The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-01-25

dren gathered lovingly around him.
AT last it was proposed that they
should sing. The sweet voices of the
children were just joining in merry
roundelay, when a sudden and loud
knocking was heard at the door. The
children stopped singing, ,and the collier
said firmly: " In the name of God.
come in! ~
Upon this, the door slowly opened,
and little old man, of gentle appear
ance and manners, came stealing in.
greeting the family courteously, and
taking the lowest place at the table.
His garments were of some ancient
pattern; he seemed wan and woe
begone, as though reduced by disease.
Berthold gazed at him with a feeling
OF great curiosity and surprise, but said
nothing. He once met his eye; there
was something in it SO deeply myste-
rious that he felt chill creeping over
him, and he began to be restless and
i'll at ease.
At last the little old man folded his
hands, and, turning to the collier, said:
''lt is the hour of prayer
The collier at once began to sing
"Now all the woods are sleeping" in
which the whole family Joined, filling
the house with such delightful music
that the merchant listened like one en-
chanted.
Presently voice rose above the rest.
1t startled Berthold, and made the cot
tage tremble. 1t was the little old
mans.
The family knelt down, and the col
lier prayed. Then they all rose up
with loving words, and the little old
man glided out of the door, bowing as
humbly as when he came in.
But presently the door opened again,
and the little old man once more ap-
peared. He threw a look of fearful
wildness upon Berthold, then disap-
peared, the door closing after him with
violence.
"He is a little touched in mind"
said the merchant, nervously.
"He is perfectly harmless said the
collier. s'I have not seen any evil in
him for long time. But,' he added,
"the only chamber I can give you for
the night has door that does not shut
very tightly; he comes into it in the
night, but do not fear him; if you do
not think any evil thought or do any
evil act, he will 60 out of his own ac-
cords
Berthold's heart was now far from
tranquil. He pressed his portmanteau
of treasures close to his side as the col
lier lighted him up the narrow stair
way to his room.
He lay down, placing his portman-
teau and weapons beside him on the
bed, but he could not sleep. He re-
membered what the collier had said
about the little old man, that the safe
guard against him was the absence of
all evil thoughts and acts. In this respact
the Golfers family seemed secure; but
the merchant knew how great was his
own greed for gain; how it made him
hard and uncharitable, and he tried to
put away all evil thoughts and to think
of the hymn, Snow the woods are all
reposing," lest the little old man should
appear.
A little past midnight he fell into
troubled sleep, and his mind began to
wander over his schemes for gain. He
was dreaming of the good bargain he
had made, or expected to make, when
he was startled by noise close by. He
raised himself in bed, and saw
the little old man in the
moonlight, moving about the room.
The merchant at first looked upon him
with feeling of curiosity rather than
alarm or anger, and while he did so,
all was well. But he at last became ir-
ritable under the disturbance, and,
when the little old man at last ap-
preached the bed, Berthold's irritabili-
ty kindled into anger, and wicked
thoughts began to fill his mind, and he
found it hard to restrain his lips from
wicked words.
At last, the little old man touched
the portmanteau containing the mer-
chants treasures. This was too much.
The merchants caution forsook him,
and he was filled with rage.
"Backi you vile robber! back, from
my baggage" he exclaimed, seizing
his pistols. The little old man started
back, as in terror. He seemed to be in
an agony of prayer. A change seemed
coming over him. He appeared con-
scious of it, and, going toward the door,
disappeared.
Berthold gazed after him and then
remembered the collier's admonition
in regard to the danger of evil thoughts.
He wished that he had acted different
ly, for he wished to bring no evil on the
family.
There was sound at the latch; the
door opened, when an evil-looking
giant, wearing red mantle, appeared.
He laughed wildly, and said: az begin
to be free again. You have made me
groao!'