Year: 1874

w NtA4OA GAG ANcl0A0NA &AAN
forest with such clear and decided ring
as that welded by Thomas none other
so sure of its aim. while raised between
the sky and its destined rest


His voice was the most cheerful and
his carol the merriest that reverberated
in the beautiful woodland that extended
through the Rhineland TO the borders Of
Holland.


Wherever his hands were employed.
the work was accomplished in half the
time. The merry Thomas, > the mag
nifeent Thomas" the industrious
Thomas, were the names given him by
the people far and wide, and when he
married and became the father of a son
he was jollier than ever.


/ His wife seemed to partake of his
spirit, and his boy gave promise of be
/ coming just such happy soul. The
whole neighborhood were happy in the
harmonious life of this joyous trio, while
/ each derived a particular pleasure in
witnessing the felicity of the other. But
suddenly the lightning fash of eircum-
stances penetrated this happy home.
/ One bright morning. axe in hand, he
/ stood beside 4 fallen tree, while wife and
son stood near. ready to gather the frag-
ments, and they were no mean chips
that fell beneath Thomas stroke.
High over his head the glittering
steel was raised, and, as his glance no
ted the reflected ray of sunshine follow
ing it, he shouted merrily. Wife. see'st
thou nv meteor Hui is it not yeri-
ly like the fash of one ?' But the shin
ing metal and its active meteorie light
did not disappear within the wood
Glaneing lightly over the bark, it enter
ed Thomas foot. and there was no time
for useless tears. The wife's grieving
heart did not vent itself in idle lamen-
tations, but questioned. how was she to
get her husband home


The other laborers had not arrived.
Thomas was always the first at work. as
now be was also the first to regain his
eheerfulness to encourage wife and child
in this trial A spring near by sup
piled water to wash the wound that
proved to be severe and the manly An
ton divested himself of his little shirt to
bind it up with


This carefully done. Thomas set his
big while teeth firmly together. arose.
grasping with one hand the shoulder Of
his boy. and supported on the other side
by his wife, he ordered. March quick /!
the house is not such long way of,
then all viii be WELL


Taking the shortest route home oblig-
ed them to cross over railroad track
Although this was forbidden road for
pedestrians, they considered il the best
in this emergency. But here misfortune
overwhelmed them in terrible earnest


At the first step the sufferer caught
his wounded foot in the rail, stumbled,
fell, throwing his little boy into the
middle of the road. breaking the little
fellows leg.


4 helpless. living mass. they lay
there. and before both could be rescued
from their perilous bed. the steaming,
roaring monster of the road came tear
ing down upon them, leaving their boy


mangled. bleeding corpse the next in.


slant, before them


Such was the story told by Thoma:


and his wife. to the horrifed and sym


pathizing people


But there must have been something


singular and mysterious connected witt


this mournful event, that remained IN


told-a secret within their own hearts


for. spite Of repeated endeavors 10 have


the story told again. they would Away


answer, You have heard 1t once,


while shudder of horror followed a
d the remembrance


left no pains untried to ingratiat


myself in their favor and obtain thei


confidence Not only curiosity was ex


cited, but had real psychological in
" terest in the matter, and | ackno#ledgt
: just the least suspicion Of something
n foul criminal secret. possibly an ac
: cident, that required but little light t
= lead these people back to happiness
: It is not necessary to explain how
Is brought it about suffice it to say tha
? one day, IN the presence Of her husband
IL Frau Thomas unburdened her sadly %
> pressed heart 10 me in this wise:
e after the birth Of our child | was
a great deal happier. and loved Thoma
q better than ever when he was at m
q side. but | could also enjoy his absence
and not watch window and door con


stautly if he ehaneed 20 remain ava
"A longer than usual. | used TO tease Lii
a frequently and say Somebody IS We
At come TO steal you now I've got M b
7 By. He would laugh at me then. saJ
3 ing Well. if yOu have no further u
h for me. all right and playfully leaT
:. the room as If In dreadful anger an
4 hang the door. But knew he was or
us " in fun. and laughed as if | did NJ
a. care. Nevertheless. ny heart grew sa
- d;stnrh..d r,r.tiI hi face arzi