The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-01-03

10 ulmSSll. IL luS DdhSI I!llihS CFSA
now of economy the situation must
indeed be bad. Well, We must be
ready for anything; the crisis may be
close at hand First and foremost,
we must indulge in no needless ex-
penditure.'
Thereupon, fastening to his desk,
he wrote and dispatched the follow
ing letter:
Herr Paul Korner:
Dear Sir-I am obliged to give
you a different answer from what I
had intended, in regard to your
Landscape by Moonlight which
had hoped to buy IS soon as it should
be finished. To my great regret, ow-
ing to the depression of business, it
is necessary for me to deny myself
the qualification of possessing this
masterpiece. Let me express the
wish and the hope that the times will
soon be better, when shall feel JUS
titled in purchasing one of your truly
admirable works of art. I remain.
dear sir, very truly yours.
"ALOIS KLEEMULLER.
This letter was like thunderclap
to our artist. He had counted upon
Herr Kieemuller as sure patron;
prosperity would certainly follow the
sale of his Landscape by Moon
light" which was now nearly COM
pleted, but, alas, that dream had
fed!
At the Einhorn in the evening, he
ordered only half bottle of Ingel-
heimer, and the groan accompanying
his order created deep impression,
not only on the landlord, but on the
other guests.
The score that night was scarcely
half as large as usual.
"The times are degenerating,"
moansd Herr Grundhuber, as he ex-
amined his cash box next morning.
A new reduction of his family ex-
penses was the result of this knowl-
edge.
Before a week had gone by, the
village of Gruningen, but now so
prosperous, had assumed an air OF
misery, such as might be accounted
for only by the horrors of civil war.
The cry, hard times,'' rang out
from mansion and hovel. Business
was about at standstill, credit at an
end.
A fortnight later, Paul sat again in
the Einhorn, which he now visited
only twice week.
Again he drew toward him the IL
Illustrated volume which had been the
means of disclosing to him so clearly
the Situation" The paper with the
Vienna correspondence lay there
still. He cast a forlorn glance on the
fara! sheet before him. Then he
raised l, suddenly, and what dismay
filled his soul as he read, for the first
time the date of this correspondence
1T was four years old!
'This is foolisher than foolish!"
he cried. Have I allowed myself
to be nearly frightened, to death by
this nonsense of four years ago."
Rising and seizing the latest news
paper just brought in, he read in the
teleesssaphic dispatches that the eeenn-
aict so long feared had at last brokep
out.
His hands fell at his side.
Eve are then in truth ruined, an.
nihflated!" he groaned. "All hope Is
gone. It matters little what use l
make of the two thalers in my pocket,
all have left. Heaven grant the
rest of my misery may depart with
my money!"
ThsreIpon, in this reckless mood,
he ordered two bottles of champagne.
The landlord smiled.
eThe painter is mighty poll
tician," he said to his wife next morn
ing. Before any one else saw the
approaching fearful business depres-
sion he foretold it, and now he Gore
sees change, for he is drinking
champagne again. That is a favora-
Bile sign. I am sure, Jetty, that the
times are better. This afternoon you
may engage the cake again as be-
fore"
THANK Heaven!" said the baker,
when Frau Grundhuber gave her Or
der as Of old. "The times are i'm
proving. l tell you what, wife, we'll
but a fine dress for Mathilde now"
Aweek later Herr Kleemuller pur-
chased the Landscape by Moon
light"
Business was cup" again. The
prevailing "depression'' had taken
leave of the village, although the war
that had caused it was only just de-
ciared.
This short period OF unusual terror
to the honest citizens of Gruningen
formed a subject for discussion for
many years after.
Heaven save us from hard
times!" the housewives muttered, as
they crossed themselves devoutly.
A certain professor, passing
through the town at that season OF