The Press., 1891-03-26
choked with feeling, and the father, un. able at once to reply, paced the floor with 1.

able at once to reply, paced the floor with bowed head.
 "God forgive me, Ernst, it was who / did it all. It never seemed so plain to me as now. l, because could not at once succeed in the new country, and do for her as I would, forgot her at last in trying to forgot my own despair. have been and comforter. And now it is too late, too late."
 Beloved, think you in heaven they can- not know and rejoice when temptation is overcome, and good wins? Say not it is too late."
 Ernst, you are the man, and I the weak child. God helping me, I yet shall be man also. Away with this poison that takes my life," and with one fierce stride across the room, one tug at the frog. en window, forth into the night he sent the great bottle, the sound of breaking glass tinkling like silvery bells to Ernst's happy ears.
 But it was not all happiness in the days that followed, for the love of drink had grown in the poor father, and the fight was a hard one. Then God sent one day a bright good woman to their ugly home, who talked of meetings, and pledges, and Gods help, and final victory, all in the dear old native tongue, and Ernst and his father went to the big hall many times ,and came away rejoicing and the good woman looking after them and holding her head brightly would exclaim, "When my dear Germans once believe, they do believe. God bless those both."
 At last came work for Herr Oeber, and Ernst stayed all day in the little room, making it bright for the father when even- Isyrv Av,A l. to pour water on his little box of earth he rubbed his eyes and looked twice, for there appeared green leaf above the soil. What pleasure then to watch the precious leaf, to see it grow higher and stronger day by dey. The father watched it too. and wiped his eyes when Ernst repeated the Mutter's words, "It must also die, and it, like the mother you love, shall live again. One night as they both talked, lingering over the beloved box, there came a sound ing rat.a- tat tat at the door, and what fol- lowed seemed strange as a dream. A big man, heavily bearded, bounded in, and hugged Water Oeber till Ernst feared he would choke, all the time saying, in his deep voice, "Ach Johann Have I found you at last ?" and then Ernst was hugged in his turn, and all, amid crying and laugh ing, heard the queer story of the big, bearded man, who was Papa Oeber's 'slittle brother" dearly loved, and lost long since.
 "You gave me the start and sent me here, dear Johann," he said, "and now I have much, and shall take you both back with me-" So over the seas went the box and the green leafage, carefully tended all the way; yet bitter tears shed Ernst and his father, because the dear mother lay in tL a strange land, never again to see the loved home across the water.
 It was an Easter morning in Germany, sunny and sweet, when Ernst, looking at his green treasure, beheld glorious bloom white, pure and fragrant Tears of joy sprang to his eyes, and the dear father wept l with him, as together they looked rever- entity upon it.
 "How beautiful its message, said Ernst, with little sob of emotion and happiness. "Dear Water, it was only the body left in the strange land; the spirit, glad and beautiful, has crossed the seas with us and this, to Germany"
 And the father, on his knees in the sum- ny garden, with Ernst little fingers in hls own, and the Easter bells chiming out the glad story of that resurrection long ago, prayed fervently that the influence of the gentle mother might, like the fragrance of the Easter bloom, spread round their lives, and forever.