Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-12-21


fruit than l imagined Yet when |
tell you what great sinner she was
on earth"-
Il know" the Son OF God inter
rupted. Before We decide upon the
fate of this woman, let US hear what
the child did with the rest Of the nuts
for we know that she did not eat
them all. Now, my little angel, what
became OF the last of them? Speak
on. Gladly will listen 10 you.
Hannele began anew: After they
had buried mother, they sent me into
the country among the mountains,
for they said it was not the duty OF
the city to care for me, but that OF
the village parish where my parents
were born. SO | was taken there.
The six nuts that | had saved | took
with me to play with. This | most
enjoyed doing in the spring. alone on
the little strip of grass behind the
poorhouse, in which | was the only
child. Besides me there were but
three old women, being fed todeath,
as the peasants used 10 say.
Not one of them noticed anything
that happened around them, but my
heart used 10 grow light when every
thing about me budded and sprouted
and burst into bloom. My body was
always aching, but my pains could
not lessen my enjoyment OF the
spring. Wherever | looked men were
sowing aud planting. 1t was the first
time that had ever seen it, and the
wish came over ME to contide some
thing to the good earth that would
take root and sprout and grow green
aud high for me.
80 stuck four of my nuts into the
ground. Iput them rs far apart in
the small space as could so that il
big trees came from my seeds they
might not stand in one another
way, but might all enjoy the air and
sunshine that | was so thankful for.
saw my seed sprout, but what be
came of them afterward | did not live
to see. Two years after sowed them
a famine fell upon us. The poor
weavers, who lived in the mountain
village, had all they could do TO nour-
ish wife and child. There was little
left for the poorhouse. As | was al
ready i'll, l could not stand the misery
and was the first TO die Of the dread
full fever caused 10y hunger.
only one of the bliud women and
the duIl-witted one followed the sack
in which | was buried-for who would
have paid for coffin? The last two
nuts divided with the old women.
Each one Of us had half, and how
gladly we ate the little morsel, Tor
even a taste OF any dainty seemed
good to us after we had lived on moth
ing but bread and potatoes. From
here | watched the other nuts grow
TO be trees. All four had straight
stems and thick crowns Under one
of them that stood near Il spring
which is now called the fresh spring,
an old carpenter who came to the
poorhouse built bench
Here another angel Interrupted the
little narrator with the question, DO
YOU mean the nut tree In Dorbstadt!
and receiving an answer in the affirm
ative he cried II, Master, | am that
old carpenter and during my last
summers | had no greater pleasure
than to sit by the fresh spring under
the nut tree, and while | smoked my
pipe to think Of my old wife, whom
was soon to find again with you. In
the autumn, too. many a dry brown
leaf found its way among tue more
expensive tobacco ones. But the nut
trees were cut down many years ago.
Il saw it cried the spirit OF little
Hannele, and one felt from her tone
how she deplored it. They were
felled when the poorhouse was given
up. But the Son Of God has now
heard what he wished TO know
NO. no." the Saviour answered, Il
should still like to know what became
of the wood Of these trees.
The voice OF several angels were
heard at the same moment, for many
Of the poor weavers Of Dorbstadt were
to be found in the heavenly kingdom.
St. Peter. however, bade them to be
quiet and permitted only the one who
mad last entered the abode OF the
blessed TO speak.
Il was the village doctor, this one
began. "and | quilted the earth be
cause I, too, fell victim 10 the pestl-
lence OF which many Of the poor peo
pie were dying and against which
fought with all my small powers, out
with small success. can tell you al
that YOU wish 10 know, my master
for during forty years devoted my
humble services 10 the sick poor there
When Hannele died in our poorhouse
it happened before my time-th'
misery was even greater than at pres
ent. The weavers were ground dowr
by the large manufacturers until al
energetic man built factory IN ou
village and paid them better wages
"As the population then increased
and consequently the number oi pa
tients, space was wanting III which u
house them, for the dilapidated poor
| house-whither they were carried
was no longer large enough TO &C
commodate them all Therefore TN
parish, aided by the owner OF the lac
tory, built a hospital for the whoi
district, aud the site Of the old poor
| bousa was chosen for il The Dfautl