Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-01-21
HERBERT,s DREAM.
The bells ranr merrilx And "

The bells rang merrily. And VIII.
not9
The old year was going, but as hi
tottering foot passed over the thresh
old, on the way to join the departed
company ofvanished years, a youngel
step was heard. Perhaps it was no
kind so soon to forget the old favorit'
whose welcome turn months before
had been as joyful, who had mantleG
the brown earth in spring verdure
had scattered flowers in wild pro
fusion, had ripened the fruits, anG
filled the granaries. But he haG
grown old now. His step was slow
and feeble. No more favors woulc
be looked for from him. Farewell
then, old monarch! You have hat
your day. No earthly power car
prolong your resign. The ringing O
bells and merry shouts of welcom,
to your successor are heard ere We
YOU have laid aside your royal insig
MIA
But not by all hearts was the New
Years advent so gladly looked for
Not all were 80 ready to part com
pany with the old year.
Tired and cold. little Herberr
Wayne walked languidly through
The darkened streets Tired he nigh
well be, for he had been on his fee
since early morning. Here, there
and everywhere he had wandered
with his small store of matches, hi.
little atock in trade, upon the profit.
of whici. he had for some month;
past managed to live after fashion
Cold, tool He could not well be
otherwise, for his clothing was neither
thick nor whole, and through many
a crevice let in the biting wind
This day, too, had been a day of dis
couragement. Generally he had sold
enough to give food and a small sum
besides, for which. in a place with
which he was acquainted, he could
procure lodging for the night. Bul
today everybody seemed supplied
sith matches. Nobody wanted them
1t seemed almost fatality. 1t almost
,eemed as if all the inhabitants of q
city had. hv a concentrated move
mept, laid in 8 store of matches, SO
ell provided seemei every one. H.
he hope of finding customers. Her.
bert had wandered to another part OF
the city, but here, too, his success
was a. small.
He made up his mind that he must
cast the night out of doors. 1t was Il
hard thing to make up his mind to.
The cold was very severe, althouil,
he was becoming less sensitive to il
on account of his growing drowsiness.
If he had been on his usual beat there
was a stable where he was somewhat
acquainted, and where he might per
haps have obtained shelter gratuit
ously. But that was at least two
miles off, and in his present. state o
fatigue and drowsiness, it seemed
scarcely possible to reach there.
Hero rt cast about, therefore, fo
a comfortable place TO spend th'
night. He espied a recess, forming
the portal to a comfortable lookin:
residence, where he would be protect
E from the sharp wind which drov,
up and down the streets.
at would't do any HARM though
he, Ito lie down on the upper step
they wouldn't see me, for it is lat
and they must all be in"
So thinking he crept stealthily u
70 the upper step, fearing to arous
any one within. who might object t
his occupation, and placing his pill
of matches under his head for pi
low, his eyes speedily closed, and tn
weary boy sank into profound slee
"a sleep so sound, by reason Of hi
great fatigue, that nothing short of
cannon fred off close to his ear woul
r,rohably have been sufficient to wax
him up.
tie mad chosen an excellent shelter
| The inclemency of the weather di
.ot consist in "still cold," such 6
cannot be lodged or escaped, BIT
viii find its way into the most secrt
hiding-place. But the wind ws
| harp and piercing to all who cam
lin its path, but would not turn out
its way for anybody. so it hapene
that severe as the night was, as ] hav
already said, Herbert in obtainin
shelter fiom the wind. found himse
icomparatively comfortable. Perhap
indeed, his position might not ha,
been considered very desirable b
you or me, but unhappily for OF
little hero past exposure had tougher
ed him, and so rendered him less sci
sitive::to atmospheric influences. F.
the same reason the hardness Of II
stone couch on which he slept did nj
materially interfere with the SCUM
ness of his repose. Far enough VI
his case from that of the princess wi
passeda a sleepless night because III
derneath the pile Of soft beds c
which she reposei, single pea hs
accidentally found lodgment.
So our hero slept quietly on. b.
already discovery was pending.
The house upon whose steps !
was reclining was the residence of
wealthy merchants man OF klr
heart and benevolent impulses, wi
perhaps would have done more got
lif he had not been 80 absorbed
business cares.
1t happened that on this evenir
he ksd teea dstsiDed 10 . mech iah