The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-01-04
OLD BONES TREASURE.

Far back, in the days when good,
natured Queen Anne lolled comfortably
upon her throne, and 4 generation Of
wits and geniuses strutted about under
huge peri -adorumeuts nightly out
of place with the wisdom they muffied
"a certain doctor Of antique mould was
living in London, and waiting philo-
sophically for the fame and reputation
which had looked at him through
futures vista fifty years ago. Now, in
truth, DR.. Bone, as he was called was
quack; but his nature refused to con-
form Itself to the dictates Of fashion
and patronage, and consequently the
general public had always regarded him
through the wrong end Of life telescope,
whereby bis person and skill had APP
peared Of Indifferent make.
Thus for thirty years or more he had
trudged his weary journey proving him
self of Infinite value to the needy, and
acknowledging uncOmplainingly the pro-
priety Of his fate, but with pride that
showed his indifference to the fashion
able appreciation. He met disdain with
contempt; and, although he was d loser
thereby, had the conscious self satisfac-
tion Of an independent spirit. Perhaps,
morally speaking, he was ia the right;
but in those daysof fawuing and fattery
the renown he sought was as unattain-
able to him a5 the lord mayorship would
have been.
As tor his person, he was tall and lank,
with a somewhat pOnderOus Roman nose,
lips that fell, by long practice, at the
corners, and penthouse brows which
matched his eyes but poorly, for the
water would often CLEAN under them at
tale of pity. Upon his head he wore,
within doors, rusty old skull-cap, from
which his natural locks fell downward in
a thin avalanche of silk, and upon his
shoulders habitually a cloak, unlike
Whittingt to i, turned little to his advan-
tage. His knee-breeches. witless of or
nament, bore some resemblance to iron
stove-pipes which have Known many a
down-pour of rain; and his needless
shoes, long unenthraled by buckles, but
too often succumbed to the pressure of
circumstances, and brought portions of
his bare feet into contact with their
mother earth
When the world was greener to the
poor Bone, he had married a merry
hearted lass from his native village, who
for many a year had faithfully and I'M
grudgingly borne the trials of poverty
by his side, and lightened the gloom of
his existence with unhagging spirit; but
one blank night the flame of her little
life shot Up brilliantly for d moment and
then huttered into darkness though the
poor child was sorely stricken for the
tired traveller she was leaving behind
And he, simple practitioner, bowed his
fading head to fate, and toiled onward,
childless, alone and sorrowful.
But one day, when he had passed his
sixtieth year, patient of his, an old
woman, died, and in the bountyiof his
ancient heart lie took forlorn little
grandson of hers TO his own home and
swore solemnly to foster this STRIPPING of
three years old and bring him up as his
own son.
He kept his word, and for three more
years now had reared the minute adop-
tion with a zeal and tenderness BETTING
his noble nature. For hours would he
sit IN his mouldy old study, feiguing to
be absorbed in some moth-eaten volume
but in reality watching and enjoying
the gambols OF his little Geoffrey as he
tumbled about the floor with hundred
the sunny heart Of the observer. With
his own hand would he direct the young
ster's meals, and when his old house
keeper, Betsey, had put him to bed be
would creep upstairs for 81 good night
kiss or playful wrestle, in which the
little arms always came of victorious
Then would he return TO his gloomy den
and exercise his wits in sowing off some
intricate problem which last habit had
happily absorbed many an hour of his
tedious life.
What dear gift Is the power of deep
inward contemplation to q man-the
power which enables him, rs in the sto-
ries told Of some ancient Christian mar
tyrs 10 wrap his mind in that dense
mist OF thought which renders external
objects and actions the mere ADVENT
tious nonentities of a dream. Many
an insipid existence becomes endnrable
when this power is acquired for 1t, Is not
50 much due t0 nature rs 70 SOltarlness
and self-depeHdency Thus it eften
happens. by generous dispensation Of
Providence. that those whose days are
greatly shadOWed attain an eminence OF
thought. The sweetness and nobility of
which is never experienc ED by the more
want0n members Of mankind. Thus,
also, many of our most brilliant diseov-
cries originate in the breasts of such re-
cluses-Who become SO, in many in
stances from misf0rtunes and neglect
being arrived at along weary perspec-
tive of thought which is generally over
looked BY the public rs it faces the 81
gsntiC conclusions thereof.