The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-01-22


house. end souvsy ~ - homo % suoh
palatial grandeur. and now prevails
upon ~ 20 reman With him. at his en-
pense. permanently. / cannot under
stand the motive, cir, assure you,
Herr Munson said, upon the morning
after his conveyance TO HoneysucAkle
Lodge.
-Herr Munson," began the benefactor.
earnestly, do you forget the circum-
stances of twenty years ago, which took
place at your fathers house, OF poor,
homeless boy of 10 years or there
about, who sought shelter and food?
Your father, bless his kind heart. sit
ting in his splendid library, surrounded
by works of art, treasures OF literature,
and massive, carved oak furniture, his
windows on the ground floor looking
out on the Berlin Park, where the
fashion and rank Of the German CAPT
tai passed and repassed, did not turn q
deaf ear to the boys petition for aid,
but, instead, fed and clothed him, and
assisted him in obtaining employment
which proved ample support for him
and his widowed mother, now in heaven.
Herr Munson, am more indebted
to you, through your family, than you
can ever be to me; for that boy now
stands before you and owes all of his
good fortune and prosperity to that day
OF twenty years ago."
Grateful tears had sprung to his eyes
while speaking, and both Gretchen and
her father wept in united sympathy
with the narrator.
Warm hands clasped each other.
while each heart, for q time, was too
full for utterance.
/ God is very good" Herr Munson at
length remarked, while sad, longing
crept into his gray eyes. Eyes, God is
very good"
Il have New Years present to con-
fer upon you, Herr, if you will but ac-
cept it" William Zanders exclaimed,
rs he arose and passed hastily into an
adjoining room. He soon returned,
bearing with him something securely
wrapped in paper, and passed it to Herr
Munson.
The fingers Of the latter trembled so
violently that he was compelled to call
Gretchen to his assistance ere he could
sever the cord which bound it, and it
was with difficulty that he unwound
the plentiful supply of paper wraps.
At length, when the gift lay in all
its dear worth before him. and he knew
that his dearest wish had been granted
him, he pressed the gift to his throb-
bling heart, and while tears rolled down
his furrowed cheeks he exclaimed, joy
fully and brokenly:
"Bless the Lord for this treasure,
which 1 prize above all else upon His
foot-stool, except my little girl. And
as for you, SIR" he said, crossing to the
side of the donor, may you never
experience one wish ungratiied, or
know one moments sorrow while you
live /"
"Ameni' murmured Gretchen, sim
cerely.
But, you forget, Herr Munson, that
the old violin was previously your own
property" said William Zanders, q
merry twinkle in his eye.
Il forget nothing, sir It was seized
upon by my creditors, and had it not
been that yon redeemed it, it would
undoubtedly have been in their posses
sion this moment"
But, when another New Year came
around, Herr Munson had the satisfac-
tion of comforting priceless gift-a
jewel of great value-upon the man
whom he felt SO greatly indebted to,
and felt that in some measure the debt
was repaid. 1t was the hand of his
lovely daughter Gretchen, in marriage
with the unreluctant donor, Sir William
Zanders.
A few months later the little party of
three embarked for their loved father
land, taking up their abode peacefully
and happily, near the musical waters Of
the Rhine.