The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1868-12-24

"And one evening they seated them
selves, just as the moon was rising, on the
top of steep hill. There was very
rock-that they leaned against. This rock
was called the White Horse
"They stood by this rock and looked
down. Below them there lay large city,
which looked beautiful in the moonlight.
right hand were piled up the dark noun
was spread out, and many ships were sail
ing there.
"The traveller stood quiet, with his arms
! folded, long time, saying not word.
"But at last he turned to Valentine, and
said, What do you Think I have some
thing to tell. Will you hear it?'
"'Very gladly said Valentine.
"Then the traveller pointed to spot
outside the city, and asked, DO you see
those turrets which point up so high
among the green trees?
"Yes,' said Valentine, I see the tur-
rets.'
"'They belong to q grand old castle,
said the traveller. And in that castle
dwell noble old couple, who have lived
their lives very happily there for more
than fifty years
"And when the fiftieth year came
round, they said, "Let us celebrate our
Golden Wedding. Aud, since it falls on
Christmas, we will have for our grand
children Golden Christmas Tree,
whereon the presents shall be of pure
gold"
"'And they bought of a countryman a
fine green fir-tree, of a lovely shape, and
quite tall, because the walls were SO high
"Very soon came the joyful Christmas
Eve, and not an old couple in the king
dom were so happy as theyi For all had
come to the Golden Wedding. Not even
one little grandchild was missing.
"'Ah, but that was happy sight! The
grandmother was dressed in velvet
gown and feather in her turban, and her
fat face was smiling all over! The grand
father had his arms full Of little children,
snd sang, and laughed, and wiped the
tears from his eyes-happy tears. Pretty,
fair girls, dressed all in white, danced from
room to room, and the gallant youths and
the lovely maidens kissed one another un-
der the mistletoe-bough!
"'Are you listening, Valentine?' the
traveller asked.
AYES said Valentine, u am listening.
Please tell the rest
al will said the traveller. Il have re-
solved to tell the rest, and shall tell it.
You must know that, in the midst OF
all the gay time, two of the mothers went
away to distant room where the Tree
had been placed, to light it up and ar
range the presents. And o, these were a
dazzling sight to behold; there were
bracelets, coronets, charms, watches, lock
cts, clasps, rings, vases, buckles, all made
of gold, and long golden chains
land after everything was ready, the
two mothers went up to the Grand Ban
quet Hall, to see that for the Golden We'd
ding Feast nothing was lacking; and left
the Tree, with all its golden fruit, in care q
a servant whom they fully trusted. For
he had been long time their servant, and
they had been very kind to him, and to
his little girl that died.
1.-The traveller stopped in this part Of his
story, and bowed down his head, and did
not say more for quite long while. And
when he began again his voice sounded
lower and sadder than before
"'That servant said he-'that servant
whom they trusted, when he was left alone
there, thought to himself, "How many
fine clothes all these would buy! How
many bottles of wine! How many good
things to eat and coach and horses besides
If l only had them for my own, and was
far away from here, then / should be
happy"
"And now, what do you think? HI
took all those golden things
"'And when the doors were thrown
open, and the people came in haste to SEE
the Golden Christmas Tree in all its glory
why, those presents were miles away
among yonder mountains, and the bas,
robber was seeking some place to bur!
them inr
"'The wretch The mean villain I Val
entine cried out. If / could but get holt
of him!
"And if you could then the travele
asked, what would you do with him?
"'Throttle him!' cried Valentine
Bind him hand and foot Tear hin
limb from limb Hand him over to tn
officers! For he was trusted, and he de
ceived them!'
"'It is pity said the traveller, tina
, you could not get hold Of him!"
! "But Katie" said little Dick, "we don
,, get any Golden Christmas-Tree in ou
,, story, after all. For the presents wer
stolen awayl"
"Now, Dick" said Katie. "please b
: quiet. After all has MT come yet. Wal
till my story 8 done, sir. l was going
e tell that in this part of his story the tray
G eler folded his arms, and began walkin
q backwards and forwards, and at ever
s turn he came a little nearer Valentine.
e "At last he came close up, and stoope
/ over, and whispered, Il myself am tha
wretch, that mean villain!
l. "Then he stepped back, and said, No
j. do As you promised. Throttle me. Bin
If me hand and foot. Tear me limb frol
9 limb. Hand me over to the officers. FC
n they trusted me, and deceived them!'
O "But Valentine started back, thinkin
), about his gold pieces, and put his hand u
- to where they hung. This made the tra'
4 eler smile.
"'Don't be afraid said he Il kno
e you have something of value there, b
r cause you raise your hand to it SO ofte
/. Don't you know that is the very way
Il let your secret be known, But l don
want your gold. I'm sick of gold. l wal
you to hear the rest of my story, and the
o do me favor
r, "He then told Valentine how he burit
d the golden presents in a low, secret vale
and then wandered about among Il
mountains, and never dared to show b
n face At last came furious snow -storf
r and in that he almost died. But a GOO
shepherd carried him to his hut.
of "And when next | could walk abou
he said the traveller, the flowers of sprir
ID were blooming For l was sick vel
as long time--too sick to notice anything
ul all. Yet l did see something, or SCENE
N fn loor Il NJ