Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-01
lContlnued from first page.l

iornia, where men could dig gold from
the ground. | was willing to go; ms
trouble was where to get money to pay
for my passage. Your money in the saw
ings bank will do that But said /.
you called that trash" Never mind,
you shall see. II came to me in sleep.
Get up; light the lamp; give me your
book" | wondered it my small amount
had been, by some means, converted into
hundreds and thousands. | sprang up,
opened my chest, and took out my book.
''Ali right" said he. ats good Its
glorious No man can see Otherwise
Here it stands. To-day received five
thalers.' The word to-day | change so
that it will read hundred. instead OF five.
We shall have enough then to play crick-
ct with golden balls"
trembed all over. al cannot do it, -
cried. You shall not do tho one
dare do tho one can do il.n
His only reply was "Give me the book.
You shall see"
wanted 10 withhold it, but the curiosi-
ty was SO strong to see what he would do,
that | asked him to try it on paper and
let me see what he intended dong. | was
afraid he might destroy my book, so that
if circumstances offered an opportunity
for me to obtain what belonged to me, |
should not have my book to show.
| was ashamed to acquesce thus far, but
the evil spirit which so often rules men
gained ascendancy. | stood hesitating.
Give me the book. Don't make me
angry, or my hand will tremble so that
will de, troy your book unnecessarily"
could not witstand. | stood trembling
my hands tightly clenched. watching him,
as in my cherished ltle book he corrected
the entry; watched him drying the ink by
blowing on it, and holding it closely to his
face. 1t appeared as though my soul had
been devoured. wished to see what he
had done. but he refused Taking "a knife,
he erased something-I felt AS though he
were stabbing me. As in dream, heard
him say, "Now you are rich, and can be-
come thousand times richer" | took the
book and read. "IIundred and five thaers
received" and no more. Who knew any.
thing to the contrary, could discern any
correction, and the books, too, had been
burned.
My 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 the day OF
our departure from earth"
We went to bed. The fellow knew
well how 10 charm me. | was on the sea,
/ was playing cricket with the golden
balls. | rode in coaches drawn by beau,i-
ful horses. On the back seat of the
coach sat servant in livery, who was
handing me silver ornamenated meer
schaum pipes, and another gave me
champagne. and my wife sat beside me.
My Imagination ran wild. My compan-
ion slept, wearied with the enchanting
scenes he painted for me. finally dozed.
but walked suddenly as.in smoke. 1t was
all clear to me-my chest was open! a
moonbeam lay trembling on the glitter
ing cover of my savings bank book. |
81 rang from bed, determined to destroy |
the book anAlo all before conserving to |
such treachery. But wonderful could |
not do it; so took the book to bed with |
me and finally slept.
| became moody and silent, the master
frequently asking me the cause, but |
maintained a perfect silence on the sub
iect. When the wife OF the master, or
the children, spoke kindly or compassion
ately to me, it was as though a 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. became nerv-
Gus. feared when the door opened to
see an officer coming with warrant for
my arrest. feared Involuntary would |
betray all. Ia some unguarded moment
l should say something by which suspic-
ion would be aroused. suffered tortures
even by being asked question, thinking
it might he 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 as though carried glass
in my pocket, which | was momentarily
expecting to break You may therefore
imagine how ielt 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 | could |
converse on the subject except my com
panion Once | awakened him from his |
sleep and asked him If he thought il possi- !
BILE for man to commit crime aud live F,
happily. He laughed over my innocence
and said he knew OF hundred instances
of deceit and crime, and the participants
were all living well and respectfully. So
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
inclined. We were working on the new
prison. One day as we were busy work
ing, he exclaimed: See here! in this |
place are 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
sell-satisiied. But this frame of mind did
not last long. 1t was near Christmas
The children were dancing and singing,
looking at me occasionally and saying
Il know something, but | won't tell.
My torture was renewed. did not stop
to consider that possibly they had been
entrusted with secrets concerning presents
to be made, aud they only wished to show
how exultant they felt over the confidence.
Continued tomorrow
-- -