Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-25

pleasant woods, where birds sang and the
leaves rustled in the breeZes.
"And one evening they seated them
selves, Just as the moon was rising, on the
top of steep hill. There was a very
large, high, smooth rock there-a white
rock-thatt 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.
1t was very calm, still night. On their
right hand were piled up the dark noun
tains, and on their left hand the wide sea
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? | have some
thing to tell. Will you hear it?'
every gladly said Valentine
"Then the traveller pointed to a 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.' g. -
"'They belong to a 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. And, 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 countryman q
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 they! For all had
come to the Golden Wedding. Not even
one little grandchild was missing
"'Ah, but that was a happy sight! The
grandmother was dressed in velvet
gown and feather in her turban, and heI
fat face was smiling all over The grand
father had his arms full of little children
and 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
"Yes,' said Valentine, I am listening
Please tell the rest
az WILL said the traveller Il have re-
solved to tell the rest, and shall tell it.
4" You must know that, in the midst ol
sll 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
"And after everything was ready, the
two mothNs went up to the Grand Ban.
quet Hall, to see that for the Golden Wed
ding Feast nothing was lacking; and left
the Tree, with all its golden fruit, in care OF
a servant whom thsy 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.
"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 I only had them for my own, and was
far away from here, then should be
"And now, what do you think? He
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 base
robber was seeking some place to bury
them inp
"'The wretch! The mean villain ? Val
entine cried out. If l could but get hold
of him!
"And if you could then the traveller
asked, what would you do with him?'
"Throttle him! cried Valentine.
Bind him hand and foot Tear him
limb from limb Hand him over to the
officers! For he was trusted, and he de-
ceived them!'
alt is a pity said the traveller, that
you could not get hold Of him!"
"But Katie" said little Dick, "we don't
get any Golden Christmas-Tree in our
SGOTy, dlter dll. VI tuc pitSOuto WCI0
stolen away!"
"Now, Dick" said Katie. "please be
quiet After all has MT come yet. Wait
till my story 8 done, sir | was going to
tell that in this part of his story the trav-
eler folded his arms, and began walking
backwards and forwards, and at every
turn he came little nearer Valentine.
cat last he came close up, and stopped
over, and whispered, I myself am that
wretch, that mean villainp
"Then he stepped back, and said, Now
do as you promised. Throttle me. Bind
me hand and foot. Tear me limb from
limb. Hand me over to the officers. For
they trusted me, and I deceived them!'
about his gold pieces, and put his hand up
to where they hung. This made the trav.
eler smile
"'Don't be afraid said he. Il know
you have something of value there, be.
cause you raise your hand to it so often.
Don't you know that is the very way to
let your secret be known? But don't
want your gold. I'm sick of gold. I want
you to hear the rest of my story, and then
d. me favor
"He then told Valentine how he buried
the golden presents in low, secret valley,
and then wandered about among the
mountains, and never dared to show his
face. At last came furious snow-storm,
and in that he almost died. But good
shepherd carried him to his hut.
W And when next could walk about,
said the traveller, the flowers of spring
ruare hInop,ins For 7 was sick a very