Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-22

peasant. II saw your Gottfried before mi
with body and soul; who knows what stupid
trick he has played again, that be must needs
show his heels in such a manner" With that
the speaker went his way.
The miller delayed starting again. A
thought flashed through his head.
How" he unused, ''if Friedel eyen-tht
sluice-yet no, he was certainly here when
the disaster occurred
Quickly he steered the boat to the shore and
stepped out. The people, who, yesterday even
ing, stood by him ready to help, came once
again to the field mill. Gerard told them
what be had heard from the peasant They
were ready to go to the forest also, and went
on their why. The miller followed them.
How long Friedel slept he knew not. II
was still quite dark when he awol5e. The
| twittering of birds sounded around and con.
WINGED the runaway, rubbing his sleepy eyes
that he Gid not dream, that he was really
there in the dense forest Suddenly the bit
ter reality passed before him. He would raise
himself and remain sitting, as If spellbound.
| His joints were stiff and he was pereeptibly
chilly. With great effort he at last stood on
his feet. Tears rolled down his cheeks. A
| great yearning for home seized him. but he
thought again OF the severe punishment, OF
the angry steward, and hastily turned his
steps once more TO the woods. Yet he went
| forward slowly into the wet bushes. After
half an hours wandering Friedel came to q
wood road. The day had fully dawned. How
beautiful it was heFel How the bright rays
of the sun warmed the treesl The boy sat
down on the stump of tree. He felt very
weak; he had eaten nothing since yesterday
noon, and he was very hungry and thirsty.
But back--no, he dared not go backi
"But whittier, in reality, does this way
leadl and where will 60 when its end is
reachedN the child asked himself.
'Ahl" something cried within him, Ego
back again to thy father! Contest confess
what thou hast done, and surely he viii for
give theei Art thou not already punished
enough for thy indiscretion9 Vert thou not
obliged to learn how bitter it is to be losta
Take thyself back, take thyself back to thy
fathers housen
1t was to Friedel as if an angel spoke to
him. He ran along the road; he heard q
gentle splashing; curious, he moved near.
From between stones overgrown with thick
moss gushed forth clear, fresh water, which
took its course across the way.
THAT is surely our stream,n said the boy
to himself. snow go with thee, my little
brook, thou leadest to mine, to mine"
Before Frledel began his journey home
ward, he drank his fill of the clear, cool
water, then he followed the course of the
brook back He must have wandered some
hours ere he stepped out of the forest. There
before him in the distance lay the field mill
All, how his heart beat But he hesitated not
in going forward; he went bravely ON and
reached his beloved home.
The sun had reached the zenith. The mill
wheel stood still In the yard quiet reigned
supreme. The kennel was deserted, the house
door was locked A window stood half open
Friedel ciambered upon the bank which was
before the house, and looked in at the win
dow. Within was only the old house clock,
ticking solemnly. Lightly he pressed the
window wide open, and quickly crept
through. Then he got his school books and
sat down on the settle. He had not been
there long when he heard voices in the yard.
The door was opened, his parents entered
weeping. Sobbing bitterly his mother buried
her head in the sofa cushion.
"Ah we would certainly forgive him all
were he only here againl-but he is dead
dead-our only child" said the father, wip-
!ns HiS eyes
Friedel could not restrain himself longer.
With bound he sprang forward, threw HIM
self at the feet of his terrified and astonished
father and chung about his knees
"Father, dear! darling motherl" he cried,
II will truly no longer be SO frivolous, never
again run away, but try to be always good
Do not beat mel No, mol do not send me to
the house of correctionn
The joy Of the good parents was indescriba-
bic. The father made no more mention of
the sluice. He indeed surmised all before
Freidel had confessed to him his mad trick.
Friedel also brought himself into peaceable
relations with the steward. From that time
the teacher no longer had to complain over
his "vocation." With earnestness and zeal
Friedel devoted himself to his work, and was
often spoken of as model scholar.
That he will become an excellent man, IL
he goes forward thus, no one doubts. Still
he diligently helps his father in the field mill.
But the pastor and the chorister would make
something yet greater of the intelligent boy.
God give his blessing thereto. Adapted from
the German by Anna E. H. Sands for The
Springfield Homestead.