The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-12

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cure its company. Then came the voice:
"Wilt thou, a prisoner, make of thy
self a jailer?"
He opened his hands and the dove
darted into the sunlight. There it flut-
tered and flashed for moment, like a
bird of snow; then re-entered and flew
into his hands. He stroked and kissed
it. The bird went and came, and was
his companion.
Still his chains hung about him and
he sighed and groaned under their
weight.
Set thee down" said the voice, .'and
polish thine irons"
He obeyed, rubbing link against link
busily with his hands. And thus he
labored-as it seemed to the boy in the
vision-day after day, until at last every
portion within his reach, of fetter, and
chain, and collar, glittered with bright
ness.
$50 to the window" then said the
voice, "and lay thee down in the sun
shine"
He went and lay down and fell
asleep. When he awoke he began to
raise himself heavily; but 10! the sun
had melted all the Furnished parts of
his bonds; the rest dropped from him,
and he sprang to his feet. For very
| Joy of lightness he ran about the room
like frolicking child. Then said the
voice once more:
NOW carve thee out of the wall the
figure Of a man, as perfect as thou canst
think and make it.''
"Alasn' said the prisoner to himself.
81 know not how to carve or fashion
the image of anything
But as he said it he turned with a SIGH
to find among the fragments of his fet-
tiers what piece of iron might best serve
him for chisel. To work he set, and
many and weary were the hours he
wrought, for his attempts appeared to
him nothing better than those of child,
and again and ever again as he carved
he had to change his purpose and cut
away what he had carved; for the thing
he wrought would not conform itself to
the thing he thought; and it seemed he
made no progress in the task that was
set him.
One night he wrought hard by the
glimmer of his wretched lamp, until,
overwearied, he fell fast asleep and
slept like one dead. When he awoke,
10! man of light, lovely and grand,
who stood where he had been so YEARLY
carving the unresponsive stone! He
rose and drew nigh. Behold, it was an
opening in the wall through which his
freedom shone! The man of light was
the door into the universe. And he
darted through the wall.
AS he vanished from his sight the
boy felt the wind of the morning lave
his forehead; but with the prisoner van
ished the vision; he was alone, with the
moon shining through the windows.
Too solemn to be afraid, he crept back
to his bed and fell fast asleep.
In the morning he knew there had
come to him what he now took for a
strange dream. but he remembered very
little oft, and thought less aboutit, and
the same day the wizard took him home
His mother was out when he arrived
and he had not been in five minutes
when it began to rain. 1t was holiday
time and there were no lessons, and the
street. he nau nora single companion,
and the rain came down with slow per-
sistence. He tried to read, but could
not find any enjoyment in it. His
thoughts grew more and more gloomy,
until at last his very soul was disquieted
within him. When his mother came
home and sought him in the school
room, she found him lying on the floor,
sullen and unzind. Although he knew
her step as she entered, he never looked;
and when she spoke to him, he answered
like one aggrieved.
81 am sorry you are unhappy" said
his mother, sweetly. 81 did not know
you were to be home to-day. Come
with me to my room.
He answered his mother insolently:
81 don't want to 90 with you. | only
want to be left alone
His mother turned away, and, with
out another word, left the room.
The cat came in, went up to him
purring, and rubbed herself against
him. He gave her such blow that she
flew out again, in angry fright, with
her back high above her head. And the
rain rained faster. and the wind began
to blow, and the misery settled down
upon his soul like lead. AT last he wept
with his face on the floor, quite over
mastered by the most contemplate OF
all passions-self-pity.
Again the voice of his mother came to
him The wizard had in the meantime
come to see her, and had just left her.
"Get up, my boy" she said, in
more commanding tone than he had
ever heard from her before
With her words the vision returned
upon him, clear, and plain, and strong.
He started in terror, almost expecting
to hear the chains rattle about him.
"Get up and make the room tidy.
See how you have thrown the books
aboutn' said his mother.
He dared not disobey her. He sprang
to his feet, and, as he reduced the little
chaos around him to order, first calm
ness descended, and then shame arose.
As he fulfilled her word, his mother
stood and looked on. The moment he
had finished, he ran to her, threw his
arms about her neck burst into honest,
worthy tears, and cried:
"Motherr'
Then, after a while, he sobbed out:
+ 81 am sorry was so cross and rude
to my mother"
She kissed him, and put her arms