The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-12-24

/ roo1,, f- t-i~- -.-' '-t 49,
"For me p" repeated Peter, again
terrified. % '''''Nl o. s''si'o''
uv.,n siGss
"What forpn 2siaoa19vo odr
A"Who are you ?'' asked Peter, more
and more uneasy s9n'i aoiihiisinim
=" am tho Angel Of Death," said the
intruder solemnly. -''''a'i rs =
Peter nearly jumped from his chain
in sfright. ii'etaiH noiisils'1i'lDS 9io .
gaThs Angel Of Death 2" he re.
sponded, horror struck. 's,''''s
:" You have said it" yi'@i'iHioH
"But," said Peter, neryously, you
have made mistake, good angel
Perhaps you think I am older than
am. want yet eight years of being
the appointed age of man l am only
sixty-two."
"I know it," said the visitor com
posedly. ,..t., H.. -.
"Then why-why do you come fol
me now ?" stammered the miser, shiv.
ering with fear. .-...,
1s Would you like to read your sen.
tence of condemnation ?" asked the
visitor.
eyes," answered the miser scarcely
knowing what he said. u,
The other struck the wall with a
wand, and instantly there cleaned
upon it in fiery letters" Every tree
that bringeM not forth good fruit Is
heson do,oa and cast into fre.' ~.
"What has that to do with me ?''
asked Peter, his teeth chattering.
"Tell me of your good works. Have
you any to show?" ''
| Peter was silent. ~ '-".
When have you ever given the
value of a farthing to relieve the suffer.
ings of others? Can you name sim
gle one ?" 7-Si.4+1e3 t..a'-Hi .
Peter hung his head. if '"i
"Do you remember the shivering
child that passed on the sidewalk this
afternoon, and held out its hand for a
gift What did you, who had in your
pocket what would have been fortune
to her-what did you give herr" ia
The miser's face was tinged with
shame. . l. .s.. s-s -4f
"Tell me, then, what good you have
done in the world? What becomes of
all the gold that pours into your cof.
fers? Do You ever encourage indus
try by spending it on yourself? Look
at this miserable room, where you lead
miserable life, contining yourself to
the barest necessaries when you might
afford all comforts. Tell me Peter,
have you anything to gain by living +?
A few years of living would bring you
no happiness" aii 13Hes slm
"But / am not fit to die" said the
miser, appalled,. E,aD
"Are You fit to live" was the stern
rejoinder. Do you think any one
would be the worse off for your death ?
81 will reform only try me !" i'm
plored the miser. gs la 10
"What good would it do?" a -.
6"Just a year - entreated Peter.
"Then if am not different man come
and take me-"
There was q pause. AT length the
reply came" "5he7I eaT -sorttj
"It shall be as you wish. If after
the end Of the year. find no change
in you, l will come again."
Peter awoke to find himself in the
dark, and the cold perspiration was
oozing from his brow. "'si ia9ii .'.'a
The dream had made profound i'm.
preston upon him. Suddenly the
great delusion of his life was rent
away, and he saw his life in all its bar
renness and folly. 9l h.'s ~ saa'z'F
He pictured to himself what he
might easily have been, if he had not
bowed all his lifetime to the, shrine of
Mammo and with this ideal struc-
ture he compared what he was, and
he shuddered at the wide contrast.
"My life has been a terrible mistake !"
he confessed to himself, "but thank
Heaven. have still little time left !;
| will devote it to making reparation.
Heaven helping me, will so act that
when 1 die some one shall miss me-"
AS the first fruits of his good resolu-
tien he built brisk fire and replen-
ished it bountifully from his scanty
sticks of fuel. The old room fairly
danced in the cheerful blaze, and the
miser spread his chilled hands before it
with an air of satisfaction. -.
The morning dawned. At the usual