In vain the farmer's wife is trying To catch the clothes as they are flying; Nine new tin pans are bruised and battered, And thicker, thicker, faster, faster, Come tumult, tempest, and disaster. III. The wind has blown the haycocks over; IV. Now, all without the storm is roaring, The roof, the clapboards, and the sashes; The frightened children hushed, and lying Mothers storming, like the weather; With pans, and chairs, and baskets, which in V. But Hugh is not the man to grieve; He shakes his hat, and strokes his sleeve, And laughs, and jests, and wrings his blouse:His very presence in the house Dispels like sunshine the bewildering And awful gloom that wrapped the children. HONEST JACOB. VI. Old Farmer Hugh! the whole world through, A heart to welcome every comer, When Fortune, with her fickle chances, Look forth serenely patient, seeing All things come round to your true being. 103 VII. Oh thus, like you, when sudden squalls J. T. TROWBRIDGE. XLII.-HONEST JACOB. JACOB, a poor laboring man. FRITZ, his son (a small boy). ADAM, a baker. Scene. The poor man's cottage. Enter FRITZ. Fritz. How I wish father would come home! I am so O, here he comes! hungry! [JACOB enters, bringing a loaf of bread.] Jacob. Here I am, little Fritz! Fritz. I am so glad! It is so lonesome here since dear mother died! And I- I Jacob. You are very hungry? I know it, my poor boy. It wasn't so when there was plenty of work to be had. hope these hard times will soon be over; but we must do the best we can while they last. Fritz. O what a nice loaf you have! how good it smells. Jacob (aside). It is the last! There's no knowing when we shall have another. Here, my son (breaks the loaf); eat your supper at once. There's no loss without some gain; we don't have to wait for cooking when we've nothing to cook! Fritz. O father! this isn't fair! Jacob. What isn't fair, my son? Fritz. You have given me the biggest piece. Jacob. And is that anything to complain of? Come, eat, my boy. Fritz. But you—you have been looking for work all day; you must be so tired! and I know you have had nothing to eat. Jacob. Ah, my Fritz! you are so good to think of me! But, really, it will do me more good to see you eat than to eat myself. Fritz. But if you do not eat, how can you go out hunting for work to-morrow? and if you find work to do, how can do it? You must have a part of this; do break it again, father! you Jacob. Well, to please you, I will; though your love is dearer to me than any food. [Breaks FRITZ's piece. Several pieces of money fall out. Fritz. Why, what is that falling out of the bread? Gold! O father! gold! Jacob. Do not touch it! That money is n't ours. Fritz. Whose is it, then? Gold! O father! Jacob. Surely, I don't know whose it can be; I only know it is n't mine. We must inquire. Run to the baker's, and ask him about it. Quick, my son. Fritz. But, father, we are so poor! And did n't you buy the loaf? Jacob. I bought the loaf, but I did not buy the gold in it. We are poor, indeed; but that is no reason why we should be dishonest. Fritz. Dear father, you are right, I know! I'll hurry to tell the baker. [Runs out. Jacob (alone). Ah, my poor Fritz! It is hard to see you starve, but it would be harder still to see you thrive by falsehood and dishonesty! I am sure God will take care of us, if we are faithful to Him and to each other. [Re-enter FRITZ, with ADAM, the Baker.] Fritz. Here he is, father! I have told him about the money. Jacob. There is some great mistake here, my friend. Is this your gold? Fritz. O Mister Baker! my father is very poor! Jacob. Be still, Fritz! We are not thieves, neither are we beggars. Take this gold away, if it is yours. Adam. (Rubbing his hands gleefully.) Ay! I told him so! I told him so! Jacob. Told whom? told what? Adam. Uncle Luke, the wheelwright. I told him—said I, 'Neighbor Jacob is the honestest man in town,' said I. And said he, "There you're right, Adam,' said he. Ay, ay! and so it turns out. Jacob. I don't understand you. Adam. I'll tell you all about that money. A stranger brought it to me yesterday, and told me to give it to the honestest poor man in town. I knew you would come for a loaf this evening, so I baked one for you, and put the gold into it. It is yours; you have shown by your honesty that you are entitled to it, if any one is. Jacob. O my son! [Embraces FRITZ. Adam. And what is more, he left this card with me, saying "When your honest man is found, tell him to find me, and I will give him good work and good wages." Here is his name. Jacob. (Takes the card.) Work! and wages! that is better than gold! Thank you, Friend Adam! Come, Fritz, we will find this good man at once; we'll eat our bread by the way. Thank Heaven, that kept us honest, we shall soon have bread enough. XLIII. A DAY IN EARLY HAY-TIME. I. MALL watery clouds begin to rise, before the midday hour, S And Leaded drops on write to us to retell the my shy wou The house-dog seeks his favorite grass while coming down the lane, And tree-toads in the poplar bowers are prophesying rain. wet!" "More And cuckoos in the maple grove are singing "Cuckoo!" yet. |