The Portland daily press., 1864-12-01
MISCELLANY.
Tbe Miser's New Year.

lines and eager expression, in his slouching
gait, and his whole appearance.
They would have read it still more clearly
in the room which he occupied, bare OF every
thing but the most absolute necessaIies. A
couple of wooden chairs, a table standing on
three legs, and a rude bedstead, constituted
nearly all the furniture he possessed. His
housekeeping was on the most inexpensive
scale. Hs boarded himself. aud the man
worth thirty thousand dollars Jared worse
than his poorest tenants
Peters wealth consisted almost entirely OF
tenement houses, OF which be owned a iarge
number, and which in proportion to tneir val
ne, brought in large income. 1t was CUES
tionable how much good all this dld refer,
since his personal expenses did not exceed
one-twentieth his income. What renamed
he either invested in additional houses or
boarded up in an old chest which he kept
securely locked under his bed.
Itwas the last day of December; to morrow
would be quarter day. Peter sat in his mis-
cradle room shivering in spite of his cloak,
which he had worn time out of mind. He
had no fire, As it was six O'Clock in the
afternoon, and he usually went to bed at eight,
he preferred to SILVER two hours rather than
to incur the expense of a fire.
Peter was ju6ilant with the thoughts of the
money he would collect on the morrow from
his tenants. He drew out his strong bag from
its accustomed receptacle. and counted FOR
the hundredth time the glittering gold with
which it was filed.
'Tw0 thousand three hundred and seventy
five," he exclaimed with salts actlon, as ne
finished the count; "and tomorrow VIII make
1t nigh upon three thousand. An What
fine thing it is to have money and II pays me
for all my privations-and 4 suffer many
Money is a fine thing. All! little do they
think that see the old man in his threadbare
clothes, how much he has to make him
happy
Peter was really happy after his fashion,
vet he was never quite content.
''Lf it were only five thousand" he contin-
ued, chow fine it would be. But it will Ia a
year or two. l must be more economical"
1t would be hard to tell how Peter could be
more economical than he was now; and he
tortured his fancy to devise some means Of
retrenchment without thinking of any.
1T costs sight to live" he sighed, "a sight.
If could only live as cheap as they say ore
can in China, for cent day, it would help
me greatly" . tAt
Peter locked up his chest carefully, and
pushed it back under the bed. He then sat
down, folded his cloak closely around him,
waiting until he could hear the city bells strike
the hour OF eight, his usual bed time.
1t seemed to him that he was sitting in his
room as usual, the door was suddenly opened,
and dark. figure of threatening appearance
entered. Peter was terrified as he well might
be, since the door he knew to be locked, yet
the visitor entered as i there was no OBJ
struction.
"Who are your" he faltered, cycling the
unknown. "Have you come to rob me ?"
"Ot what?"
"Of my-my money-that is, what little ]
have"
sand if Ishould, it would be of no use to
me-"
90" said Peter treasured, "then / am
ready to hear your business"
81 have come for you," was the reply
"Yes"
sWhat forP"
"who are you99 asked Peter, more aud
more uneasy.
Al am the Angel of DEATH" said the in
truder solemnly. Ha#9T8l
Peter nearly jumped from his chair in
alright.
1.-The Angslof Death 20 he responded, hor-
ror struck. ss
"You have said it."
"Bnt," said Peter neryously, "you have
made a mistake, good angel. Perhaps YOU
think am older than | am. / want We
eight years of being the appointed age O
man; am only sixty-two." -sl.
Il know it" said the visitor composedly.
"Then why-why do you come for 10,
now?" stammerel the miser, shiVering witt
fear.
@Would you like to read your sentence o
condemnation ?" asked the visitor.
The other struck the wall with a wand, ant
instantly there cleaned upon it in fiery letters
-"Eoery tree that bringeth not forth 5000
fruit is hecn dolcn and cast into the fire"
"WAat has that to do with me ?" asked
Peter, his teeth chattering.
Fell 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 sutIerings OF others
Can you name single one?n
Peter hung his head.
Do you remember the shivering child tha
passed on the sidewalk this afternoon, ant
held out its hand for gift? What did Won
who had in your pocket what would hav,
been fortune to her-what did you civ
her?"
The miser's face was tinged with shame.
Tell me, then, what good you have don
IN the world? What becomes of all the COL,
that pours into your Golfers? Do you eve
encourage industry by spending it on your
self? Look at this miserable room, Wher,
you lead miserable lie, combining yourself
TO the barest necessaries when you Nigh
afford all comforts. Tell me, Peter, have yo
ANYTHING to gain by living? A few years G
living would bring you no happiness"
but | am not fit to die" said the mii Ell
appalled,.
Are you ct to live?n was the stern re
joinder do you think any one would b,
The worse off for your death?"
II will reform; only try me?" impIored the
miser. l
WHAT good would it do?"
just yearw entreated Peter. ''Then If
am not different man, come and take me-"
There was pause. At length the pl,
came.
1T shall be as you wish. If after the enc
OF the year, find no change in you, vii
come again."
Peter awoke to find himself in the dark, an,
the cold perspiration was oozing from hi
brow.
The dream had made profound impress
sion upon him. Suddenly the great delusior
OF his life was rent away, and he saw his lif
in all its barrenness and folly.
He pictured to himself what he might east
ly have been, ii he had not bowed all his life
time to the shrine of Mammon; and with thi
ideal structure he compared what be was, ant
he shuddered at the wide contrast.
MY life has been terrible mistake, !" he con
fessed to himself, shut thank heaven, 1 have I
little time left; will devote it to making rep
arstion. Heaven helping me, l will SO &C
that when die someone will miss mep
As the first fruits of his good resolution h,
built brisk fire and replenished it bountilull,
from his scanty sticks of Iuel The old room
fairly danced in the cheerful blaze, and the mi
ser spread his chilled hands before 1t with al
air OF satisfaction.
The morning dawned. At the usual houl
Peter SET out on his collecting tour
Hitherto he had been most inexorahl,
landlord. Wo betide the unlucky tenant who
failed to have the rent ready for him at the an
pointed day and hour he called; he was like
ly to receive little mercy at Peters hand.
Such was the condition of Mrs. Mercer. a
widow with one son, on whom he first called
Her son had been in the habit of selling news
papers, and upon this, more than the small
amount which his mother made by sewing
they had managed to live.
But a fortnight before Charles Mercer hat