Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-02-17
sylonth's Column.
GOLEMS.

then your must each tell her one. is 1t
bargain p
"But don't know any Stories" said
Dick, "and l don't know how to make
up any, because haven't got anything
to make it up about"
"You can all tell stories about mine;
the same subjects will do for all, you'll
see."
The children thought this very funny,
so they waited to see what was coming,
and Aunt Edna began:
81 was reading to-day about some
strange customs and ideas they had in
the middle ages, when the grown people
were scarcely more than children, and
one of them was the belief in golems."
"Ghosts ~ SAID the children, becom.
ing excited.
"No, not ghosts at all; something
quite different. 1t was thought that
some people had the power of making
beautiful images out of clay, somewhat
as the Spaniards and Italians do now
but they had the further power of max
ing them speak and eat and move and
act exactly as if they were alive. On
the brows, close up under the hair, they
stamped the word Truth, and as long
as that was there no one could tell that
be was not talking to real living man
or woman, but the very moment the 60
lem uttered falsehood, which it was
sure to do sooner or latter, it at once
became stiff, lifeless clay, and never
seemed like human being again. There
that's my story; now let me hear yours
from the same text. Did any of you
ever see golem? p
"Oh, l know" said Lima, her face
lighting up with sudden intelligence af-
ter a somewhat embarrassing pause.
> "I'll tell you. When l first went to
Madame AS school there was a girl
+ who used to sit at the same desk with
me; she was just as pretty as she could
be, with long yellow curls, and she used
to wear gold necklace and locket, and
the prettiest dresses. She was very
good-natured, too, and let me share all
: her candy and nice things, and would
: have done anything in the world fol
It her; but one day, when we were being
examined, she managed to hide the bool
in her lap and copied out the answers
wanting me to do the same. and some
y how she never seemed pretty or nice tt
- me afterwards. l couldn't bear her
10 and just as soon as 1 could l got the
. teacher to change my seat"
>" "Why, that's just how | felt abou
- Tom Haines when he cheated playin!
. marbles, and Johnny Harris when h
, said / broke the window and l knew b
Il did it l don't ever want to see hin
9; again no, nor any body that tells lies
% they're just as mean as dirt, whethe
., &c they're clay or not" said Dick.
~ "Yes," said Aunt Edna, 1--WE neve
4" feel that We can really trust any on
- who has thoroughly deceived US. But
-. 20 did not mean you to tell tales of you
II companions; that isn't kind. Try t
- think of some gOlems that you can tai
lie about without being personal"
- 81 think when any one pretends
~ be very sweet to your face. and the
e turns round and says something hatefl
about you behind your back, that's b.
mt ing golem," said honest eyed lit
IN Annie "or when one pretends to kno
IT. more than she does. or to be very goo
so when she isn't"
to "Yes, all the pretenders arc golem
ur and if we look close at them we sha
be soon see the word truth fade out, an
"a. find that they are nothing more tia
in clay images after all"
hv "Is Santa Claus golem % said brig
all little Alice. IL guess he must be, b
err cause l used to think he was alive ar
ial came down the chimney with all Il
,ur Christmas presents, and l used to To-
oh him ever SO much; but one day | four
ZEN an ugly old image In the garnet with
Jus long white beard, and nurse said it W
me Santa Claus. Then l went to MANN
ars and she told me all about it, and how
the was people who put the things in 20
to stockings and hung them on the Chris
len mas tree, and never want to hear abo
ou- Santa Claus any more. He's just
a or golem,"
I'D. Il know a golem," said Jack, "tha
our dentist; he said it wouldn't hi
,Py me to have my tooth pulled out, and
Ivy opened my mouth at once, because
'ne used to give me candy and things anC
.'al thought he was good but it hurt
iii' like everything, and I'll never belle
IVY him again, or take his candy if he off
INC ed me roomful.'
am "Auntie," said timid, conscientio
ln- little Carrie, "do you think any of
u'' are golems? Sometimes we don't S
Vi exactly what is true, at least all tn
un- is about it :; that is, don't" she S;
sai blushing.
- That's what I was thinking abb
49,. when l told my story" said Aunt Ed
1--WE are all made of clay, YOU knC