Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-12-11

"Wine" he cried, "and so wretchedly
poor-so miserably poor !"
"Do you know" said !, 81 begin to sus-
pect--"
"What-whati" ?" he cried.
THAT you are not so poor as You affect to
be. Have you not some secret hoard, now.
that freely used would make the remainder of
your life comlortablei"
What, gold - he shriekcd, "you do not
think have gold :"
"Yes, do You are a miser."
"a miser p
eyes"
He fell back on the bed with a gasp; then
suddenly springing up, he screamed
Thieves thieves help, help, help, rob
bers !'
a shall leave you" said I, "if you make
such a noise"
The door now opened, and coarse man
put his head into the room, with the polite
inquiry oc--"What's the row."
Nothing said J., "the old man is i'll, and
raves"
ooh, that's the ticket, is it, He's going
all for to assault the bucket, at last, is be !,
There'll be a nut for old Nick l'
Having delivered himself Of this elegant
opinion. the man withdrew his head and shut
the door. When ! turned again to the old
man, he lay in a swoon on his miserable bed
! am never without restoratives about me-
and | very soon succeeded in restoring my
patient to his former state With a long
drawn sigh he opened his eyes, and fixed them
upon my face with an expression Of mournful
intensity.
"How are you now ?" said l.
"Bettcr-better," he muttcred.
| saw that it was not so, for a change had
come across his face, and there was a peculiar
gaze about his eyes that told me he was dy-
ing. Impressed as ! was with the conviction
that he had money secreted, which might be
of service to some one claiming kindred with
him, ! did not hesitate to tell him his real
condition.
"Do not deceive yourself, said !, "you are
dying"
He sprung up in bed with a shrek, as il he
had beed galvanized.
dying he cried, "no, no, not dying l''
Let me live-lvo on, though il be in want
Why should die; No, no, cannot-will
not die!
It was dreadful to see the agitation Of his
features. Hot scalding tears poured down
his cheeks; he clutched the scanty covering
which was upon him till the blood started,
and still he shrieked-
81 cannot-dare not die -
Then he suddenly turned to me, and clutch.
ing my arm, he cried in the most supplicatine
tones
"Save me save me for the love o
Heaven, save me Hold me TO the world
You are sklliul-save me by your art Lool
at me. a miserable old man. | will kneel tc
/ YOU bless you-be your slaye-but give mC
+ -life-life r.
/ J knew that few hours must end the
scene, and seized the opportunity Of leaving
I the room, and gettue somebody u tHe uugrG
to fetch some wine and brandy, i1t ! knew
that by stimulants alone could the pickering
lamp Of life be kept alive for the next few
hours.
When | returned started, for he had risen
from his pallet, and was kneeling before the
wretched little skeleton CRATE which, by its
rust. had evidently not seen a fire for years
He did not hear me, and I paused to observe
him
With a feeble effort he wrenchcd from its
place the little CRATE, and then ! saw him ca
gerly clutch at something. With a scream,
he sprang TO his feet and, as he did so a bag
fell from his relaxed hold, with loud crash,
upon the floor.
"Wretched man. said /, pointing to the
bag 'is it for this you cling to life y
lie tried to speak, but could not His
hand clutchcd the air wildly. Inarticulate
sounds came from his throat, and | had just
time to catch him when he again tainted. |
carried him to the bed, If bed it could be call
ed, and then carefully replacing the CRATE, |
/ lifted the bag he had dropped, and concealed
it under some musty apparel which lay in a
rotting heap in one corner Of the room.
/ was most anxious that he should live to
make some bequest Of his money to some
good purpose, and l. with some anxiety. felt
his pulse. 1t was beating freely, but there
was a tolerabe regular action | left the
room again, and was glad to meet on the
staircase girl with .he wine and brandy. |
took them from her, and returning, poured a
little Of the former into the miser's mouth.
In a few moments returning animation be-
gan to show itself, but feared he was delir-
Gus, for he talked strangely
"They are all dead now," he muttered,
4 dead, | tell you; they don't want my gold /;
/ it's twelve years ago They are dead-dead r
/ "Who arc dead :" said l.
"He r. he cried, Who speaks to me in
/ the dark :"
'The dark - said /.
yes the night is very dark, so very dark. -
! ! looked at his eyes and perceived that the
sight was gone. lie was stone blind
feared that the other perceptiye faculties
would quickly follow, and | said
Tell me, truly, have you any kindredF'
kindred p he repeated.
Yes have you a child, or a child's child y
"a child - child" he said, falteringly
have l childs child; Did my own little
blue-eyed Emma ever fondle darling Of her
own, because-because, have mercy upon me
that would be my child's child
never shall forget the burst of frantic
grief which followed the words. His sobs
were terrible. Such agony of sorrow never
before saw, and hope never to see again.
was deeply affected. Grief in the young is
distressing, but there was something awful in
the heartfelt anguish of that white haired old
man.
Calm yourself" ! said, though my own
voice was broken with emotion; "there may
be still time TO repair, in some measure, the
past Confde all to me, and | promise, be-
fore Heaven, to do what can in flrtheranoc
of, hope your newly awakened kind feel
ings."
"God bless and prosper you, he said faint
ly. 81 will tell alll-all.'
- ual nd ufn