
the wellknown 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 I had returned the
paper to her with shrug of my shout
ders.
''But, Martha, what have you done ?'
cried |, in tone vibrating with anger.
"You have really ?"-
Certainly, as you see. And then it
belongs to me; myself have settled ev-
-erything with the poor mother, who is in
reality to be pitied. I have sworn to
take good care of it; and so I will in
deed
She took the little head, with its
blonde silk curls, between her white
hands and fondled and caressed it. els
it not SO, little one ?-you will be
loved ?"
But the somewhat sickly and delicate
little face showed no sign of understand
ing, except that out of the heart-shaped
little mouth came one of those signs that
sound so strangely from children.
I at once gaveup all serious objection.
Had we not been accustomed for years
to act independently of each other? Our
marriage was not happy one, although
we had not married for love. During
the noise and hustle of the crowded ex-
change, our fathers had contracted this
union. She had to tear her heart from
beloved one, and In mine glowed a
passion not yet outspoken. But parental
wishes conquered. Wechose to be ODE
dent children; and SO it happened.
At the commencement we were to each
other silent reproach; after which fol-
lowed a declared war, until finally we
came to a polite but gloomy peace.
To be sure she was beautiful, she was
good and bright and sparkling. Others
called her an angel. And I? Well,
believe 1 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 sent us them-WelI, this
child belonged entirely to her! I heard
later that she had given the mother a
thousand dollars, the price of a set of
Jewels which she sold secretly.
"Why did you not tell me of it? "said
I, bali angrily.
because it would have been too late,
If Z had waited for your return to the
city; and besides / wanted to have it en-
tirely for myself; want to call it my
own" said she, poutingly.
My horses, my dogs; her canaries, her
gold fshes-that 1 could endure; 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