Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-11-13
influence of the Cradle Song.

Years ago. 10 the northern part %
Germany, there lived a peasant fami
consisting Of a father. mother, and tl,rf
children. the oldest Of whom was boy
OF "a years, named Heinrich As fimes
we're hard and work scarce. this boy dc.
cidcd to 90 70 America-that land Of
plenty In the eyes OF all European peas.
ants-and try his fortunes. An opnor.
tuniiy offered itself, very unexpectedly,
10 work his way 20 New York as a cih-
in-boy he accepted II and IN due time
landed IN New York-only $40 IN bis
pocket-and an utter stranger alike 10
people, climate ard customs. At first
he tried TO gain living in the great
city. lie sold papers, ran errands, held
horses. blacked shoes, anything by which
nc could earn an honest penny, but his
Ignorance of the English language was
great hindrance to him, aud he often
went hungry to bed and sometimes,
even. he had no bed 10 which to 20.
Al last, IN the spring. he won the ia
vor Of a good-natured huckster who
daily drove Into town with vegetables
and berries to sell. and was taken home
by him to help In the garden Tor the
summer. The pay was a mere trilr.
but he was sure OF pleasan; home and !
good food.
As cold weather drew near and vege
tables and fruit were gone, The work
gave out and he was forced to find an
o'hcr home and other work. This time
he drlited into WOODEN mill, and here
he remained for five years, gradually
rising In work and pay but at the emf
Of this time his health giving way In the
close air Of the mill, he fouod employ
ment IN a sawmill. where his work kept
him IA the open air
Ia such ways as these he lived for
years. now on farm or plantation un-
III his thirty fourth year found him
working 10 "a lumber mill IN the fer
northwest At first he had heard ocoa-
'lonalIy from his parents, but he had
gradually forgotten his native tongue
md now communication with his
mother had ceased her teachings were /
aiding from his mind, and he was be
,e lived. lie had never married, aud =
lmost forgotten the feeling and com Il
orls of home la this long life of cheap o
oarding houses, among rough, uneulti-
ated men.
AT length an Evangelist came to labor d
mong the mill people, and Heinrich
las drawn into his influence. bscame in
inverted. and joined the church "a
Then came the longing to better his
'ays OF living, to have home Of his
wn aud, stronger than all else the
ish 20 have his mother with him. He
'rote to her, and also to the pastor OF =,
re village where she lived, asking OF I,
or circumstances, and also whether she
ould come 10 the new country and r..
lake her home with him. As he had !.
,rgotten his mothers language he was !,
bliged to ask German gentleman be- ..
'nging to the same church to be his -
:,
At length the answer came. Ills :.
iher and hts two sisters were dead. and -.
v i've years his mother had been alone. =,
he would gladly come to him n he 81
ould send her the means. lie at once
piled, and wrote also 70 the pastor,
king him 20 assist his mother In her
separation for the journey, and TO see
r. safely embarked on the steamer. be
nding him at the same time sum of tn
oney amply sufficient te cover all ex, Of
,nses Then he bought, with the saw tia
Ks OF years, little meet Of home In IN,
e country, stocked Il with chickens, thu
rkeys, a COW, a pig, horse and buggy. int
ID mules for the teamwork; aud, with IN,
c Kindly help OF the wife OF his Ger are
an friend, he furnished the little house ha
sh,
Meantime the little old mother had ke'
irtei, hopeful and confident. notwith- kel
anding The fact that she did not under. VIII
and word Of the language Of her pat
as country, She was going to him. are