St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-11-23

| and at noon led him to his wife, whom he
accurately informed of little Gottlieb's
story, and of the plans which he had
| formed for him. The good woman readily
| promised her best assistance in the latter,
| and she faithfully kept her word.
During the next four years Gottlieb at
tended the schools of the great commercial
| CITY. Then his faithful foster father took
him into his counting room, in order to
educate him for business. Here as well
as there, at the writing desk as on the
school bench, the ripening youth dis
tipguished himself, not only by his natural
CAPACITY, but by the faithful ind ustry with
which he exercised it. With all this, his
| heart retained it's native innocence. OF
| his weekly allowance, he sent the half
regularly TO his mother until she died,
| afGer having survived two OF his brothers.
| She had passed the last years of her life,
not in wealth. it is true, but by the aid of
the noble Richter and of her faithful son,
in condition above want.
After the death of his beloved mother,
there was no dear friend left to Gottlieb in
the world except his benefactor. Out of
love for him, he became an active, Jealous
merchant. He began by applying the
su perfuity of his allowance, which he
could now dispose Of at his pleasure, to
trade in Hamburg quilts. When, by care
and prudence he had gained about thirty
pounds, it happened that he found in his
native village considerable quantity of
hemp and flax which was very good, and
still to be had at a reasonable price. He
asked his foster father to advance him
fifty pounds, which the latter did with
great readiness And the business pros
pered so well that in the third year of his
clerkship Gottlieb had already acquired
the sum of one hundred aud fifty pounds
Without giving up his trade in fax, he
now trstficked in linen goods and the two
com bined made him, in couple of years,
about three hundred pounds richer.
This happened during the customary
FIVE years of clerkship. At the end of this
period Gottlieb continued to serve his ben
efactor five years more with industry,
skill and fidelity. Then he took the place
of the book keeper, who died about this
time; and three years afterward he was
taken by Herr Richter IS a partner into
his business, with a third part of the
profits.
But it was not Gods will that this pleas
ant partnership should be of long duration.
An insidous disease cast Herr Richter upon
years confined to his couch. All that love
or gratitude could suggest Gottlieb now
did to repay his benefactor's kindness.
Rebuilding his exertions, he became the
soul of the whole business and still he
watched long nights at the old mans bed
side, with his grieving wife. until, in the
sixty fifth year of his life, Herr Richter
closed his eyes in death.
Before his decease he placed the hand of
his only daughter, a sweet girl of two land
twenty, in that Of his beloved foster-son.
He had long looked upon them both as his
children. They understood him. They
loved each other and in silence, yet sffec-
tionately and earnestly, they soempized
their betro,hal at the bedside of their dying
father.
In the year 1928, ten years after Herr
Richter's death, the house of Gottlieb Bern,
late Samuel Richter, was one of the most
respectable in all Dantzig. 1t owned three
large ships, employed in navigating the
Baltic and North Seas, and the the care of
Providence seemed especially to watch over
the interests of their worthy owner for
worthy he remained in his prosperity. He
honored his mother-in law like son, and
cherished her declining age with the ten
derest affection, until in her two and-sev-
entieth year, she led in his arms.
Having no children of his own, he took
the eldest son of each of his two remaining
brothers, now substantial farmers, into his
house, and destined them to be his heirs.
But, in order to confirm them in their hui
mility, he often showed them the needle
which had proved such source of bless
ing to him, and bequeathed it as perpet-
ual legacy to the eldest son of the family.
1t is but few years since this child of
poverty, of honest industry, and of misfor-
tune, passed in peace from this world. His
death was an exemplifcation of the old
text s'MarK the perfect man, and behold
the upright; for the end of that man is
peace "-Chrdstian Inquirer.