The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-09-06


he assured me Of my mistake, and CT.
planned to me that VIC should 90 to Cali.
fornia, where men could dig gold from
the ground. I was willing to 60; my
trouble was where to get money to pay fol
my passage. Your money in the saw.
ings bank will do that" But" said I,
"you called that trash" Never mind,
you shall SEQ. It came to me in sleep,
Get up: light the lamp; give me your
book" Wondered If my small amount
had been, by some means, converted into
hundreds and thousands. sprang up,
opened my chest, and took out my book.
"All right" said he. Its goodl IT.
glorious! No man can see Otherwise
Here it stands, To-day received five
thalcrs.' The word to-day can change
50 that it will read hundred. making one
hundred and five, instead OF five. We
shall have enough then to play cricket
with golden balls"
trcmbled all over. 81 cannot do it, 81
cried. "You shall not do it-no one
dare do it-nO one can do it."
His only reply was: "Give me the book.
You shall sec."
wanted 10 withhold it, but the curios.
ity was SO strong to see what he would do
that asked him to try it ON paper and
let me sec what he intended doing. Twas
afraid he might destroy my book, SO that
if circumstances offered an opportunity fol
me to obtain what belonged to me, !
should not have my book to show.
l was ashamed to acquicsce thus far,
but the evil spirit which 30 often rules
men gained ascendency. I stood hest.
tating.
"Givc me the book. Don't make me
angry, or my hand will tremblc so that
will destroy your book unnecessarily"
1cOuld not withstand. l stood trem-
bling, my hands tightly clenched, watch
ing him, as in my cherished little book
he corrected the entry; watched him dry
ing the ink by blowing on it, and holding
though my soul had been devoured.
wished to see what he had done, but he
refused. Taking a knife, he erased some.
thing-I felt as though he were stabbing
me. As in dream, heard him say,
"Now you are rich, and can become
thousand times richer" l took the book
and read, I" Hundred and five thalers re.
ccived." and NO more. Who knew any.
Thing to the contrary, could discern any
correction, and the books, too, had been
burned.
Ny comrade. threw his arms around me,
and we danced around the room, he cry
ing. Thus goes the merry dance; we can
dance and play from now until our day of
departure from earth"
We went back to bed. The fellow knew
we'll how to charm me. I was ON the sea.
| was playing cricket with golden balls.
l rode in coaches drawn by beautiful
horses. On the back seat of the coach
set a servant in livery, who was handing
me silver-Ornamented meerschaum pipes,
and another gave me champagne, and my
wife sat beside me. My Imagination ran
wild. My companion slept, wearied with
the enchanting scenes he painted for me.
l finally dozed, but walked suddenly as in
q smoke. 1t was all clear to me-my
chest was openl A moonbeam lay trem-
bling on the glittering cover of my saw.
ings- bank book. sprang from bed, de-
termincd to destroy the book and lose all
before cOnsenting to such treachery. But,
wonderful! could not do it; SO took
the book to bed with me, and finally slept.
vecame moody and silent. The mas
ter frequently asked me the cause, but 1
maintained perfect silence on the SUBJ
jcct. When the wife of the master, or
the children, spoke kindly or compassion
ately to me, it was as though sharp,
two-edged knife had pierced me. They
thought me brave to suffer so quietly.
Had they only known my guilt, they
would have spurned me. l became ner.
vOus. l feared when the door opened to
see an officer coming with q warrant for
my arrest. feared involuntarily would
betray all. In some unguarded moment
l should say something by which sus-
piciOn would he aroused. / suffered tor
lures, even by being asked a question,
thinking it might be trap to catch me.
My Catherine always advises me never
to burden my soul with any secret. When
there is anything requiring secrecy on
my part, it is as though l carried glass
in my pocket, which was momentarily
expecting TO break. You may therefore
imagine how felt weighed down with
such sense of my own crime.
avoided placing any more money in
the savings bank. / even made detOurs
in all directions to avoid passing the
street on which the building stood.
There was NO one with whom I could
converse ON the subject excepting my
companion. Once awakened him from
sleep aud asked him if he thought it pos
sible for q man to commit q crime and
live happily. He laughed over my inno-
cence, and said he knew of hundred in
stances of deceit and crime, and the par.
Elephants were all living well and respect
ably. 50 once more / acquiesced in his
advice.
About this time more apprentices en-.
tered the shop, and some were placed in
our room, so that there was little occasion
for private conversation, had been so in
clincl. We were working ON the new
prison. One day as we were busy work.
ing, he exclaimed: "Sce here! in this
place arc put the poor devils; we belong
to the great ones who ride in coaches"
noticed, after while. that people did
not concern themselves about others, who,
Ostensibly. were honest, and became more
self satisfied. But this frame of mind
did not last long. 1t was near Christ
mas. The children were dancing and
singing, looking at me occasionally, and
saying, know something, but won't
tell" My torture was renewed. / did
not stop to consider that possibly they
had been intrusted with secrets concern
ing presents to be made, and they only
wished to show how exultant they felt over
the confidence.
Christmas evening, 40 stood in the
IEOnt-OOOr, servant Slrl CAME 10 me, anu
said I was wanted Immediately at Finanz-
rath Menninger's, and must bring my
tools.
Twas tcrrified-"What! me !why should
they send for mer'
"DOnt stop to qucstion-hurry up and
come" was her reply.
I dared not 60 alone; 30 I requested her
to wait until could procure my tools, and
I would walk with her.
cannot tell you how felt. thought
that at length my crime had not been un-
noticed. Crimel True, l had not been
guilty in decd, but before God and my
conscience was as fully condemned Is
though I really had drawn the money. ]
endcavored to appear calm, and entered
into conversation with the maiden, who
was by no means unpleasant to look