Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-11
ENVY AND COMPASSION.

II was beautiful spring day The sky
was blue the little birds twittering in the
tree tops made the earth gay with their
songs Through the green forest might have
been seen two children walking, a brother
and sister.
What were their namesf' INTERRUPTED the
eldest OF a party OF girls, who had gathered
about the fire to listen 10 a story.
The boys name was Neidhart-can YOU re-
member that, my dearsi II is the German
word for envy.
He was pale, had restless eyes and black
hair, being altogether contrast to his sister,
lovely blonde, gentle and fair Her parents
had named her Miteid, or COMMISSION.
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 q 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 10 keep only one small
hoop that her mother had worn on her finger
for many years.
But Mitleid, with her sunny spirit, was
quite contented with this division and at the
time OF which have been speaking, she wan
dered along after Neidhart, nodding 20 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 n cuckoo
on rocking fir branch, that he must
take care or he would make himself
hoarse with his chatterl Then, again, she
stopped 10 help an industrious ant to collect
pine needles which she needed for building
her skillfully contrived new house.
But Neidhart neither saw the beauty OF
the spring nor heard the happy voices Of the
birds He was thinking only OF all the gold
rings in his possession, and suddenly it seem
ed 10 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 minute by minute and the glance
OF his evil eyes grew more and more mali
cious
Poor Neidhartl
Just you wait, you stupid child, he muir
INJURED between his teeth, as he walked along,
till evening comes You'll see then how IN
pull that ring off your finger, and I'll put out
those pretty eyes of yours with nv 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 am gone and you are blindw
After this he refused to speak another word
10 Mitleid, 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 trustingly
on behind the wicked boy. She knew that he
was constantly out Of temper, and that he
rarely had good word for ANYBODY. but
worse than that she could not think of him.
The path became much rougher as they
went on, 50 that ut last Mitleid's tender little
feet grew sore with walking
Gradually her strength began TO fail.
Finally she sank down-she could 20 no far
Their.
Let us rest under this linden tree, en-
treated Mitleid, breathing fast, as she seated
herself upon an old gnarled stump. You
must be weary, too, Neidhart,n she said. in
her sweet voice
"A boy is not so easily tired, you sill thing.
you'll And for that reason you and are go
ing TO part company. But YOU NAV give me
that ring first. II is much too good for vopIr
"Oh, dear brotherl it is the only thing |
have belonging to my dearest mothern-
BE quietp interrupted Neidhart harshly
at the same time roughly seizing her delicate
little wrist. IF you don't give it to me will
tngly you'll repent IL in a triceln
Mitleid was quite terrified by her brothers
unaccustomed 1erceneSs. She sat still with.
out moving, and without being able 70 speak
word; but she gazed up into his face with
deep reproach shining forth from her gentle
eyes
This reproachful glance Neidhart felt I'M
able TO bear. Trembling with eagerness for
the longed for ring, he tore his knife from its
sheath and carried out his wicked purpose
Then seizing his bag which he had laid down
for the moment, he hurried away, like one
who, haunted by a bad, bad conscience. Is
anxious 10 get out Of the sight of his victim
as quickly possible.
Poor little grill her sight being DESTROYED.
she was no longer able TO follow the robber.
AT first she called loudly, "Neidhart! Neii.
hartm
'Neid-hart-hart-hart 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 Mitleid
were many strange sounds-a rustling and
huttering, aud trampang, 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
Mtleid could see nothing. but she was soon
convinced that the creatures were coming
nearer and nearer every moment; coming
from every direction ut once.
In her fear she knew not where TO turn.
She breathed "A short prayer 10 the Kind Fa-
ther Of US all that she might not perish She
then sought refuge In the tree above her, and
to her Joy found strength had been given her
to reach the topmost branch.
Here her alarm subsidized. Her eyes gave
her bitter pain, but after little this became
more bearable, and soon she was able to oc-
cupy her thoughts with the voice that arose
from the foot OF the linden
This was the night when all the animals,
great and small, meet together under that
linden tree. Once year they do this, and
he who is fortunate enough TO he hidden In
the tree during that night can understand
everything that Is said among them.
Mitleid not knowing this, thought a con-
clave OF wise old men was being held below,
therefore she kept as still as a little mouse,
that she might not he the means OF disturb
ing them. This was a very good thing, how
ever, for who knows how the creatures
would have borne having their secrets dis
CONtTeuE
"Yes," said the bear 10 an important tone,
''f the king there IN his castle beyond the
forest knew that his daughter wns kept con-
cealed in the depths of the woods by the rob
bers who stole her, he would be happy. He
has sought the vanished princess now for an
entire year, and they say he has cried his
eyes blind In his sorrown
MY advice to the king would lie ~ battle
his eyes In the dew that falls FROM the linden
tonight" said the fox. ''It would enable
him to see again-yes, much better even than
before"
HE knows just as little what treasures are
In my possession here at the foot of this tree"
said the snake with wise shake Of its head
There are pearls and jewels buried here in
such numbers that all the distress in the
kingdom could be done away with were they
only once soldl"
Meanwhile the morning had come The
animals now began to wish each other a po-
lite farewell, and each went his own way
Mitleid spent little time In thought. With
a short prayer to the holy Father OF US all, she
bathed her eyes with the dew from the linden