The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-19
FORGOTTEN,

There are few who have not heard or
read of the great French revolution of
the last century, when cruel men seized
on the government Of France, when
human life was Of no account, and when,
as il wemied with its wicEedness, God
seemed to have hid his face from the sin
full land.
No one may count up the tears that
were shed, the mOans That were made,
the hearts that were broken in those
dreadful times; but here and there out
of the great mass Of human misery his
tory has preserved a record Of the trials
and sufferings Of some hapless ones, read
ing which we shudder and thank God
that we live in happier days.
Some few years after the Reign of
Terror-as this outburst Of sin and mad
ness was well named--a man of middle
age entered small inn in Germany and
called for refreshments. His manners
were timid and shrinking, and he looked
as if he might just have recovered from
some terrible illness-he was so strange
ly, ghastly pale.
The landlord supplied his wants, and,
half curious, half in kindness, he made
some remark as to the strangers appear.
ance, coupling it with the question,
"Did he want aught else for his com
fortT'
"Nay, nothing said the pale man
hastily; Il have food and light and air
what could ! want mcre? and he sighed
deeply.
my friend" said tine landlord, seat
ing himself, 'you speak as if you had
known the want of these things Have
1 guessed aright?'
His guest looked up.
"Would you hear my tale;" he asked
"For years l have kept silence, but TO
day it seems as if it would tighten my
heart to speak. Listen and believe it il
you can. Less than seven years ago
was a gay, light hearted youth in thii
our quiet fatherland. Having no neal
relations, was led to visit some distau
ones who had lived for many years in {
small town in France.
"My uncle, as | called him out o
| friendliness. was a kind, good fellow
well known and respected in the place
where he carried ON the craft Of a watch
maker, and he proposed that | should
become his apprentice and partner,
liked the little town, liked my uncle
l liked my aunt, and l soon gave my
consent. They had no children-I thaul
God for that now-but my aunt's kindly
soul could not be content without youns
people around her, so she kept anC
clothed two house maidens, children o
some poor neighbors. Trim and nea
they looked, too, wearing the costume o
that part Of Germany from whence IN!
aunt came, o pretty fancy of her own
it seemed quaint enough in a strang
land,
at was a happy household. No won
der l was glad TO belong to it; but, alas
it was soon to be swept away by terribl
affliction, For some time we had hear,
of strange troubles going on in Paris ant
the large towns, but our little place wa
still quiet. One morning, however, W
woke to find everything in confusion
Our mayor had been ordered to resign
and his place was to be filled by som
one sent from Paris,
"Still, we never dreamed of what feal
full misery this was the forerunner. W
had no time to dream, either, the bio,
fell so suddenly. There had been a sti
going on in the market place for the tw
days following the arrival of the ne'
official; but my uncle and / We're bus
over discovery which he had made i
our trade, and we were less than usuj
in the streets,
cat noon, ON the third day, however
! he went out for stroll to rest his eye
and look about him for u few moments
My aunt and her maidens arranged a
usual the midday meal, and we were a
ready TO sit down, only my uncle wa
missing. He was usually so punctul
that we wondered and waited, and {
last we dined without him. At tn
close of the meal l stepped out to loo
for him.
Il had not got dozen yards from on
house when I met our bakers wife, ht
eyes staring ont Of her head,
"'Go back she said, go back! 1t
too late. The mOnster-the wretch! J.
has executed the honest man, withoJ
even the farce Of trial, on the accurs5
= guillotine yonderN
Il was petnfed with horror Coui
she be speaking Of my uncle, sorespecte'
so quiet as he was? 1t was too true. II
wretch in office had lost no time, but hs
| begun his work of bloodshed at once, an
my uncle was his first victim, his on
crime being that he was Of foreign Dirt
and had sheltered under his roof, son
months since, poor Swiss. l retrac'
/ my steps to the house. My aunts anxior
, face met my troubled gaze. She hi
begun TO suspect evil, The two giy
v waited fearfully in the background.
tried to speak, but | turned away al
burst into tears. l was young the
Master Landlord, and had tears TO she
Ny aunt passed me by and rushed in