The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-11-03
"us becomes Good Samaritan" !"


hoG, lives in this house." He asked the
question in the purest language Of North
Germany, and young Joe, who was not
familiar with old country German and who
was perfectly conscious that his plaster
casted nose was even less perfect than his
language, was just skilllul enough to recog-
nize his own name.
eyes, sir" he replied in Pennsylyania
Dutch phrase, "Joseph NordhoT does live
here. There are two men of that name 10
this house, that's the old man and me-"
''What do you call 'the old man sir, ii
you piease?"
"Tho old, man" said Joseph, ais the
flther OF the young man, and that's me.
But he is iu bed now as he has to go to
work early in the morning. Is there any
thing 1 can do for your"
Neither speaker understood exactly what
the other said and the compensation was
spun out much longer than this description,
but with the help of signs and roundabout
expressions each managed to make oLt
something Ineligible and after playing Il
cross purposes for nearly half an hour, Joe
lnyited the stranger to take seat. lDdeed
if Joe's manners had been as well cared for
as his muscle he might have seen long be-
lorethat his visitor was in that condition
which is known as "all broke up" His
boots were covered with mud Of several
days growth. His trousers, which were
of coarse corduroy, were turned into his
socks at one end and tied under the knees
with piece Of rope as If ior support Of the
trembling limbs. A long wastcoat Of the
same material wandered down to the iull
length of the coat and both garments looked
as if they had been put together with a
marlin spike, when old Noah drove his
animals into the ark.
The young man readily accepted the in
vtation to sit down, and as he removed his
thick cloth cap Joe noticed by the dim tw-
light that his companion seemed to be
physically exhausted and suffering from
some great mental trouble.
"Well, what can do for you" said Joe
again as he removed the bundle from the
table and proceeded TO light a lamp.
81 don't know that you can do much for
me,sir, but am very thankful that if am
to die at all can die among my mothers
friends"
With this he removed an old strap that
l. II nd haan tiol ovar HE ,>o, u...,,-l 4 L..
and with nervous fingers produced from an
inside pocket two or three well worn letters
which he handed TO the other.
"rhose are letters" he said, "irom my
dead mother TO her sister who is your moth
er. have carried them about with me for
six months. The vessel in which ] came
over from Germany was wrecked out a. sea
and they were in my pocket when jumped
into the waves leaving my trunk and my
companions on the ship which went TO the
bottom OF the ocean. However, read them
for yourself Ifyon think do try to de-
ceive you, do not hesitate moment about
giving me up to the police or men who
guard your town, because am sick and
worn with hunger and thirst aud have not
one who knows me in this country, and
now that have found my mothers friends
and have given them her letters. | wish to
die"
Joe was not much Of hand at German
| manuscript as most Of his school days had
been devoted to the playlng Of "hookey."
but there was toue in the speakers voice
and far away look Ia the eager, sunken
eyes which did not belong TO crime or any
iormcf deceit.
"What did they call YOU at homer" said
Joe at last as he folded up the letters, hav.
ing failed to make anything out Of them.
"My name is Wilhelm Fensterp ach er,
replied the stranger. al was born ln EburE,
small village near the great German city
/ of Hamburg, on the Baltic Sea, and have
had life so happy in our town until Bis
nsrck took my father to the war with
France, when he was killed in battle, and
when my mother heard Of it she becs me
a
prison, But in her prison she only thought
Of me, her only son, aud when the doctors
brought me to see her once in the week she
asked Tor writing psPer and would become
calm aOd wrote always to your mother,
AIRS. Joseph NordholT, who was Katrina in
young frau days, But | cannot say more,
My head is much bad. too will 20 away
from my mihd like my mother it Oh !
sir, for the pity Of my mother do get one
to read the letters and you will sec do
not wrong"
At this point his voice faltered and broke
and Joe pitied him from his heart. II had
taken long time for his dull brain TO uu-
dersland that the poor travel stained lad
before him was not tramp or thief. But
when he did see ii he set about his work
like a man. He FIRST went to the pantry
and produced the pint of milk which al,
ways went for breakfast in the early m6rn-
ing. lie put some bread, butter and cheese
beside it on plate and notioned to William
to "wslk in" "Drnk hearty" said Joe,
"whoeyer you are, and I'll get you some.
thing to eat whilst you swallow that"
al can't eat or drink anything. have
not eat anythiug for four days except ap-
piles aud water, and am very, very bad,
but il you will only tell me that my aunt
Katrina got my mothers letters, aud know
have come all these ways 10 Lrng them,
| will be quite happy once again. and will
go out under the dark sky aud will tell the
stars to tell my mother that have done
her command and that will soon be with
her to-"
Joe began TO think he had a lunstie on
his hands now, but the true Dutehmsn s
spirit generosity was upward in him. as
he said, "Well, old man, you just take a
pull Of that milk now and then you can 50
out to see as many stars as you please. I'll
90 and see mother and show her your let.
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