Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-27

| tleman standing near nlm. ne at once
| placed himself so as to conceal the
treasure from the stranger; but it wal
too late. The young man had already
seen it, md declared be must have half
Anton, however, was not so simple as
the young townsman had supposed; and
replied that as he had found it himself,
and on his own land, il was his own,
and he would share it with no one. II
be had not been so strong and large, the
stranger would have obliged him to give
him share; but as it VAS, he deter
mined to Use a little trickery. well,
well + he said. AT any rate, he had
better not take it to the town; for there
the magistrate would claim part, the
judge another share, the baron another;
then, when be went to sell it, the gold
smith would swear he had stolen it, and
as he could not prove that he had not,
he woHlI have to pay the lawyers, and
then be shut up in Jail for years, and
finally come out as poor as he was be-
fore, and with bad name in the bar
gain He made out such dreadful
story, that poor Anton was quite fright
ened, and begged his advice as to what
he should do.
"The stranger said be would go with
him, If he chose, to Hamburg, where he
knew rich and very honest merchant,
who would give him its full value and
ask no questions; but he would expect
to have all his expenses paid during the
journey and back. To this Anton read
lily agreed. But how should they carry
the treasure TO Hamburg2 Put it on
the back of the horse the stranger said.
Yes; but what would the magistrate do
to End him gone, and his horse, too2
asked Anto, And what would Lisbeth
de2 He thought he had better go first
and tell them Of bis luck
"This, the stranger said, would be the
ruin Of him. He could easily send back
to his master two horses to pay for this
old nag; and as to Lisbeth,. it was no
great trouble to write and tell her all.
So the treasure was fastened on the
back of the poor, tired, and wondering
horse, and the party started for Ham
burg.
"The lump OF gold-for gold il was
was soon sold, and several thousand dol
lars in pure silver paid for it. Anton
and his friend went, the very first thing,
to fashionable tailor, where the now
rich man was fitted out in the most ele-
CANT style, and then the two set out to
enjoy themselves. First, however, he
gave bis friend some money to buy a
pair of fine horses for the magistrate,
and letter filed with bank notes for
Lisbeth Both of these sums the gen.
tleman kept for his own use, but Anton
did not know that; and they visited the
theatres, the balls, and all sorts of fine
places OF amusement, and saw so much,
that poor Lisbeth was utterly forgotten.
''For several years the money lasted,
but at length it gave out; and then, for
the first time, Anton thought of his old
friends He determined to go back to
them, but happening to get sight of his
face in mirror that hung near him, he
stood shocked at the change. His once
full, rosy cheeks were hollow and sunk
en-, and his youth had disappeared. A
hand touched his arm, and he saw
standing beside him fresh, blooming,
bright-eyed person, who said: "Brother,
we must part I've tried to follow you,
and keep you in the right course but
it ia of no use; you prefer the wine cup
and the ballroom, and have treated me
too cruelty; must go. My name is
Youth
Before Anton could recover from his
surprise and speak, the form was gone
He heard the sound, or thought he did,
of wings in the air, and a mournful,
signing voice, saying: Alas alas alas
And every breeze that blew, and every
bird that few through the air, kept re-
pealing that sorrowful 'Alasr .
" Then he felt another hand, and saw
beside him figure that made him hold
his breath. twas an old man, with hol-
low, sunken ceeeks, white hair, a long
gray beard, red, watery, blood shot eyes,
and overhanging, scowling eyebrows.
He came nearer and nearer to Anton,
and at every step the poor fellow felt his
limbs grow weaker, and his heart beat
more slowly. He laid upon Anton's arm
his skinny, shranken hand, and said, in
a hollow voice: Brother, thou hast cali
ed me early Not yet thirty years old
Though oughtest to- have been tit COM
pany only for my grandsonj but | can
see thou art really ready for mel None
can tell US apartP
"Anton started in horror. He thrust
the old form away with his hand, and
called for champagne and music to
brighten him still farther off; but instead,
there came whole troop of creditors,
each with an unpaid bill Around, quite
enjoying them elves, was company of
ladies and gentlemen, elegantly dressed,
and Anton recognized them es the t0GTDl
friends whom he had feasted-the ladies
he had invited to balls, spectacles, and
dinner parties, and to whom he had
made rich presents.
He was carried off to prison, and
the doors closed on him. There he threw
himself upon bed of damp straw, and
thought bitterly over his past folly.
Meanwhile the two fairy sisters still
pursued their travels, and when ten
years had passed they again met over
the loathsome prison.house. See therer
said Lichtreich, pointing her sisters at
tention to Anton on his pile of straw.
Behold thy happy onel Sister, the
meaning was good, the intention was
kind, but the deed was cruel; for thou
gavest to poor peasant the wealth of a
prince before he had learned to manage
his own scanty earnings. There was
thy folly end thy fault. Now thou Gov
crest thine eyes not to see the misery
thou hast wrought, but with all thy DOW
or can never heal; for thou canst never
restore to him innocence, health. and a
clear conscience
"Anton got up and looked through his
prison window, and to his surprise saw a
rich purple cloud float rapidly away and
disappear, while soft white one seemed
to float before his eyes just over him,
Suddenly he remembered the clouds he
had seen the day be found the gold, and
every thing that had happened since
came freshly into bis mind. Then, too
he thought of his innocent life befor'
that, and he wept. for the first tim,
since he had been man, and wept bit
terly.
'iichtreich was watching him, and a
sight Of the tears smile lighted up he
lovely face. Not losti said she. HI
who can weep, can love and amendr Sh'
called her servant Sleep, and babe hin
close the poor sufferers eyes until b