Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-08-04
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Written for the Bradford Reporterl
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ANGELO, the shepherd boy, fell asleep under
the thorn bush, and slumbered till the vesper
bell summoned to evening prayers. The breeze
played all the afternoon with his long black
hair, while little thorn leaf flung its tiny
shadow on his forehead All the afternoon
did he lie motionlcSS, but the expression of his
face changed ever and anon, aud when the
vespers rang beautiful smile of triumph and
pride rested on his countenance like the golden
flush of sunset on still waters Would you
know why he smiled so proudly? If so, listen
to Angeles dream.
When Angelo fell asleep, great castle ap-
Deared before him. Flags Streamed on the
turretS and laughter and music sounded forth
from every loop hole in the walls. By and
by the rough, old warder lowered the draw
bridge, and young boy rode forth, surround
ed by troop of gay reta!neTs. How proud
ly he seemed to inhale the million perfumes of
the forest flowers and how the wind made
the feather in his hunting cap wave Ange-
10 suddenly know that it was lord Como and
somebody whispered to Angelo, that lord
Como knew neither care nor sorrow and owned
wide extending domains How the shepherd
boy envied the young lord ! how he wished TO
be in his place, and have men and warriors
speak so deferentially to him But as he
wished, a silver mist hid the castle, the troop
and the Young lord from him. The leaf shadow
of the thorn fell no longer on Angelo'S smooth
brow, for that brow was wrinkled with veXa,
ton, and the shepherd boy, even in his dream
remembered, that he was poor, and that moth
ing in the world loved him Yes there did
too, for there was his pet lamb CariSsmas
which always met him first in the morning as
he opened the fold As Angelo remembered
CarisSma his forehead became smooth and
the leaf shadow merrIy fitted to and fro over
it.
Angelo dreamed again, and this time he
saw a small cottage beside a mountain stream.
The cottage was buried beneath mass of
foliage, and delicate tendriled vine sheltered
the low door, through which, came moan
of distress and an agonizing cry of Mother
speak mother mother ~ Angelo drew near
and glanced through the latticed window and
the interior appeared strangely familiar to
him strangely like bis own home used to
look before his mother died and to make it
seem still more natural there, in the corner,
was a lad on his knees, and beyond him lay Il
poorly clad woman so silent, so motouless,
that Angelo knew she was dead, and that she
would not answer the kneeling boy who cried
out so pteouSly Mother :" Angelo thought
that he wept and even as he slumbered a clear
tiny tear crept out from the dropping arch of
his cyelash aud stopped, and trembled while
the thorn leaf flung its shadow like fairy
mantle over it. What will the poor little
boy do" thought Angelo, and he turned to see
whether any other cottages We're near, but
could not discover any, and as he returned to
the window great darkness shut out every,
thing from his sight A saucy fly troubled
the lamb Car;ssima as she lay beside Angelo,
and the movement of her little foot to drive
the fly away disturbed the shepherd but he
only murmured lie still Carissima,7 and dream
ed again.
What glorious Rall Angelo has inst enter
ed See how the deer heads hang around the
walls, and beneath them the quaint old armor
How heavy the air is with perfume What
merry set of feasterS at the long, bountiful
ly supplied table ! In the chair of honor
Angelo beholds youth with bis head covered
with roses beneath which his eyes fash like
summer lightning. The youth rises and lifts
up golden goblet filled with wine he lifts
it high above his head, and Angelo recognises
young lord Como The feasters also rise and
cry out "a toast toast from our lord
Como !" How beautiful the young lord ap,
pears as he answers
"A toast give, that we may live
In joys, like these forever"
What hurrah as they drank, broke on An
gelos ears, and how he wanted to be one OF
the ieaSters and drink the luscious wine from
me golden goblets and join in the cheer :
But something raised him and bore him away
from the hall over the woods and rivers over
the hills and valleys, till Angelo found himself
III queer old city, and saw right before him
ayoung boy chipping pieces from block o.