The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-25
PART /.

PART /.
Saying nothing of his purpose-to
whom indeed should he speak now that
Christel was dead? the little old man
set forth. This, in substance, is the
tale he told the lawyer whom he jour
neyed to town to consult:
His name was Jakob Bleibtreu-a
peasant of Sonnenheim, seventy-three
years old He had lived laborious
and honest life. None of his race
was ever charged with crime or mis-
demeanor For more than two hum
dred years they had titled the soil OF
Sonnenheim, toiled in their cornf1elds
and vineyards, wronged no man, had
been gathered, ripe in years OF stain
less reputation, to their fathers. Such
had been the Sonnenhem Bleibtreus,
not, indede among the richest, but
solid, thrifty, lawabiding race.
He had owned his cottage, his
fathers and grandfathers before him.
In it, on his own land, he had lived
forty mine years with his wife Chris
tel During that long time they had
met their share of good and i'll luck
with cattle wine and crops, had lost
both sons--good lads and sturdy as
you'd seldom fnd-in the war; one
daughter had married and moved away
one had died: there had been storm as
well as fair weather, yet. all in all, he
would not say they had not been peace
full and prosperous enough, and he
could complain of nothing, for he and
his old Christel had got on rarely to-
gether from the first.
1t was two years and one month
now, since he had begun to build
n 70 Ole house the VILLAGE
What induced him to do it he knew
not. He had never been one of those
that are troubled with ideas: never
been tempted to start up and do
things: was always content to plod
along the safe way of his fOrefathers.
But other men We're building. They
talked large at the village inn over
their beer. Times were changing, they
said. Some even prophesed that, be-
fore many years the Shrek of the
steam engine would be heard in those
quiet meadows 1t was like fever
that talk at the Waldhorn. Solid
men, they said, should come forward,
when land was going up like pan
cakes, and show themselves enterpris
ing and publc-spirited, not stick in
their shells like snails. Projects, ad-
vice, figures and probabilities We're
raraded until his head swan.
He used to go home across the field
and try to explain what he had heard to
Christel. He remarked, better than
yesterday, the first time he broached
the subject He came into the kitchen
and took off his boots, and she fetched
him his carpetslippers and skull-cap-
all still and friendly as was her way.
After they had their usual supper of
hinIr
milk, which they always ate in silence
for it was best to give your nina to
your meals--and after she handed him
his long pipe and tobacco pouch, and
he had puffed awhile, he began to talk
and not before; for when he had any
thing to say he liked to sit down quiet
ly and get ready, and not feel hurried.
50 lie sat in his chair and smoked, and
spoke between his whiffs, while
Chrstel sat in hers and knitted and said
nothing. But, somehow, in the still
cottage, away from the mems encour-
agement, things sounded altogether diff
ferent. At any rate, he could not rouse
her to any sense of their Importance, OF
make her understand. She listened
quite unconcerned, and clicked OF
busily, asking no questions and making
no comments. But when nine O'Clock
came. and she got up to lay aside hel
spectacles and knitting, and look after
fire and lights, she said in her quie
Way-.she was always a quiet woman
his wife Chrstel-she thought she anC
her good old Jokeb would be apt to sleel
well and long on it before they took VI
outlandish notions. And, somehow i
secretly irritated him that she felt 81
secure, and every day at the Waldhorl
the mems talk pulled him the othe
way.
1t was long before she seemed abl
to grasp the fact that he was in earn
est, and no wonder, for never befor
had they two divided opinions upo
any course whatever. When she a
length perceived his mind was mad
up she opposed most bitterly. Why
at their age, so near the grave, bull
houses? Why have notions? Why sin
their hard-earned savings in buildins
when they had their own good Hau
and Hof? Why veX themselves wit
noise and change? Were they nc
we'll enough and content? Let strang
ers come to the village and the railwa
and loads of money-bags, If such thing
We're to be; but all was not gold tina
Slittered, and the queen OF Sheba an