The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-12-22
WHOLE NO. ia.


they disturbed him. He filed his pipe,
heaped the great logs on his FIRE. and
tried to forget, but in vain J.; the blazing
fagots cracked the poor woman's words;
they formed the burden of the cricket's
song: the very smoke of lis pipe
twined itself into her face. as it curled
upwards and faded away. At length,
being unable to Danish these thoughts.
Franz not only suffered them patiently.
but even began to calculate how much
gold would be required to weigh down
a mans soul, and almost to wish, wick
ed fellow that he was, that some demon
would give him the trial. not that he
wished or was willing to be damned, but
then he could think Of twenty plans to
keep the gold and cheat the devil. In
such thoughts as these time slipped by
the fire smouldered to glowing Goals
shadows crept out on the walls the
wheels Of the old clock began to rumble,
and forth from his retreat started the
little man in the red night cap. and
changed his bags together twelve times.
This Franz expected; but what was his
astonishment when, instead of retiring
modestly into his den, as was his wont,
the goblin, demon, or whatever he was,
winked his eye and nodded his head at
Franz; and, after cutting few funny
capers, seated himself on the mantle
shelf. Franz was bewildered +; he rub
bed his eyes, and looked and rubbed
them again but they persisted in say
ing that the little man in the red night
cap was sitting there, knocking his
heels together, and nodding and wink.
ing as though there was some deep se-
cret between them. .9 =.
Il can do it for you, Franz Dutch
kin" said he, with knowing wink
Il can do it. Look at these they are
full Of gold" And he shook his tiny
bags triumphantly in the air. Franz
could not forbear laugh. A thousand
such Lilliputiau bags would not have
been a drop in the bucket to his desire.
Never fear" said the little demon,
frowning angrily. II could pour enough
gold from them to bury you, if l pleas
ed. Lay down and put your strong box
on your breast, and will pour in gold
as long as you can bear its weight but
have care you do not let me give you
more than you can lift, for though l
may give, cannot take it from YOU"
Franz did as he was bid, and the lit
ls demon, pc. ching himself on the side
of the box, commenced pouring in
steady stream of gold from his little
bags. AT first Franz was very cautious,
trying the weight of the box every sec.
ond or SO; but at last the glittering
so bewildered and excited him, that
though he felt the weight beginning to
crush him, he could not bear to cry out
enough. He tried its weight once more.
and found his utmost strength barely
sufficient to moveit. "Stop, stop now,"
cried he. but with a sigh, for he still
longed for more.
"Oh no. not yet; you are not allow
ing for my weight" said the little demon
briskly, at the same time pouring in
such quantity that Franz screamed
out in agony he was dying. With
malicious laugh the little demon sat for
time watching his Intellectual struggles
and mocklng his agony, and then skip
ped off and left him writhing and groan-
ing in despair.
Vain were all his struggles days,
months. years, passed slowly by, still he
lay weighed to the earth by the load of
wea tn which seemed crushing out his
life, and yet he could not die. After
many years, or ages, as they seemed,
he knew instinetively that the end of
all things was at hand, and the messen-
gers Of God we're gathering the righ-
teous together. to same them from the
obstruction which was coming upon the
world. His heart was filled with terror
and despair. for he was pinned to the
earth by his cursed gold, and must per-
ish with it in the flames. While he was
weeping and struggling, there entered
an angelic form. bright and majestic.
followed by his poor brother, his wife
and children. and merry friends and
neighbors. They came and stood sor-
rowfully around him, and the angel said
"You are all this poor mans friends or
neighbors there must be some among
you whom he has helped in poverty or
sickness. or comfcrted in SORROW
Any one he has helped may help him
now." syt
A solemn silence reigned and IS
Franz looked from face to face, he tried
in vain TO remember one kind act, but
in its stead long array of harsh deeds
and harsher words filled his heart with
remorse. and tinged his cheek with the
blush Of shame. The angel turned sor-
rowfully to Rudolph, saying, "You are
his brother; you were sick and your
children wanted bread surely he then
gave you Of his bounty. You can help
him." But Rudolph sadly shook his
head. and his wife covered her weeping
face. Then the angel wept and turned
away, and all, friends. neighbors and
brother passed from the room. The
last to 60 was the poor wife. who, turn
ing her face. all streaming with tears.
as he had seen it that November night,
said: "The gold you have refused the
poor has weighed you to the earth so
that you can never mount to glory.
She then disappeared.
There are moments into which the
agony OF ages is compressed. aud the
soul suffers an eternity. Such to Franz
was that which followed her departure.
when he left to meet his doom in utter
loneliness, unseen and unpitied. His
agony was too great to bear. While hs
shrieked and struggled. the earth gave
way beneath him. and he f-lt himsalf
falling-falling-falling-- he was
drought up all standing" as sailors
say, by his blue tiled hearth, and open.