The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1866-01-31
THE CHEST OF GOLD.
by MRS. NARY DesslsoS.

OF England. Inc Oiu DoOse uhO Oeeu JUN
for rich and powerful baron, but the bar
on's bones had long been ctum5led, and
even his ashes had probably disappeared
a! The lime the incidents am sbou, TO re-
late happened.
Il someway fell into the hands Of a distant
re lativs of the old baron. a hundred years
aller his death 1t was not much of prop
erty then, TO be sure; bnl there were some
slee, was very poor man, who had hOu.
esliy and lesrnedlJ, for the times, bEoughI
up a family OF children. So to save rent
they moved into The besI part OF Ibis old
house.
There were seven Of lhem-father and
mother, Jcnh W,Iifed. sixteen, James AL
ford, fourteen, llIe Henry, ten, Alice. five,
and a beoutifol babe OF one year. And
what a racket they made among The moul-
dy rooms John Wllired whose tsstes we're
sludious, went ransacking amidsl The Ium-
Der OF the garfels, ard found plenty OF faded
manuscript and old papers, with which TO
mpoy himself dUrtng the inier The
little Alice sang like bird. ard her Ieei
were ever tripping along The deer old eo-
tries and over the ancient stairs. There
were faded pictures in tie halls, which il
was her delight 10 study and perhaps ihe
famous Thorpe OF after years owed the first
dawning OF lis genius TO The contemplation
OF those mammoth scenes in dim red, and
blne, and white, when be was "iiule Hem
~"
The family was poor-il was at he same
time respectable. Mr Thorpe was a small
linen draper, and only made enough 70 ed
ucete his little ones, dress hem neatly, and
keep them from want.
"Ah, if were but rich man - sighed
John Thorpe, one night, aiier the chiIIren
wefe in bed, save John Wilired and James
Afford The former sat at far-of table,
the latter was playing with prery lille
spaniel. For small space aroucd the
room was lighted, but afer of in The corner
tsere was deep, deep shadows.
"Why particularly now do you wish to
be rich man !" asked his wife, a Iisle
pale woman, who despite the delicate
shade 0! Le- cheeks. was very well and
happy.
because have fne offer here. For q
pal,ly bundled pounds, John Wil'red could
go right into The Office of cne Of the best
bsrrisers in London"
20. iatherr' exclaimed John
US for week. But don't see as ". can
do anything. So much for poverry ~ he
exclaimed, bitterly. 81; keeps us down,
and keeps 90: children down"
"Don't speak in lha. way, John, " said his
wife.
81 suppose il i, foolish, +" said the man,
especially as ii does no good. Well, if
If John Wiired can'l be a lawyer, he can
be an honest man, thank God
James Afford crepl up to his brother.
II say, Jonn, il seems to me you could
go 10 that place. I'll come out Of school
and lake your Iurn on the larm"
enc, lis no use, as ialher says, - rs,uraed
John Wdfred. I'VE are poor aud mus!
make he best OF il. Besides, va have to
pay the money dow, aad yos know we
coaldat pos-..tply do that
The nex, morning The sun shoae merri'y
Tbere were no dark corners in he great
room now, bpi instead, sheets OF red light,
lre.chn2 from wall to wall. merry lille
children laughing and hunng about, a
breakfast table, plainly spread. keuls sub
bling on The hearth, and The baby siu:ng
upri. b, in the cradle, Growing as Justify as
it could o, what a cheerful home Pichre
il was
"AlIy dreamed something last nigh" +"
said Henry, as they sat down to breakfast
''She hollered rish, out in her steep, and
clspPed her hands, and cried, %, ainl it
bright ain; it bright q Add when call
ed her, she sa, right up in bed, and says
she, %, Henry, wasn't II beautiful chest
of gold So full! Now we are all rich p !
asked her what she meani, and she said,
o. Henry, ii was great chest iuiI OF gold,
up stairs Let Us go and get IL Then
when laughed she came to-
What are you taking about, Henry !"
asked his father.
81 did dream it. F" cried little Alice, ''and
| can go right up stairs just where il ls.'
Ju.I where what is, child 2"
'-The gold-the chest all foil OF gold ~
"Whal ridiculous nonsense the child is
talking" said SIR Thorpe
"WeIl, The man came to me at any rate,"
said Iitle Alice, confidently.
"Whal man 2"
WHY, The man with loHg white beard,
and great marx rom that part OF his face
TO hat part of his face, crosswise, "she re-
piled, passing finger diagonalIy from fore
head 10 chin.
Is The child bewitchedl" asked her father