Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-01-05
THE HUMMING TOP.

From the German of TheObold Gross.
Count Geierfug, the brightest minis
ter of the realm, had breathed his last.
His final movements on earth had left
him looking somewhat pale and worn,
but had in no respect diminished his
pride and aristocratic elegance of bear
ing. Attired in a gold embroidered
coat, such as men of his distinction are
apt to wear when lying in funeral state,
he started off on the direct road to
heaven.
Marching along at brisk pace, he
presently overlook and passed little
group consisting of three most wretch
ed beings; white-haired, palsied old
pauper woman; youth, from whose
neck still dangled- the halter which he
had brought with him from the closing
scene of his life drama, and a poor little
hump p-backed consumptive boy, five or
six years old, VINO, from time to time,
glanced lovingly at toy clasped close
in his hand.
Count Geierfug arrived at the gates
of heaven, and politely addressed st.
Peter:
pardon me-" he began, 81 would
merely beg to inquire
But the former apostle and present
keeper of the celestial gates interrupted
him sternly:
ats not your turn. The three be-
hind there, whom you passed on the
road, come first"
"Before me? 1 am Count Geierf1ug,
the Prime Minister. l have the title of
excellency, am knight of innumerable
orders, member of various learned soci-
etieS-and-
"Up here we recognize neither knight
nor scholar"
"Yet, your reverence was kind of
knight yourself, and welding dashing
blade in the affair with Malchus."
Peter silently regarded the smiling
speaker.
"And your reverence was also quasi
scholar-or authOr-er-"
"On earth was only poor fisher
man"
"And yet" continued the count, with
a profound bow, ''your reverence's Epis-
ties are even more celebrated than the
world-renowned letters of Madame de
Sevigne."
Again Peter surveyed the flatterer in
utter silence, but with so penetrating a
gaze that the false courier-eyes dropped
beneath 1t.
In the meantime the three pilgrims
had arrived.
No sooner did St. Peter see the boys
innocent face and crippled body than
he said kindly:
''Run in, little one. This is the right
place for you"
The apostle then turned to thick
book upon which, in golden letters,
stood ''Ledger."
"What is your name?" he asked the
old woman.
"Brigitte Stegmaierin," if you please,
holy st. Peter" she replied with a
courtesy.
"Precisely- -Brigitte Stegmaierin,' re-
peated Saint Peter, pouring over his
Ledger Then, in a grumbling tone, he
continued: "Debit: HAS bitter-bad
tongue of her own While charged to
her Credit is: She is wtetchedly poor "
"Poor?" cried the old crone, weeping
and flinging up her arms; "God is my
witness that is true; and the holy st.
Peter himself knows poverty is gnaw-
ing pain"
"Wen, WELL" said the apostle gently;
ego in, granny-go in. In there, there
is no more poverty or pain"
The young man with the halter
around his neck now stepped forward.
"Your name," demanded st. Peter.
"Veit Kratzern.'
"Stele a bracelet" read the apostle,
with a frown.
"Item: A purse full of money.
"Item: The contents of the eontri-
button box at st. James Church"
st. Peter scowled fiercely at the youth
who shook like a leaf in the blast.
"Credited: He did it all at the insti-
cation and entreaty of his sweetheart
Hml Did you love the woman so very
much?'
"Ahl' faltered the boy, Il could never
tell you how muchl r.
"EnoughI" broke in st. Peter. "Don't
talk to me about it. ''Be off with you,
out of my sight"