The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-09-25
The
El1igrants
A Story For Labor
Day
BY EVELYN c. GOODRICH

In what IL called the Black forest ir
Germany lived a poor couple, Jacot
, Gaatz and his wife, who had but one
child, "a daughter, Gretchen, who was
the main comfort Of her parents. She
and Hans Dreckel, the son of black.
smith, were brought up together, each
being the others only companion, for
the region In which they lived was
sparsely settled. and no other family
lived near them
When Gretchen was nineteen years
old there came a great commotlon In
the family. Hans Dreckel one day
met Gretchen on the road carrying a
bundle Of fagots and said to her;
Gretchen, l have come to an impor-
tant decision. am young and strong
aud am not satisfied to remain here
In the forest, where there is nothing
for man TO do but cut wood One
cun earn only money enough by so
doing TO keep body and soul together.
Tor if we ask better price our en-
ployers say to us: There are plenty
OF men who would like the work nj
the same price. If you are not salts.
fed we will employ others I'm your
place shall 20 where there are Ia.
Dor unions, and. since hear that
there are better prices paid I'm the
United States OF America. I shall go
there"
Hans kept his eyes on Gretchen
while he was speaking and saw hers
gradually fall til they rested on the
ground and were wet with tears. Till
this moment Hans had never thought
or Gretchen other than as play
ante and. after they were grown. as
a friend. but now. when he saw the
| tears gather In her eyes because he
was TO leave her. a new sensation was
born In his heart. n tenderness for the
maiden with whom he had been reared,
and. taking her In his arms. he kissed
away her teurs.
When Gretchen reached her home
aud threw the fagots beside the fire.
place she snt down In chair and GOV.
cred her face with her hands. Her
mother. who was washing the break.
fast dishes, paused and said:
what In the matter. Gretchen?"
II was n long while before the moth.
or could draw from her daughter that
Hans was going 10 that far country.
America. But Gretchen did not tell
her what was Of far more Importance
"a all of thcm-thnt he hnd asked her
10 10 with him Us his wife IL wits
hard for the poor girl TO lose her com.
pnnion and. since the announcement OF
his Intended departure. her lover
There would have been no cause for
sorrow. but reason for rejoicing. IL she
could have yielded 10 his wish, This
she could not do. for IL would have |
been cruel for her &c leave her old IN.
ther and mother. who would now need
her more and more every day. She |
only said that Hans was going 10 /
America, knowing that II her parents \
knew they were keeping her from go
Ing with him Il would trouble them 1
greatly.
When Hans found that Gretchen
would not go with him he asked her 10
promise him that II her parents died
she would come 10 him. Hut this was
not much comfort 90 him. for ON that
condition his sweetheart was not likely
10 Join him for many years. And. as
for Gretchen, II meant that she must
lose her parents In order 10 Join her
lover,
The day Hans departed he said 20
Gretchen; "You know that my father
Is old and cannot live long and my
mother Is not my own mother, but my
'tepmother. Father will never come 4.
% me In America. and when he dies
mother will 20 To live with one OF her
'wn children. Hut there will be moth.
ng TO prevent your bringing your par I
'nts with you 10 my new home. They
NY money Is made very easily there.
\ skilled lnborer gets II marks a day.
tut OF that can save q marks a day
Z least and can send this money 20
ou so that you may all join me in
"Oh, Hans" exclaimed the girl. you
re so good. SO hopeful. but you must 5
Earn 90 do something that will enable
ou to earn 50 much money. and in
hose countries where high wages are :
aid they say II costs more 20 live.
tut" she added. II will come 10 you
can ever do so without bringing
nrrow 10 my dear father and mother" h
Hans kissed her again and again. h
zen strode away without once looking q
hck. lest he should show the moisture
his eyes, which he considered un-
anly.
Eight years passed. during which the
vers remained true 10 each other. In
] this time there was never an In.
rival Of more than month that
ans did not write 10 his sweetheart. n
nj she always replied 10 his letter W
ith her whole heart. Hans prosper ST
and offered "a send her money % b,
ing over her parents, but she never pl
en- mentioned the matter to them th
nr did they know that they werc es
eping apart two young persons who R
i for them might be happy togeth- Us