Wilmington journal., 1875-12-31
THEALCHEMIST,s CHRISTMAS.
A story for the Holidays.

ded through every kingdom asaid
greatest benefactor of mankind m buy
gold, my petl That which universal
thee silk and iewelssan's sufferings,
remedy for the poQeea, for the sick
the unfailing the source of every
mans mlseh falls to the children OF
biessln'Gold, say. shall be mine. u
Ad6I said the old alchemist, as he ner-
~vously devoured his evening meal of
bean porridge with the coarse black
bread of Seville; for it was in this city
that the scene of our story lies.
s'But, father" rejoined the daugh-
ter, "there is not a Iistole in the
house with which to buy our morn
ing's meal; the last went to your cru
chile for this evenings transmuta-
ton"
''And is not this the evening, child :,
when, by the dreams ard omens of
these twice seven nights, the secre' is
to be revealed 2" rather pettishly ans
wered the old man. "Has a life spent
in the glorious pursuit been all in
vain? Have my struggles, my fast
ings, and my night vigiIs been but as
water poured upon the ground? No!
Something tells me that this Christ
mas night shall attain the happiness
long have striven for. Then the
king upon the throne might envy the
poor alchemist, and the queen wish
she had been his daughter. They call
thy fa' her a visionary, Zjtelh; but
Joseph of old was hailed by his bretn
rem with: Behold the dreamer comethr
He but saved perishing nation from
famine for several years; thy father
shall rescue a suffering world from
want till time shall be no more"
eyes, father" said the fair, slight
girl thus addressed. her eye sparkling
with pride at the old mans enthusi-
asm, as she cleared away tie remn nauts
of their simple repast.
The alchemist rose hastily, as though
rather ashamed of having expressed
himself 50 freely on his favorite sci
ence, gathered his long robe about
him, and passed into his laboratory.
It was low, dark room, lighted by
a small. window, just under the caves
of the dwelling, furnished only with
the requisites for carrying on the pur
suits of the occupant. Along one
side, on O rude shelf, stood variety
of jars, retorts, test-tubes, connecting |
cylinders, etc., while under them, on
pattern of birds claws graspinga ball, |
were placed the more ponderous uten-
slls of the alchemist's profession. A
charcoal furnace was just kindlipg on
the hearth, throwing out the golden
sparks like the bright dreams tnat
were glowing in the breast of the old
man; while near it stood the crucible,
the alloy, phials of fluid, tubes OF pre-
pared metal. and other articles. d 9ait-
ing their use III the evenings expert
ments.
Slowly burne1 the Goals on the
hearth; mournfully howled the wind
down the square chimney. The old
man gazed moodilv out of the window
into the gathering darkness; then, as
though out Of patience, he seized an
old pair of asthmatic bellows, and
soon famed the hesitating embers into
a lively flame.
''Oh, how gladstone it burns ?
said he, thinking aloud. "Never let
me harbor the thought of abandoning
the object of my life, specially just as
my labors shall have their reward. To
night, at twelve o'clock-yes, this
sacred Christmas night-said the
dream. 1 am to reap the fruit of all
my years toll to learn the one Sc
cret that shall gladden. the remnant c.f
my days. How ruddy lights the flame
up now All lighting up many a
dark house of want and wretched-
ness. Peace shall arise like the Phoe- d.
nix from those ashes; prosperity dawn
On the child Of want and sorrow. Ha
have but little more of the transmu-
ling e1exir. How clear and golden it's
color is I can get no more. This
was purchased from an Eastern nagi- !
cian, who told wonderful tales of its \
mystic powers. My daughters dia-
nond locket went to satisfy his greedy
ust for gain but what a magnif-
,ant sacrifice, a paltry price, to pay j,
or such treasure as this night will :
u axe known to me Nova half J
of this metal-stop yes !,
l few grains more of the pure bullion =
there the mass is complete !,
n al its essentials, Already it as L
umes the color and consistence indi- +
'ated in the formula, Stay while it -
immers and fuses. l will seat my d
elf in the old easy chair, and watch 7;
he glowing embers. Eleven O'Clock u
ings out the convent bell, ana in an -
our the secret will be revealed, and :;
he thankless world, slumbering so -
uietly while [ watch, be aroused by -
ne momentous discovery. ~
The old alchemist flung himself q,
ack in his chair, drew his robe closer " "
bout him as a protection from the W W
ailliness of the night. and watched pa
le heating crucible. He was a man g..
perhaps seventy winters; his nat ";
rally robust frame was torn by the "
gils of many nights; and as he gazed 81, 81,
tently into the sparkling Goals, the F.,
m OF drowsy nature would, despite 0e
IS eagerness. occasionally gather over
IS small gray eyes.
Suddenly there appear ed to him a
lange in the molten mass. 1t was
to approach the true tinge w
nd consistence CT the coveted metal: ~,
ut yet, although it was gold to ali i1i H;
opearance, something was wanting. -,
lal after vial was tried by minute ;:a
rams; metal after metal was added IT,
Id the change was noted carefully.
he last grain OF gold, enough to have
ID his family for many a dav. was VI
ven to the craving element, and vet for
le composition remained but a very go
tile removed from the sterling coin. SUE
ct that little was an immense cloud sol
7er the alche nist's hopes. Despair
as about overwhelming his spirit. Tn
he toll of years lay before him as a 10
lin pursuit after the Sangreal. the ca,
l.etr rita for human sorrow, WI. II fnr
u merry olast OF the furnace vas OBJ on.
ured by puff of thick smoke, and vh
ON out the ascending vapor came a Dye
puichral voice, startling the still Iitt
ght air with: "Thy maiden's heart of
ust drop its life-blood into the cru Cb
BILE ere the change be made" coz
The old alchenist started. The ns1
lghboring convent bell tolled out
q hour.
With breathless silence the old man gln
united, ten, eleven, twelve! Sta
The perspiration gathered on his on m
brow. This, then, was the W ~
ng-expected, long desired secret 4? y,
lis the revelation he had prayed fors a.;
le blood of maiden's heart-his f"n Du'
lid, too-the only element which .Io I
uld be the means bringing health r.
d happiness of mankind; the ONLY b.,
manitv "a 'iio in1lieS 10 int,