The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-13

| grave otfenSe-EranZ craWled near the
| speakers, taking good care the while
to keep well hid in the bitches and
bushes along the way. If the master
was speaking i'll of him it were certain
ly better that he should hear it, for "he
is forearmed who is forewarned,
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 schoolmaSter-coul he believe
his ears-was actually urging the father
to send Franz back to school, for ''he
is bright lad" said he. But the
father sadly replied that it was impos-
and the lad must henceforth help to
earn his bread.
Then the schoolmaster sighed and
said:
''It is pity, there iscertainly some
thing in the lad-he would surely make
his mark in the world if he but had an
education.
The father only shook his head, and
declared it was not to be thought of
Franz crawled back to the trenches
and mechanically went to work. How
the seed got into the ground that day
he never knew, for 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,
the head went Oh thinking, thinking,
thinking-and by the time the tasks
of the day were finished Franz had re-
solved to 90 to the great city. 'There
L can certainly earn money, and when |
have money the rest will be easy" 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 50 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-
sistently begged, "let me go and try"
SO at last the father and mother con-
scented, and babe him "God-speed."
With.o 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-nailed
shoes in his hand-for leather wears
out, you know, though stone-cut flesh
will mend-he babe farewell to home
and set out upon his journey. Out of
the cottage doorway framing the loved
ones that waved him last farewell,
down the lane, out into the country
road trudged the lad, with the rich
brains and the poor purse, but not
alone, for though invisible to mortal
ken, on each side of him walked a
Shining Presence.
When hungry, Franz invariably
stopped at some cottage by the wayside
and politely asked for broken victuals;
in return for these he performed some
service for the housewife. When the
nights were fine he slept beneath the
stars; when stormy, he crept into some
| friendly barn, and upon the hay therein
slept as sweetly as upon eider-down.
Thus in due time he reached Frankfort,
which city was his destination. As it
was late in the evening when he en-
tered the city, it was necessary to i'm
mediately seek nights lodging.
Country boy that he was, he knew
enough of the world to understand that
his chances for obtaining honest en-
ployment tomorrow would be far
greater if he were respectfully housed
over night. But how was this to be
managed with his slender purse? How,
indeed!
Il shan't sleep outdoors till I've
tried to sleep in, thought Franz, as he
stepped briskly forward, nearing one
of the inns which proclaimed in flaming
colors for man and beast.
The drivers of the various stages that
in those days ran in and out of Frank
fort stopped at these cheaper boarding
houses, and Franz, hopefully on the
alert, soon found an opportunity to
lend a helping hand to one of these
men, for which kindly turn the man
allowed him to share his nights lodg-
ing. A few pennies procured his sim
pie breakfast the next morning, after
| eating which he set out in quest of
something to do whereby to earn
money silver wand that was to
| open for him the doors of knowledge
Up and down the streets of Frank
fort he trudged, Offering his services to
"butcher and baker and candlestick-
maker" but nobody in all the town
seemed to need his assistance, and the
poor lad would have yielded to despair
had it not been for the two Shining
Presences that never deserted him, but
walked one on each side, filling his
heart with the light of hope.
Towards noon he passed comfort
able dwelling house, in the doorway of
which stood white-haired gentleman.
Something in the kindly face encour-
aged the lad to turn and speak to the
gentleman and ask for work.
"What can you do-can you shaver"
for the CHEEKY faced man was a doctor,
and in Germany the doctors are also
leechers, chemists, BARRIERS and sur
geons.
f can learn" promptly answered
Franz.
HIM! Come this afternoon; perhaps
l may find something for you to do
Full of hope, Franz walked away. but