Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-02-15
school and take your turn on the

OF school and take your turn on the
farm" ra r-'rffE
No. it's no use, as father says,r re-
turned John Wilfred. 1--WE are poor
and must make the best of it. Besides.
we have to pay the money down, and
you know we couldn't possibly do
that"
The next morning the sun shone
merrily. There were no dark corners
In the great room now, but instead.
sheets of red light, stretching from
wall to wall, merry little children
laughing and fitting about, a break
last table, plainly spread, kettle bub-
bling on the hearth, and the baby sit
ting upright in the cradle, Growing as
Justify as it could. o, what a cheer
full home picture it was wv
Ally dreamed something last night
said Henry, as they sat down to break
fast. She hollered right out in her
sleep, and clapped her hands. and
cried, ., aint it bright amt it
bright?' And when called her. she
sat right up in bed, and says she. 20.
Henry, wasn't it beautiful chest Of
gold? / asked her what she meant.
and she said. o, Henry, it was q
great chest full Of gold, up stairs Let
us 60 and get it, Then when laugh
ed she came to-"
What are you talking about, Hen
~ asked his father.
! did dream it," cried little Alice,
and ! can go right up stairs just
where it is.v 70
just where what is, child 2" 4"
The gold-the chest all full of
What ridiculous nonsense the child
is talking said Mr.. Thorpe.
Well, the man came TO me al
any rate" said little Alice, confidently.
" What man -
Why, the man with long white
beard, and a great mark from that part
OF his face to that part of his face.
crosswise,' she replied, passing d EH-
ger diagonalIy from forehead to Chin.
" Is the child bewitched ~ ask d her
father I'd -.
" She saw the portrait Of old Gram
ther Thorpe, the baron, probably
said John Wilford.
! didn't didn't see anything but
him. cried the child, quite flushed
and nervous. never saw q picture
IKE him. know where the room is
III show you now. Come
Humor the child, said Mrs. Thorpe.
/" The dream has made strong I'M
preston"
John-his son-Henry and Mrs.
Thorpe followed the sprightly little
girl, who had gone jumping UP stairs.
She led them to hall after hall. flyipr
almost, from one room to another. At
last she came to small dIapidated
apartment, that appeared to have no
outlet save by the entrance at which
they went in.
The room is in there" said the
child.
In where! Why, no. Don't YOU
see there's no door ?" said the father.
There IS door," said Alice. The
room is in there"
John, the eldest son, was carefully
feeling over the thick paper, which
was torn in sundry places.
Father he cried, quite flushed.
7" | feel the cracks of door,
| told you So" said little Alice.
There's great wood picture in that
other room, and the chest is behind IT,"
Much excited, father and son went
to work. The paper soon lay in strips
on the floor. Yes there was a door.
carefully wedged up. 1t was not the
work of many moments to dislodge the
hIndrances, and soon the little party
stood in close, musty-smelling room,
whose two little panes of thick, green
glass were nearly obscured by dust
and cobwebs.
John, You tremble from head to
foot" said his wife, catching hold of
his arm. Let us go down now. To-
morrow we will look further"
:" No, no." said John Thorpe, hurri.
edly. I'll see the thing to an end
now. How, in Heavens name, did the
child know about this room? Come
Wilfred to work"
And to work they went, clearing
away old planks and useless lumber.
There's the wood picture" said
little Alice, calmly.
1t was painted panel. John Thorpe.
as soon as he saw it, caught the child
in his arms.
Alice" he said, eff thou hast led
me here, and thy dream proves trne
one, may Gods blessing rest upon
thee, my darling y And kissing her.
he sat her down. crying ont again
I" Now, John Wilfrcd, TO work"
They could make no impress.un M
on the panel, however, till tile sou
brought heavy axe to his fathers AID
Then they split the thick wood, ana j..
hind it appeared thinner paut.0u,
which was destroyed like tie ether.
There. in truth, was cavity, out CT
which few binding dust. Bnt they
could see nothing in the darkness.
"A lamp, good wife, said JohG
Thorpe, And a lamp was brought.
Cautiously the elder son entered this
aperture with the fickerDg candle.
What do you see Z" cried John
Thrope.
" Nothing, yet" replied John VIII
fred.
Its black. it's black ~ cried the
child.
Here's the chest =" shouted John
Wilfred. His voice had hollow, muf.
fled sound. Let me out-l'm full of
spiders /" he cried, in moment after.
appearing at the mouth. Yes there's
no mistake about it--an old, black.
worm-eaten chest, as sure as your are
alive
And full of gold, full, full - cried
little Alice, dclightedly.
"We shall see, my child. Never
mind the spiders John, if there's room
to stand up. Give me the axe. Now
for it,"
He struck again and again at the
old chest inside. How strangely it
sounded |! There was certainly some
thing that seemed like a click and q