The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-03-11
CHAPTER II.

Tue MIsER AND HIS TREASURE.
The great clock Of Trinity had tolled
the hour Of midnight, and the inhabi-
tants Of New York were sleeping--rest
ing from the tolls Of the day just passed,
to begin those of the morrow Did
say all were sleeping? Nay.
In long street not human being
was visible, not even the faithful guar.
diaus of the city. A lamp at one end
Of the thoroughiare shone few steps
around, making the darkness more in.
tense where the light did not penetrate
In 4 room in one Of the smallest
houses iu the street was a man-one
whose hair was white as the snow fakes,
but whose eyes cleaned with all the
freshness Of youth.
He was seated on the floor, before a
massive iron chest or safe, lamp, the
rays Of which fell around the room upon
heavily barred doors aud windows,
stood beside him.
The old man drew some keys from
his pocket aud opened the iron doors
of the safe, which swung on its we'll
oiled hinges without jar or sound.
He next opened an inner door nearly
as thick as the first, and took from the
safe some heavy canvass bags. He uu.
tied them and poured their contents out
upon the heavy stone floor before him
IIa. it was gold that bright, gilt,
tering metal which can purchase any.
thing, even the precious soul, aud damn
it forever!
Bag after bag Of the golden ore the
miser emptied before him, till he had
quite heap of it.
"All, all mine |" he exclaimed, as he
raised handful Of gold aud kissed it.
Yes, glittering god, thou art mine,
Years have toilcd for thee. Many
sleeplcss nights has thou cost me but
now thou art mine! Let me see how
many bags are here, and he counted the
empty treasure sacks. Tea! All, yes,
aud thirty more in the safe. Forty
thousand dollars l possess, and have
nearly reached the goal, for fifty thous
aud have sworn 10 have, and will have
it. oh, gold, precious gold, I love thee,
worship thee; and weep when / think
that some day We must part. Oh, that
could take thee to the other world"
aud be fell down, and long aud passion
ately embraced the accursed hoard.
At length he raised himself and be-
gan counting the money; its jingle, as
the pieces fell from his hands upon the
pile on the floor. was music to his sen.
ses, music which he loved to hear, mu.
sic which he had heard for many years.
Suddenly noise at the door leading
to his bedroom adjoining the gold room,
startled the miser, and his face became
as white as his hair.
He sprang to his feet, grasped pis.
tol, aud hasteued to the door.
I" 1t is /, father" said voice.
"0h, It's thee, daughter---cnter," aud
Zetani relieved the door Of its bolts, and
Lenore stepped into the room. The
door was agaic secured.
"Oh, what treasure r. cried the beau
tiful girl, kuceIing before the beautiful
heap Of gold, and playfally running her
white hands through III
"How soft it feels how melodious
its jinglel Listen r and she tossed a
handful up, and allowed it to fall upon
the pile,
ut does sound sweet, Lenore," "spake
the old man. Bot what want'st thou
here 7"
Nothing"
"Then go to thy bed--it is late"
II know t." said the fair girl. "But,
father, won't you give me one Of those
golden dollars 7" ~
"Give thee ono Of them ? Neverl
I'd see thee starve FIRST. Now, Lenore,
gop
The girl, with a malicious smile,
wreathiug her lips, rose; the door was
uubarred, and she went to her room,
while her miscrly parent returned TO