The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-06
Xavier Gastinger's Beautiful Tin Bird
house Seized for Debt.

Xavier G%astingsr's Beautiful Tin Bird
house Seized for Debt.
II IL were not for q shsrif's seizure,
Xavier Gastinger would now be the proud
est instead Of the most miserable man on
which he feels he has put the best that is in
him, would be on the way to tho Worlds
fair, says tho Now York Herald.
GastingeY 10 a worker in Tin. with a p city
fancy for turning out oddities in that
tion that he would make a %birdhouse like q
miniature castle. and would send IL to Chi
cago to be placed alongside the ,ioh ex-
hibits there. OF the muItitude who were
certain to admire il, some might look to sse
whose skill had fashioned such q wonder.
Then they would find that Xavier CAST
niger, of Wooihaven. was the man. and he
people. and buy a fus home for his wife
and petty French children and be happy
ever afssrwart.
Gastinaer is a good workman and was in
steady demand BY employers before he be-
gan to build his castle. He had u Enug lit
way his family enjoyed the comforts OF n
roof of their own, with n patch of garden
in the rear and flower beds in front. He
was quite content there until this notion
seized him. From that time he put aside
or refused jobs that meant immediate cash
returns. The onstle took complete pos
session Of him. He gave it his constant
attention. laboring IN it early and late.
and retiring only to dream of II. 10 cv-
erythinR else he seemed obllvious. He did
not cave that funds ran low md clothes
wore out and debts crept in on his little
household. All would be moro than right
again. he thought, when the castle was
DONE.
Last week he finished II and sent word
around among his %nsighbors that they
might have u peep ut it before it started out
on its fame-gathcring mission. His neigh
bo's at Woodhayen are mostly OF the
artisan class, not rich in purse, but with
idens about what is good and with . keen
sense of appreciation of the patience and
They all had high respect also for GAIT
inRer's talents, ana were glad Of the chance
TO sos what his def hands had done with
tin sheets. They knew how long he had
been working 1T it and how his heart was
wrapped up in it.
What they saw amazed and delighted
them. He resented to their sdDirinu gaze
o real French chateau, seven feet high and
six feet square, with mansard roof and
cupola, and a clock tower in which chimes
were ringing. Tbs ~tricolor of Franco
Frightened the slender spires at the corners
OF the roof. When the doorS OF the chateau
were OF sned. fourteen compartments could
bS seen, each q homo for u bird family.
The ~nei9hbors Leapsd congratulations on
him and predicted Rtent thinea when the
world should know what he had done, and
GastiuEsr felt TINT his reward was at las.
RS good as won. He had a rude awakening
the next morninp. when De; uty Sheriff
Louis Walters drove up to his cottage with
an order of attachment issued for John
I)Tnka n UhniaQnIA HanInr IN -c -,
this city. to satisfy a debt of 800. Tkero
was no money to ay the debt, and Wal
tiers piled the chateau into his wagon as il
it were an ordinary chattel and drove off
with 1t. Now Sheriff Norton, of Queens
county. says no mnst soil it if ths money is
not forthcoming.
Gnstinper is grief stricken over the loss
of this child of his genius. He feels help
less to redeem his treasure. All Wood
haven mourns with him.