Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-02-15
TRIED THRICE.

rich. comes tomorrow" J" said Otto.
s.I am SO glad. Twas weary Of that old
master, Hoffman, with his crooked prob
lens and hard lessons"
The following day the boys were stand
ing around the schoolh0use, when the door
opened, and Master Friedrich himself ap-
peared and cried in a CHEEKY, hearty voice:
Welcome, my childrenp'
Welcome, MASTER" they cried.
And now they entered and took their
seats, and school began. The thumb worn
books were I,rough out, the lazy boys be-
gan to sigh and frown and wish impatient
ly for the recess and wonder why Latin
dictionaries were ever invented, when, a.
II by magic, they found themselves listen
ing to the pleasant voice Of Master Freid-
rich and actually understanding their les
sons, 80 clear and simple were his explana-
tions, and the time for recess came, to their
great astonishment, long before they had
expected.
When the studies were over, the master
drew from his desk box, and while the
children gathered around he opened it and
drew out charming little white and pink
seashells and many other beautiful things,
which he gave to the children with loving
words.
But the most loving thing Of all was a
little porcelain statuette of an angel. She
stood with her small white hands folded
over her breast and her eyes uplifted, and
the children gazed enchanted.
'sOh, the beautiful angel,' cried they
ALL swift thou not give it to me, Master
Freidrichs"
s'The little angel is too lovely to be Civ
en- TO any little boy who is not good and
q 4. Nfsx.x l,,lI -lf.x O.
serve her. He who brings me tomorrow
the brightest thing on earth shall have the
ANGEL
The next day after the lessons were fin
isbed the children clustered around the
master to show him what they had
brought. All these things were placed on
the schoelmactcrs desk, side by side. The
shilling shone away famously, the pebbles
and the watch crystal did their best, but
kline's buckle was the bravest of all.
s'Ah, mines the brightestn' shouted
Kline, clapping his hands.
"l'ut where is little. Carl?" said Master
Friedrich. "Ile ran out just now"
All eyes were turned to the door, when
presently in rushed Carl, breathless. In his
hands, held up lovingly against his neck,
was poor little snow white dove. Some
crimson drops upon the downy breast
showed that it was wounded.
''Oh, master" cried Carl, 81 was look
ing for something bright, when I came
upon this poor little white dove. Some
boys were tormenting it, and caught it
quickly and ran here"
Even MS he spoke the doves soft eyes
were filmy, it nestled closer in Carl's neck
then gave faint cry, dropped its little
head and died
Carl sank on his knees beside the mas
ter's desk, and from his eyes there fell
upon the white doves poor broken wing
two tears, large and bright.
The master took the dead dove from his
hands and laid it tenderly down on the
desk with the bright things: then raising
Carl he softly said, 'My children, there is
10 brighter thing on earth than a plying
tear"
The boys were silent for moment, for
they felt that the master had decided that
Carl had rightly won the angel. Then
Kline cried out: "My master, thou didst
not fairly explain to us. Ipray thee give
us another trial"
"What sayest thou, Carls" said Master
friedrich.
"Yes, give us another trial." answered
the generous boy.
The good master smiled thoughtfully,
and his eyes rested for a moment lovingly
upon Carl. Then glancing round he said,
"ie who brings me the loveliest thing on
earth tomorrow shall h,rve the angel"
The children clapped their hands and
departed satisfied. After school the next
day Kline was the first to run up to Mas
ter Friedrich and lay upon his desk what
Ire considered the loveliest thing in the
whole world--his new soldier cap with the
long scarlet feather and bright golden
tassel.
Max came next and placed beside the
cap II small silver watch, his last birthday
gift. Otto brought a great picture book,
just sent to him by llis godmother; Ru
dolph tiny marble vase richly sculp-
tured, and so ON, until a still more motley
collection than before lay upon Master
Freidrich's desk.
Then poor little Csrl stepped modestly
up and placed in the masters hand pure
white lily.
The master softly Sc id: "My children.
the word of God says- Behold the lilies Of
the valley. They toll not, neither do they !
spin, yet Solomon in a II his glory was not |
arrayed like one of tn, .se' Carl has right |
" chosen"
But murmurs aros.. The children were \
not satisfied, and ag ain they asked for an
other trial.
"Now, this is the last time" said the
master. "He who brings me the best
thing on earth nall have the angel"
1.-THE very best thing on earth is plum
cake, cried fI1ine ON the third day as he
walked up to the desk, bearing large
cake richly frosted. J
Nay, uiou art wrong this time, Kline"
said Max, "I asked my father what was
the very best thing on earth, and h
laughed and gave me this golden guilde9.
The prize is minen'
"Ah, but my ia cher said that the very
best was good glass Of Rhenish wir1,"
cried Otto, "and have brought hrstle
OF it 80 years ola- The prize is mine.'
So they wenb on till they had placed
their offerings bel ore their master.
And thosf, Car II" said he. .sWhat hu It
thou brought which thou thinkest q de
best ON earths''
A crimson fl ash rose to the boys D,re-
head, and con Aing softly forward he look
from his br .ast small, worn book and
then laid it down with the rest as he said
in low, sweet voice. MY motheiA dear
master, ssUs that Gods book is Sar be-
yond all Ot er earthly possesSions -