The Merchant of Berlin | Page 5

passing vehicle, and
to cry with a voice which was almost overpowered by the noise of the
wheels, 'Pity! pity! give me a morsel of bread, a drop of water! Have
pity on me!' A hand was stretched toward me out of the cloud of dust,
and I saw a small, brightly shining object drop. The carriage rolled on,
and disappeared in its cloud. But I sank on my knees and searched the
dust for the piece of money, for in this coin lay for me life, health, and

strength. I was obliged to hunt in the dust for a long time with hands
tremulous with anxiety, and finally, when I found it, I rejoiced aloud
and thanked God. Then I hurried with fleet steps toward the
neighboring town, to the same baker's shop near the gate, where,
shortly before, they had refused to my entreaties a bit of bread. Now,
willingly and with smiles, they handed me a loaf, for I had money to
pay for it. In that hour I said to myself: 'I must seek money, even if I
have to grovel in the dust for it; for money is life, and poverty is death!'
The hand which, from the cloud of dust threw me that piece of money,
decided my whole future, for it taught me that even dust was not to be
despised, as therein money might be found; but it taught me something
more--it taught me compassion and charity. Then, as I crouched down
with bleeding feet at the street-corner and devoured my loaf, I vowed to
myself that I would become rich, and when I had grown rich, to be to
each poor and needy one the helping hand stretched forth out of the
cloud of dust."
Elise had listened to her father with deep emotion, and in the depth of
her heart she at this moment absolved him from many a silent reproach,
and many a suspicion, which her soul had harbored against him.
"You have kept your word, my father!" cried she. "How did you
contrive to become a rich man from a beggar?"
Gotzkowsky laughed. "How did I contrive that?" said he. "I worked,
that is the whole secret--worked from sunrise until late in the night, and
by work alone have I become what I am. But no, I had one friend who
often helped me with his sympathy and valuable counsel. This friend
was the king. He protected me against my malicious enemies, who
envied me every little piece of fortune. He cheered me on. Frederick's
eye rested on me with pleasure, and he was delighted to see my
manufactories thrive and increase. The king's satisfaction was for many
years the only spur to my exertions, and when he looked on me with
smiling benevolence, it seemed to me as if a sunbeam of fortune shone
from his large blue eyes into my heart. I have learned to love the king
as a man, and because I love mankind I love the king. It is said that he
likes the French better than he does us, and prefers every thing that

comes from them; but, indeed, he was the first to supply his wants from
my manufactories, and in that way to encourage me to new
undertakings.[1] Mankind, in general, do not like to see others favored
by fortune in their enterprises and they hate him who succeeds where
they have failed. I have experienced that often in life. I knew that men
hated me because I was more fortunate than they were, and yet I saw
how they cringed before me, and flattered me. Oh, my child, how many
bitter and painful experiences do I not owe to my wealth! In wealth lies
Wisdom, if one would only listen to her. It has humbled and subdued
me, for I said to myself, 'How quickly would all these men who now
surround me with attention and flattery, disappear if I became suddenly
poor!' These princes and counts, who now invite me as a guest to their
tables, would no longer know me if I appeared before them as a poor
man. Wealth is rank and worth; and no prince's title, no star of honor,
shines so brightly as golden coin. But we must learn how to use it, and
not convert the means of fortune into the end. We must also learn to
despise men, and yet to love mankind. My philosophy may be
condensed into a few sentences. Strive for gold; not to take, but to give.
Be kind and faithful to all men; most faithful, however, to thyself, thy
honor, and thy country."
Elise looked at him with a strange expression: "You love all mankind!
Do you then include our country's enemies?"
"The enemies of our country are the