Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-08

Well, Hannah, you shan't live so any more
You needn't look surprised, for l mean Jus
what | say. I've got the power and | cal
use it. Eve found the Philosophers .Stoncn
The what, Tom ?" cried Hannah
The Philosophers Stone"
But what's that 2"
Why, it's something that gives the owner
power to be rich right off, If I've mind t,
| can wake up tomorrow morning with Vol
and | both in palace, surrounded by riches.
Mrs Crosby was slow to believe this, but a
length Tom CONVINCED her. Yet she wanted
to see the stone. The cobber took smal
leather bag from his pocket, and from it he
drew round white stone nearly covered witt
strange characters. The hieroglyphics upset
the point of skepticsm in Hannah's mind, and
she believed Shortly afterwards they sat
down to supper. Mrs. Crosby did not observe
her husband when he put Il suspicious-looking
powder into the teapot, nor did she notice
particularly that her husband drank only milk
aud water. She drank her tea-more than
usual-and then arose. But somehow she for.
got to clear away the table. She sat down in
her chair, and ere long she fell asleep.
Hannah Crosby awoke and looked around
She was not sure that she was awake. She
leapcd out upon u soft carpet and rubbed her
eyes.
Tom Tom For mercy'S sake, Tom do
wake up !"
Mr.. Crosby arose to sitting posture and
looked at his wife. They were in a large
room /; the floor was covered with carpet of
dOwny softness the walls glttering with gold
and flowers the ceiling painted sumptuousIy
the furniture Of the most costly kind, and the
bed itself a very marvel of wOndrous extrava-
gance.
For mercy's sake, Tom where are we?7
"Why in our palace to be sure. Don't you
what told you last night? But
come to bed now"
Are ye crazy, Tom Crosby? Aren't the
sun up?"
What have We got to do with the sun !?
By and-by l shall arise and then your servants
will come in and help you dress"
Servants Help me dress ? Why Tom
Crosby, what dye mean?"
why, you wouldn't expose yourself to
your own servants, would We? Hereafter YOU
must never get up till your servants come
They'll laugh at you if you do"
Shortly afterwards Tom arose, and dressed
himself, and spoke to his wife She looked at
him and started upright.
Tom Crosby, is that you?"
Who else should it be-"
Mercy's sake . o Jerusalem ~
And no wonder she was astonished, for
never before had she seen Tom Crosby look
ike that. His pants were of black broad
cloth, his vest of white satin, his shirt bosom
Of the finest linen sparkling with diamonds,
md his dressing-gown of Genoa velvet
Mr.. Crosby went out, and his wife was left
alone. She had just rot out of bed to look
around, when she heard footsteps, and in
she was in bed again Three stout
girls entered the chamber, and approached the
bed
"Will your mistress be pleased to arise ?'
asked the foremost one
The poor woman remembered what her huS-
band had said about the servants helping her
lress, and at once arose
At breakfast half a dozen servants waited
On the table. Mrs Crosby longed to speak to
her husband, but she dared not before so many
Her cup was filled with coffee, and she drank
t. 1t was much stronger than the was used
% drinking, but so finely was it fixed that she
owed it, and she allowed the girl who waited
Ipon the table to fix her four cups.
After breakfast, Mrs. Crosby was conducted
over part of the house. and to her it seemed as
hough all the wealth of all the world must
nave been collected and spent in furnishing the
'lace. The heavy gilt-framed pictures, and
mirrors, the statues, the carpets, the gold and
silver ornaments, the servants-all, appeared
o her in bewiIdering profusol.
We are to have company to SUPPER" said
Mr.. Crosby.
Supper Have we got to eat again before
We 60 to bed z"
Eat again Why-you wouldn't 60 with
nut your supper Our friends, who have heard
If our arrival, are coming in.'
About O'Clock Mr. Newton and wife ar
lived, and with them came three couples more,
III in the secret.
Isn't that Eiie crying? :" uttered Mrs. Cros-
,y, as the distinct wailing of Il child sounded
lpon the air.
John" spoke Mr.. Crosby, to one of the
ervants, so and tell the nurse to stop that
loise."
"No, no." cried the startled woman-the
mother starting up now" I'll go myself
Poor, dear thing. She shall see mama, so she
hall.
But Tom sprang forward and caught his
wife by the arm
d" For heavens sake y he whispered in her
,ar, "youll ruin us. Don't let such things
move you"
" But how can ], Tom ?" My soul, how can
? Only think-our own little Effie-only
,aby Tom, /"
Mrs. Crosby" spoke Mrs Newton, who saw
he turn affairs had taken, will you allow me-"
aking her by the arm and leading her to seat,
you have a child, have you? All, an infant
How pity poor people who have to attend to
heir own children. Such plaques. Don't you
hink so 2"
Mrs Crosby said yes but she knew she
poke falsely.
What miserable idea that is" continued
Mrs. Newton, which supposes that mothers
INST he fastened down to their children