Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-26
received no help from his bo,.l.-,r

received no help from his bottle-imn -.
ne called for aid ten times over in ~ ,o.~..
o! the first day; but instead of comfort \. hsS
dream, in which the bottle fend appesred
70 be dancing merrily among the rest Of the
| bottles, knocking and smashing them, and
screaming forth songs Of triumph at the near
end Of his servitude.
An, low long se1med 10 the sick man the
rest Of that night. He dared not close his
| eyes; yet while open the imp was constantly v
before them He rang for his servants, bat
they slept sound; 30 he was obliged to lie all
alone in bis anguish, resolving that, IL God
would let him live TO the morning at ali events
TO get rid Of the bottle imp -..
men morning came, he determined to &C.
Suie s:. nrst what property he could and in sd-
uit.on 70 the castle, villas. and all kinds Of
Iosuy furniture he collected great heap Of
Iuca.s, rs, and placed them under bis pillow
anen, somewhat calmed, he considered how
presented itself. The doctor. who came that
LAY 70 see him, was very fond Of ell kinds OF
strange animals, which he kent In spitits
ana ne showed the creature az one of these.
knowing the doctor to be too pious A man to
accept 1t In Its own charater. The creature
nad become very lively, and played such an
tics in the phial, that the good man, wishing
,urtner TO examine it proposed to buy IL Of
him. To satisfy his conscience In some de-
gree, Richard asked as much as be could
tour ducsts, two dollars and twenty pepce.
out the doctor would give only four ducats,
and said he must consider even Of that for A
tcW days Then in his terror the poor fellow
"fsred the bargain for three and receiving
tne money, he at once gave 1t to his servant to
be spent on the poor
Meanwhile, his illness became more violent
tnan ever. lie lay in a constant delirious
teyer; and though by degrees he came 10 him
sci. again, hls complete recovery was delsye cd
oy trouble Of mind about his ducats; for as
soon as he became sensible, he searched for
them under his pillow, and found them gone
De got up, and began to consider how to turn
mis- property into gold. Bst 10! there came
people with quittances signed by himself for
money paid as the price Of all his possessions;
tor in the days Of his folly, in order to win
Lucretias favorable ear to his addresses, he
had given her blank forms to fll up as she
liked Thus he must now prepare to 20 forth
almost beggsr.
The doctor now came to him with a very
grave face.
"WeIl, sir Doctor" cried he, In burst of
ill-humor, |" If after the fashion Of your tribe,
Jon come with long bill. give me some poi
SON into the bargain, for have not penny
to buy loaf with >
"Not So" said the physician gravely, "1
give you the price Of my whole attendance
free ], but here is q very rare medicine which
have put in that cup-bosrd, which you will
6nd needful for the restoration of your health,
and for which you shall pay me two dncats.
Will your"
with all my heart :" cried the young
merchant joyfully; and having paid the sum
to the doctor, the latter at once left the apart
ment. When Richard put his hand into the
cupboard, he felt the fatal bottle between bis
fingers, wrapped in scrap Of paper, en- which
was written
Thy body desired TO cure,
Thou my souls ruin to insure;
But yet my wisdom, higher far,
Contrived thy evil scheme to mar.
The strata en thy praise demands:
Thus play back into thy hands
Thy botte-imp, and with the Elf,
Give the rogce rope to hang hif1seh.
10 BE CONTINUED IN our HKIr.l