Visiting
Germans from overseas were constantly lecturing, holding before him
the vision of great Germany. He saw moving-pictures of Germany; he
went to meetings which commenced with "Die Wacht am Rhine." One
Christmas he received a handsome copy of a photograph of the Kaiser
through the mail. He never knew who sent it, but he had it framed
in a gilt frame, and it hung over the fireplace in the sitting-room.
He had been adopted by America, but he had not adopted America,
save his own tiny bit of it. He took what the new country gave him
with no faintest sense that he owed anything in return beyond his
small yearly taxes. He was neither friendly nor inimical.
His creed through the years had been simple: to owe no man money,
even for a day; to spend less than he earned; to own his own home;
to rise early, work hard, and to live at peace with his neighbors.
He had learned English and had sent Anna to the public school. He
spoke English with her, always. And on Sunday he put on his best
clothes, and sat in the German Lutheran church, dozing occasionally,
but always rigidly erect.
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