Wichita eagle., 1889-10-30
ENVY AND COMPASSION.

1t was a beautiful spring day. The sky
was blue, the little birds twittering in the
tree tops made the earth gay with theil
snugs. Through the green forest might have
been seen two children walking, a brother
and sister.
'What were their names2" interrupted the
eldest of party of girls, who had gathered
about the fire to listen to story.
The boys name was Neidhart-can YOU re
member that, my dearsl 1t is the German
word for envy.
He was pale, had restless ewes and black
hair, being altogether contrast to his sister
At lovely blonde, gentle and fair Her parents
had named her Mitleid. or compassion
The boy and girl were alone in the world
their father and mother having died; and
now they were starting out like the children
of fairy tale to seek their fortunes.
They had divided the little inheritance left
them by their parents, or rather, the selfish
Neidhart had strapped round his own body
the bag of gold coins which had been left
them both, and the few jewels he had taken
care to thrust into his own pocket, while his
sister was allowed to keep only one small
hoop that her mother had worn on her finger
for many years.
But Mitleid, with her sunny spirit was
quite contentei with this division, and at the
time OF which l have been speaking, she wan
dered along after Neidhart, nodding to the
bright colored blossoms that SO joyously lifted
their heads from the grass, without once
being tempted TO pluck them and cast them
aside, as that wicked Neidhart was continu-
ally doing.
Once she stood still to call up to a cuckoo
on q rocking fr branch, that he must
take care or he would make himself
hoarse with his chatter, Then, again. she
stopped to help an industrious ant to collect
pine needles which she needed for building
her sllufully contrived new house
But Neidhart neither saw the beauty of
the spring nor heard the happy voices of the
birds. Hs was thinking only of all the gold
rings In his possession, and suddenly it SEEM
ed TO him that there were no more precious
treasures upon this earth than these of money
and jewels.
The expression upon his face grew harder
and harder minuteby minute, and the glance
of his evil eyes grew more and more mali
cious
Poor Ncidharti
Just you wait, you stupid child he muir
INJURED between his teeth, as he walked along.
It'll evening comes. You'll see then how III
pull that ring OF your finger, and I'll put out
those pretty eyes Of yours with my sharp
knife You always say God protects all good
little children. You can see whether he will
help you to find your way out of this dark
wood when l am gone and you are blindi"
After this he refused to speak another word
to Mitieid, but led her deeper and deeper into
the forest, where the trees stood so close to-
gether that it was quite dark
Mitleid, thinking no evil, walked trustinyly
on behind the wicked boy. She knew that he
was constantly out of temper, and that he
rarely had a good word for anybody, but
worse than that she could not think of him.
The path became much rougher as they
went on, so that at last Mitleid's tender little
feet grew sore with walking.
Gradually her strength began to fail.
Finally she sank down-she could go no far
Their.
LET us rest under this linden tree.n en-
treated Mitled, breathing fast as she seated
herself upon an old gnarled stump you
must be weary, too, Neidhart," she said, in
her sweet voice.
"A boy is not so easily tired, Won silly thing.
you'll And for that reason You and | are CO.
ing TO part company But YOU may give me
''Oh, dear brotherl it is the only thing I
have belonging to my dearest mother''-
BE quietl' interrupted Neidhart harshly. :
at the same time roughly Selling her delicate
little wrist. "If you don't give it to me will
ingly you'll repent it III a trice!"
Mitleid was quite terrified by her brothers
unaccustomed fierceneSs. She sat still with
ont moving, and without being able to speak
q word; but she gazed up into his face with
deep reproach shining forth from her gentle
eyes
This reproachful glance Neidhart felt IN
able TO bear. Trembling with eagerness for
the longed for ring, he tore his knife from its
sheath and carried ont his wicked purpose
Then seizing his bag which lie had laid Gown
for the moment, he hurried away, like one
who, haunted 10y Il bad, bad conscience is
anxious to get out of the sight OF his victim
Is quickly as possible.
Poor little grill her sight being DESTROYED.
she was no longer able to follow the robber.
AT first she called loudly, "NeidhRrti Neid- /
bart!'
Northumberland" repeated the echo.
Her brother made the deserted little one no /
answer, and yet 1t did not seem lonely in that .
great forest. Suddenly all about Aiitleid .
were many strange soundS-a rustling and /
fiuttering. and tramping, and kissing, and
cawing and growing, and roaring-the
earth almost seemed to rock beneath the
heavy tread of the advancing numbers of ami
mails