The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-18
them little of your money and rll say

them little OF your money, and Pll say
prayers for nothing for your soul!'
mo-" cried Nlkita, "no! You can pray
for me alter l am dead, and my money shall
pay for it. But till then, if you think need
your prayers you will have to pray tor moth.
ing. shan't give you any of my money.
am tired now, BECOME! Go away, all of you p
Kind-hearted Father Jakim, thus dismissed
went home, and passing into the church
prayed gratis for the sinner.
That night Nkita went out of his mind.
He fancied every one was after his precious
lilac bank-note, and hurled defiance at i'm
aginary robbers. His sons sent for father ia.
kim, but the old man could not recognize
him.
"You shan't have it! You shant have it,
he cried, in piercing scream. 'No, I'd
rather throw it awayp'
And all of sudden he seized the little mar.
Gel which hung round his neck. and TEARING
at it with his teeth and nails, got out tbe
note. He put it into his mouth, rolled il
round for half minute with his tongue. and
swallowed it whole.
He came near choking, and called for
water. After drinking, he sprang upon his
feet, with fury in his eyes.
"Ha! hap he cried, ssYou'll never get il
youv'
Inc family, in utter CONSERVATION, did not
say word. 1t had all taken place so sud-
denly that the priest could hardly believe his
eyes.
The delirium subsidized before sunrise. Nj.
klta fell into deep sleep with profuse per
spiration.
The priest went home TO his own house
much troubled by what had happened.
ut was lucky for those poor people that
was there" he said. eff ever he comes to
himself the effect upon him may be dread
full, and he would certainly accuse them all
of being robbersp'
We should not like to affirm that swallow.
ing twenty-dollar note is a certain cure for
bilious fever, but in this case the imperial
lilac-note worked wonders. After sleeping
quietly for fourteen hours, Nikita awoke
quite well, but very weak, having forgotten
all that had taken place in his delirium.
For three days he did not find out the
dreadful loss that had befallen him. His
frightened family took good care not to tell
BIN that his precious lilac paper was no more.
But by degrees his usual gestures and his
usual thoughts came back to him. He fin
gered the little bag that still hung round his
neck, and-horror of horrors-there was
nothing there!
"The wretches! Oh the rascasp' he cried
furiously. "They have robbed me! They
have robbed meP'
They sent for the priest, who, after de-
failing several times over what had taken
place In his presence, at last succeeded in
convincing the old man that he had, literally
and metaphorically swallowed up his fortune.
"God has been pleased to punish you for
your hard heartedness to your own family"
he said, for he felt it was his his duty to
speak plainly. "The rest of your life must
now be passed in poverty. Accept it, my
poor fellow, as the punishment of your pride.
Receive thankfully henceforth your daily
bread from the hands of those dutiful chill
dren you have treated so unkindly. You will
lind your loss will make no difference in their
treatment. You have always been wang in
supposing they had interested motives for
being kind to you. Repent OF your .aShar-
itableness and ask God to pardon you."
From that time forth, for many weeks,
Niklta never uttered single word; he seemed
to be always in a kind of stupor. They car
ried him daily into the open air, for he was
unable to walk. He would sit for hours in
the sunshine lit was then the height of sum-
mer) patting the little bag upon his breast,
not seeming to notice anything around him.
He had good appetite, however, and his
strength returned. One day, by the help of
his staff, he. crawled out by himself to his
favorite seat in the sunshine.
be on, now, be OH, all OF your he cried
to his children and grand children. s'Be off
and let me alone. l don't want you any
more. am well now"
These were the first words he haG spoken
since his misfortune.
They thought he was all right again, and
went their ways, for it was harvest time, and
every hand was wanted to reap or rake or
bind.
Toward nightfall his daughter, who always
came home little before the rest to prepare
their meal, came in sight of the cottage. She
did not see him seated on the bench. She
hurried forward. He heart beat with vague
fear. She entered the dwelling He was not
there. She ran into the village. Nobody
had seen him. She then ran to meet her hus-
band and her brothers. They came in haste,
but could not find him.
At last, as one of them was taking the
horse into the satble, he found be could not
open the door. He pushed harder-some-
thing heavy swung against it with a thud.
Nikita had hung himself to the great beam
just inside the stable. His hand was stiff
ened over the empty bag, which, even in
death, he was pressing to his bosom.
He had not long survived the loss of his
dear piece of lilac paper.