Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-09-03


ing has a door that is Ill secured, and as
he frequents the house at will he may
enter the chamber during the night. If
be should, be perfectly quiet and think
holy thoughts; do not give away to an,
ger, nor utter any evil words, and he will
be powerless against you, and will soon
leave you to your repose.'
Berthold felt insecure. As he ascend
ed the stairs that led 10 his chamber, he
found terror, that he could not stif1e,
springing up within him. He retired at
once, but left taper burning 10 the
room. He laid his portmanteau by his
side, and his pistols on his pillow. The
gusty forest wind moaned and sighed
without, and the loose doors ereaked aad
ratified within, and deep sadness settled
upon the mind of the merchant. Oh
how dreary! for he felt as one alone, all
alone in a mighty solitude.
He endeayored to fix his thoughts on
his money making schemes, but every
sound gave him start. At last he
grew drowsy, and fancied that he was
sinking into refreshing slumber, when
be suddenly became conscious that there
was some one in the room. He heard
a noise at bis bedside, and started up
with colorless face and wide staring
eyes. He beheld the little old man by
his bed, handling his portmanteau of
jewels. He forgot the Golfers injunc
lion against giving away to unholy feel
ings and expressions, and, Selling his
weapons, and TRANSMITTING the dwarf with
a look of fury, he exclaimed, Robber,
away! Hands of! Begoner
The dwarf started back. His face
wore a pitiful expression. He moved to
ward the door, and seemed praying in
great agony of spirit. Then lie glided
out of The room.
Berthold became calm at last, and his
eyelids grew heavy. Midnight passed;
the small hours of night wore on, and
repose seemed extending IFS reign even
to that unquiet spot. lie was awakened
from light slumber by deep breathing
above him that moistened his cheek.
He opened his eyes, and saw, bending
over him, the hairy face Of the little old
man.
Fine Jewels you have here" said the
dwarf. laying his hand on the poftman-
teau, but can show you where there
are finer"
"Where?" exclaimed the merchant,
his eagerness for riches rising above bis
fears.
Come and see! But first let me get
my msntle."
The dwarf left the room.
Presently the door few open, aud
great phantom stalked into the room,
wearing a mantle of crimson.
"Come," said the terrible visitor, "let
rs 90 into the forest"
'sInto the forest with you?' cried the
merchant in terror. WHO are you"
"Look," said the phantom, raising the
crimson mantle.
Berthold fixed his eyes upon him, and
recognized the features of the little old
man.
"You aud I are kindred spirits" said
the phantom. "You are man Of the
world and of passion. "You let your
passions expand tonight. Then l grea0.
And now | can grow and grow until |
reach the stars.
s'You see," he continued, "what a
shriveled creature l had become. The
singing and praying of these collier people
had reduced me from a once mighty
spectre to a mere dwarf, and would have
renderd me invisible ere long. But now
| am free-as free as the air."
He laughed wild laugh, and stretched
out his hand toward the merchant as if
to seize him. The merchant discharged
his pistol. In moment the household
were astir, and the phantom was gone.
ain the name of God, said the collier,
rushing into the room, ''what has hap
pened between you and our house spirit?
Uuholy thoughts and feelings have passed
under this roof to night. l just saw him
he had groaon.
"And we must live these dreadful
years over again." said his wife with
weeping.
"What do you mean 7" asked Berthold
almost discrediting bis senses.
"When we came to live here" said
the collier, ''the house was haunted by
a great phantom who wore mantle of
crimson. He greatly distressed us for a
time, but l told my family that if we re-
lied on God and lived pure and holy
lives, we had nothing to fear, 1t proved
even so. Every prayer that we offered
lessened the size of the phantom, and
every hymn that we sung made him less
terrible in appearance. By years of
watchfulness over the purity Of our
motives and of devotion to God, we re-
dueed him in STATURE until he became a
withered, inofensive little creature, who
loved the influence of devout conversation
and prayer and praise. Had nothing
unholy passed under this roof, he must,
ere long, have dwindled to a mere object,
and have vanished away. But we will
so live in the future that we will bind
him again by holy influences and render
him rs harmless as before"
Years passed, and tie flowing locks Of
the merchant were sprinkled with silver,
but the remembrance of the night passed
in the solitary forest with the collier
family faded not from his mind. He
was travelling one day on the borders OF
the same forest, and he resolved to pen