Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-16
Gales aud Sketthes.


"a hundred thousand thunder storms ~
shouted the mayor.
This wasn't very polite observation,
but the mayor was excited. In the little
old fashioned German town where he lived
he was considered a very great man, and
everybody who met him was accustomed
to make a low bow.
But on this particular morning, as he
was walking maJestically down the street
followed by his secretary. he saw little
ragamufin actually sticking out his tongue
at him. Then it was that he made the
observation about the weather.
What is it, most honored sir ?" asked
the secretary anxiously.
'What is it? Can't you see P" cried the
mayor. "Catch me that boy quick!'
The secretary dashed at the boy and
seized him by the collar just as he started
to run.
Now" thought the captive, an have
to 90 to prison"
He wasn't one of the crying kind. so he
only turned white and looked down at his
little bare feet. But all at once it came
into his head that they might do some
thing to his little sister Nannerl. and then
a big sob almost forced it's way out.
However, he consoled himself by think.
ing they would never believe such good.
pretty little girl to be his sister. He had
very low opinion of himself; for his
aunt, with whom they both lived, had Of
ten told him he was dreadful boy. In
deed, everybody said so, except Nannerl.
All this time the great man had been
looking at him sternly. At last he said:
Boy, what's your name P"
'.Franzerl,' answered the boy.
who's your rascal of fatherp"
"My fathers dead; but he wasn't a
rascal, any more than you are."
"None of your impotence, you young
rutfian! Have you mother?"
mo. She's dead, too.''
Now" thought Franzerl, "he'll ask
me whether I've got sister. Pm not 60
ing to lie about it, anyhow"
But the mayor only shook his cane at
him, and then told the secretary to take
him to Jail and have him locked up
When Franzerl had been locked up in
a cell in the second story of the Jail, he
sat down on the stone floor and thought
how frightened poor little Nannerl would
Dc WITH suc C'stuo " hHo" VI Ills lulo-
fortune.
He felt very lonely and miserable, and
every angry word he had ever said to his
little sister came back to him.
81 wonder whether they'll let me give
her my knife and my sling" he thought
Then it came into his mind that she
could marry somebody when she was old
err This cheered him somewhat, and he
wished he hadn't kicked a big, cross-eYed
boy he had once found talking to her.
Suddenly it occurred to him that he
might climb up to the small cell window
and look out. The stones in the wall
were very uneven, and he soon worked
his way up to the window, and took hold
of the iron bar which was fastened in it
Down in the open square below, au old
woman was trying to kindle a fire in the
furnace in which she roasted chestnuts to
sell. just as she had lighted a large
piece of paper, furious gale of vino
took it out of her hand and carried it tc
the roof of the church, which was one
door from the Jail. Two storks were
building their nest there, and the paper
fell among the sticks they had collected
which were soon in blaze. There were
no engines in that little town, and
nearly all the houses were built of wood
If the fire should get good hold on the
church roof, the whole town would prob
ably be destroyed, as happened once be
fore
Knowing this, the people in the square
gave everything up as lost. Womer
screamed, children cried, and mer
tumbled over each other yelling, Fire
fire - But none of them tried to breal
down the church door or to get on the
roof from the outside.
| The roof of the house next to the TAI
was about five feet below Franzerl's win
dow, and he saw that thick, strong vine
covered the gable end of the church above
what to do. By hard squeezing he forced
his way out between the window sill and
the iron bar. hung to it a moment, then
dropped to the roof below, darted across
it and scrambled up the vine like a cat.
BY the time he reached the church roof it
had already taken fire. He jerked off his
jacket, and began smothering the flames
with it. and though the fire burned his
hands and the smoke almost suffocated
him. he worked away until every spark
Was out. Then he put on what was left
of his jacket, and stood looking at the Jail
and wondering how he was to get back
into his cell.
By this time the square was full of
people, all shouting for joy, and assuring
each other that the town was saved. The
sexton soon unlocked the church door,
brought Franzerl down. and led him in
triumph to the mayor, who was standing
in the middle of the crowd, with his sec
rotary at his side.
'Franlerl." said the mayor, ''you stuck
out your tongue at me this morning. Now
do it again"
Franz looked at him. to see whether he
was in earnest, and, finding that he was,
did as he was told. Then the secretary
came forward with purse in his hand,
and laid one piece of silver after another
on the boys tongue till the whole pile fell
to the ground.
Pick them up" said the mayor.
They're yours. Tomorrow I'll send
you a new suit OF clothes''
One person after another gave Franzer
something, until his pockets were full
Before the generosity of the crowd was
exhausted he ran off toward home. and or
the way he met Nannerl and his aunt
hurrying toward the square
80 Nannerlr' he cried out as soon as
he saw them, II made face at the MAYOR
but I'm sorry did it, And the old church
storks had their nest all burnt up. and
I'm as rich as the kinC and I'm oo,no r,