The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-07-03
THE MISER,S CURSE.
A vERITABLE GHOST STORY.


Disclaim it as we may, the night side of
nature has = wild and mysterious attraction
for every human soul. The mystic realm
which lies beyond the present life, into
which we must all plunge at some future
period, must ever possess thrilling inter
est for the imagination of the heart.
The story am about to relate is one of
facts which transpired years ago, but, there
are many yet living who can bear witness
to the truth of the following incidents. 49,,
In n small, poorly furnished room a miSer
Law diving. He had been hard, grasping
man of the world, a usurer, a trader in the
miseries and wants of others, and by such
means he had accumulated wealth which
he boarded with all the greed of his nature.
But once i'll his life had he been known to
act with liberaliIy toward any human be-
ing, and terrible results to the favored one
flowed from that act of paternal pride.
Look at the miserable wreck that pants
and struggles for breath on that bed. He
is old, wasted, repulsive, and mean /; but
even such as he is, he WAS once loved by u
gentle and good woman but that was III
his youth, when his step was elastic and
free, while his face retained the impress of
humanity and had not hardened into what
it now Is.
Fortunately for herself, his wife died in
the morning of life, leaving three children
te his care. The two youngest ones, girl
and boy, were left to do pretty much, as
they pleased, while the father gave all the
heart nature had bestowed upon him to
his eldest soma handsome, high spirited
lad, who grew i'll wilfulness as years crept
on.,---
William Herbert soon learned to consider
himself all-importaut to his father; the only
smiles that were ever seen upon his face
illumiued it at his approach, and the only
words of affection that fell from his lips
were addressed to this beloved son. Even
his daughter he treated with silent stern
ness, and repulsed her efforts to win re-
copnition of her right to place in his cold
heart.
Theirs was a curious household. 1t was
in a Southern State, and faithful negress
presided over it as housekeeper after the
! decease of her mistress. The Strictest
! economy prevailed in every department,
and although her master was known %
have accumulated wealth, no evidences OF
! il were ever seen. Even in the expendi-
/ lures of the darling son the same parsimo-
nv was observed. To him Herbert was
| n;,gardly. under tie pretext that liberal
! allowance would tempt him to indulge in
! dissipated and extravagant habits. --
/ The most ordinary advantages OF educa-
'tion were bestowed upon the children, and
/ even these might have been withheld but
/ for the opportunities of their black imam
/ nyD who insisted on their rlSnC Co some
siarnin.' As they advanced to maturity
the father kept the elder son in bounds by
promising that, when he settled in life, he
vvould act most literally toward him. But,
at the same time, he gave him to under
stand that he would tolerate no inferior
marriage: he must choose wife from The
ranks Of the wealthy, and then he would
see what he would do for him. ,sr-
| Tired of the strict dependence IN which
he was kept, William Herbert, early IL
life. sought bride possessing the requisite
Qualifications to please his father 4
Young girl from neighboring county vls
i,e6 his native town, who possessed IN he
own right a handsome, unineumbered pro
nertv. He sought her acquaintance, foun'
her sufficiently attractive to suit his owl
taste. and soon succeeded in winning he
consent TO become his wife.
The oldest Herbert was delighted witt
the nroposed match, and when his son re
noinded him of his oft-repeated promise t.
Give him a portion of his fortune when b
Settled. he at once consented to doupi
tbs wealth of the bride, thus placing hi
: Ill beloved son on an equality with hei
/ The father was peculiarly pleased with tn
choice his son had made, from the taS