The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-02


"Now we are ready for you," re-
marked st. Peter to the Count, turn.
ing over leaf after leaf of the ledger,
and suddenly exclaiming in hor-
rible tone:
"That looks promising indeed
Column after column of debit items
while nothing stands to your credit
absolutely nothing"
The Count began pompously:
81 have advanced the commerce,
manufactures and agriculture of my
native land. l have protected and
promoted the arts and sciences. /
have built churches and schools and
orphan asvlums and hospitals and
poor houses and"
"Peace, fool !" cried Saint Peter.
angrily. "All that is charged fast
enough, not to your credit but against
you, because it was done from ambi-
tion and selfshness and ostentation
and hypocrisy"
my life's best work." continued
the Count. still more proudly. "how
[ made my fatherland great and
glorious beyond all lands on earth
1 do not need to mention, for pre-
sumo my fame has long ago ascended
here"
"Your fame" retorted Saint Peter,
with increasing Indignation, has not
reached US, but the groans of dying
youths haye risen to us from your
battle-fields, and from desoIate homes
the despair of mothers and brides ;
and l tell you, wretch, if you have
nothing better than this to urge, you
are lost man ~
The Count grew still paler, and had
not word to say for himself.
At this moment the little boy, lin.
gering on the threshold of heaven,
called out:
"Mr. Peter! Mr.. Peter ~
"Are you still there, my little
man ?" returned the apostle. "Why
do you not enter ?'
Instead of replying to the question
the little fellow said:
"Mr. Peter, do you see this hum.
ming top" Saint Peter returned in
diligently, "Pray, how came il
here 2"
my mother laid it in my grave
with me-" answered the child seri
ously. He then picked up his top
rewound the string, and extendin'
the top temptingIy toward th'
apostle, said:
"Mr. Peter. if you will let thu
Count go in there with me will lie
,, you spin my top"
! "Do you know the Count, child p
"Of course. 1t was the Count tina
gave me the top"
"Ah! Tell me how that happened
dear boy"
"Once 1 was sitting at the door
eating my bread, and when l haC
finished 1 began to cry. Just ther
the Count came driving along in ;
beautiful blue and gold coach, will
four grey horses. And the carriage
stopped and the Count said:
"'Are you hungry, little boy"
"'No.' said I, Il have just had my
broad
o "'And the Count said, Then why
- are you crying?'
"And then l said, Il am so lonely
Father and mother go off to worl
early in the morning, and don't com,
1 home till late at night. and the chill
{ dren won't play with me because
! am so Slow Then the Count sale
he would bring him something Il
e play with. And in little while h,
n came back with the top. and W.
r made it spin, the Count and I to
gether; after that never cried an,
r mere"
: Saint Peter made no reply, bu
buried his head in his ledger mutter
). ing:
"I knew he's rather old fogyish II
his account, our old bookkeeper
q Gabriel-still we have always beel
able to rely on him-ah, was sur
of it ~ he exclaimed joyfuIly; cher
: it is on the very last credit page;
. "Gave a day laborer's cripple,
child a toy-commonly called hum
ming-top-and with great kindnes
and gentleness showed the boy hoy
to spin it,"
!. With almost youthful eagernes
Saint Peter seized his red pencil ant
4 drew broad line through the Who'll
long list of sins and offenses, and tn
. next moment the Count, clasping tn
} chiId's hand, entered the kingdom 0
heaven. Translated. from German.
A Western Wedding.
# 1t appears that one Jonas Burtol