The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-11-08

IL
Franz could perceive, although he was
too far distant to overhear single
word of the conversation. Fearing the
master had come to report some tale
detrimental to himself, which might
possibly entitle him to athrashing-for
in those days the elders had faith in
the rod and never failed to WELD it, be
it for the mischievous pranks or the
grave offense-Franz craWled near the
speakers, taking good care the while
to keep wei hid in the bitches and
bushes along the way. If the master
was speaking i'll of him it We're certain
| ly better that he should hear it, for she
is forearmed who is forewarned," F"
thought Franz; but to his surprise and
great joy the conversation to which he
listened when he got within hearing
distance was very different from what
his fears had prepared him for.
The choolmaster-could he believe
his ears-was actually urging the father
to send Franz back to school, for she
is q bright lad," said he But the
father sadly replied that it was impos-
slble-that they We're very poor now,
and the lad must henceforth help to
earn his bread.
Then the schoolmaster sighed and
said:
'.It is pity, there iscertain1y some
, thing in the lad-he would surely make
his mark in the world if be but had an
education 49,
The father only shook his head, and
declared it was not to be thought of.
Franz crawled back to the trenches
| au1 1,aaobap;onlIxrx xurap+ ~ x.yo,.f~ IIo.,r
the seed got into the ground that dav
he never knew, for a wild joy thrilled
his being and bright fancies filled his
brain, and ever before his eyes cleaned
the words, che would surely make his
; mark in the world if he but had an ed
ucation.
/ An education then and there he de-
termined to have. So while the hands
went on working, working, working,
f the head went on thinking, thinking,
thinking-and by the time the tasks
of the day were finished Franz had re-
} solved to go to the great city. ''There
| can certainly earn money, and when
have money the rest will be easy,n he
/ reasoned.
At first his parents tried to dissuade
him when informed of his ambitious
plans; he was SO young and inexperi-
enced, they argued, he would scarcely
; be able to earn his bread, to say moth
ing of so expensive a thing as an edu.
cation. .'Why, you will certainly
: starve, or worse still, go to the poor
house, exclaimed the good mother.
Nothing daunted, however, Franz per-
t sistently begged, ''let me go and try
, So at last the father and mother con-
sented, and bade him 'sGod-speed. "
With one dollar in his pocket, earned
: by hours of toll, two clean shirts
washed, ironed and carefully mended
by the thrifty mother, tied up in his
: pocket-handkerchief, his best suit Of
clothes upon his back, his hob-naileG
shoes in his hand-for leather wears
1 out, you know, though stone-cut flesh
viii mend-he bade farewell to home
and set out upon his journey. Out o.
! the cottage doorway framing the loveG
: ones that waved him a last farewell
down the lane, out into the country
road trudged the lad, with the ricl
brains and the poor purse, but no
S alone, for though invisible to morta
ken, on each side of him walked g
Shining Presence
I When hungry, Franz invariably
s stopped at some cottage by the waysidt
and politely asked for broken victuals
in return for these he performed some
t service for the housewife. When the
nights were fine he slept beneath tht
stars when. stormy, he erept into some
t friendly barn, and upon the hay therein
slept as sweetly as upon eider-down
t,,x Fl
e which city was his destination. As i
q was late in the evening when he en-
tered the city, it was necessary to i'm
] mediately seek nights lodging
n Country boy that he was, he knew
enough of the world to understand tina
his chances for obtaining honest EN-
e ployment tomorrow would be fal
greater if he were respectfully housed
lover night. But how was this to b,
managed with his slender purse? How
indeed!
II shan't sleep outdoors till Fv,
D tried to sleep in. thought Franz, as HI
+ stepped briskly forward, nearing ont
: of the inns which proclaimed in flaming
:. colors entertainmentform man and beast
Y The drivers of the various stages tina
:. | AhJSN oet1 . OH HI etIlAl CtAo vi
s fort stopped at these cheaper boarding
!: houses, and Franz, hopefully on tn
5 alert, soon found an opportunity Il
b lend helping hand to one of thes,
men, for which kindly turn the maj
= allowed him to share his nights 1odg
G ing. Afew pennies procured his sim
e pie breakfast the next morning, afte
V eating which he set out in quest o
n something to do whereby to earl
n money-that silver wand that was t.
1 open for him the doors of knowledge
/ Up and down the streets of Frank
n fort he trudged, offering his services t,
r "butcher and baker and eandlestiek
/ maker" but nobody in all the tow
/, seemed to need his assistance, and til
!, poor lad would have yielded to despai
a had it not been for the two Shinin,
e Presenoes that never deserted him, bu
$ walked one, on each side, filing hi
b heart with the light of hope.
- Towards noon he passed a comfort
e able dwelling house. IN the doorway O
d which stood white haired gentleman