Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-05-28
DUHOBREI'S GOOD FORTUNE

IDUllODhE . UOOD IUhl UNE
In An Old house, in an obscure street
of Nuremburg, there lived a littlr
humpbacked man, whose face wa
wrinkled, and bore a somewhat morose
expression, owing, doubtless, to the
many difficulties which had beSet his
cath through life, and the cruel ridicuie
cast upon him by more fortunate brit
unfeeling neighbors. This unfortunate
individual, Samu-l Duhobret by name,
was about thirty-five years old, and
obtained livelihood by painting large
signs (such as hung before inns), and
| the course tapestry which was formerly
much used in Germany.
BY some sudden change OF fortune
| (almost TIE only one he had ever
KNOWN, and in consequence or the gen.
erous disposition of Albrecht Durer,
the painter and engraver, he had been
admitted as a pupil into that great
masters school, out OF charity, for he
was ito poor TO pay the high fee charged
for instruction.
Here he stuffed hard, and was an eX
ample OF indefatigable industry, for he
was always there by daybreak, and
seldom left till darkness closed in.
either studying or helping Durer or his
lady accountant This was the name
Durer gave to his wife Agnes, the
daughter of Hans Frei.
Madame DIrer posse an irasciblr
temper, which caused much domestic
trouble, and often brought discomfort
TO her husbands pupils; but having a
particular aversion to Duhobret, she
vented most of her spleen upon him,
| 40 nfh al N fT
or her malice to reach them, or else
hey purchased their peace by concilia-
| ting the female tyrant. Yet. in spite
of all her shrewdish propensities. and
| the many ntemptible but CALLING
things put upon Duhobret, he lad not
taint of envy OF malice in his heart.
| He was the most even-tempered mortal
living. and would frequently give his
services 70 tfose who were the most
bitter toward him
The only peace he knew was after
his days work at the studio was over.
and he had returned to his poor lodg
ing. a lonely room at the top of the
house, where lie would often work till
long after midnight to earn the scanty
me rs of subsistence, or to push for
ward a picture which stood upon his
easel.
After several years OF this arduous
toll his strength began to fail, aud
\ sickness laid him low One night, after
he had reached home with considerable
lifiicul.y. he went TO the well 10 flli hi
earthen pitcher. out a mist covered h,
eyes, and su Id n dizziness caused him
10 reel like a drunken man. At last
he regained his room and went to be l.
In the morning he was in burning
fever; an 'ernal fire seemed TO dry VI.
his blood and scOrch his brain. He was
miss d that day from the scene OF his
labors. but his absence only caused a
brutal joke from his fellow-students;
none cared to go TO his lodging and in
quire the cause, though but few among
them were not under obligat ions for
some service performed by the poor
cripple
Duhobret lay tossing to and fro in
dellr .um for four days, quenching his
thirst, during his lucid intervals from
the feverish madness; by draughts OF
water, now stale, from the pitcher he
had filed On the evening when he hal
first felt sick. 1t was the early morn
ing of the fourth day when Samuel dis
cove.ed that it WAS empty. What could
he dop He was too weak to go out
and refill il; he had no kind friend
watching by his bedside to send. Death
seemed very near; he could almost feel
the icy finger at his heart, while his
tongue Glove to the roof of his mouth,
and his throat was hot and dry as a
lime k In.
oh, God he prayed, Set me not die
here with none to relieve NE. oh,
Thou who dist thirst upon the cross,
hear my cry AMI send me relief Oh,
Holy Mother, pray for me in the hour
of my distress, pray that one drop Of
water may he brought 20 cool my
parched 'ngue.'
The darkness of the night began TO
pass away; the sun shone forth with
golden radiance and threw long bright
rays upon the floor of his room, but 1t
brought no relief, and but little hope OF
succor from the outside world.
In the same house there lived p 'Or
girl, named Bertha, who was a cripple.
A disease of the hip-bone, engende ed
by a fall when an infant had marred
the beautiful proportions OF her body.
and caused her to limp and use a
crutch.
She was not pretty, but she had a
tender heart, and she had often pitied
the poor humpbacked lodger up stairs.
IL
with fear, for 1t WAS the common talk
of neighborly goSsips that he was a
wizard. This report was strengthened
by the certainty that DLhobret was not
altogether Ignorant of the science of let
terS.
He could read and wriie-great things
in the days of which we write and
once he had been seen TO enter his house
bearing under his arm ponderous
book, fastened by huge brass clasps.
This last was proof incontrovertible of
his alliance to the black art, and he was
generally feared.
Then, besides, he was seldom abroad
in the daytime, except when he went TO
church on Sunday; and no one had ever
been seen visiting him, nor had he ever
Joined with his neighbors in the dagon
OF Rheinish wine, with which they we're
wont to regale themselves on holiday
times.
Bertha had missel his regular foot
steps on the stairs and she began to
wonder what had become of the solitary
o fger, so she turned to her widowed
mother for an explanation.
Mother. have not seen Herr Duhc-
bret lately, and / don't think he has
eft the hous Do you know what is
the matterT
NO, child, not L; maybe he's work
Ing some mighty SPELL. which our Lady
:elivers us FROM said the old dame.
oh, mother, don't say such thing
IF the poor man; Pm sure he does not
look like a wizard; and as for his book
lore, why the clergymen read and teach
others to read, and they are no. wiz
ards. Besides, I've often SEEN him az