Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-03-06

said the fend, 'an excellent smith
| have a piece of work for you.-
Follow me; I will take you to {
spot where lies buried one of m,
subjects. You must make me ar
iron railing round his grave; and
ID reward, [ will give your BRIDE
If you have nothing more to
ask, l am content replied the
young man.
This issall, said the fend; 'bnt
1t IS a harder task thansyou imag-
lne- You have but one hour to
work. At twelve you must begin
and the railing must be completed
by the time the clock strike one.-
II 1t is done, you are free, if not,
you belong to me forever
Will;bald paused an instant. but
a food of wild thoughts came rush
ing upon his brain; and the pas
slonate desire to snatch Ellen from
bis rival overcame all his prudence.
He pledged himself to the unhal-
lowed contract, and he followed tie
hend to new made grave.
10 your work, my lad, he cried
and vanished.
At the same instant Willibald
saw fire spring out of the ground
beside him, and caught glimpse
of several bars of iron, and the
tools of his trade. The clock on
the church tower struck twelve,
aud starting, he betook himself to
work. So diligently did he apply
himself, that the work grew rapid
ly under his head; the railing was
almost flushed. A single screw
only was wanting to complete it
when the dull sound of the clock
was5beard striking one, and " iii
bald fell to the ground insensible.
When his senses returned it was
morning, the sun was shining
brightly, ard he thought all that
had passed wild dream. But a
sight of the railing, nearly finished,
around the grave, and rusty bar
of iron lying on the ground, con
vlnced him of his reality. There
was, howevor, no trace Of the f,e
and the tools had disappeard.
Full of shame and repentance,
Wlllaoald FASTENED to the church.
to pray more earnestly than he had
ever prayed before, for the pardon
of his dreadful sin.~4is heart was
lighter after the prayer, but he
could not so home to work that
day, and sadly he walked toward
Dame Martha's cottage.
Ellen came to meet him, as be-
fore, and shed tears as she threw
her arms around his neck.
This time, she said, they are tears
of Joy. When ycu lett US so sud :
denly yesterday, | also came from
the house, and into this little gar
deH where | light weep undis
turbed- [ sat there long, Will
bald, long after dusk, when, as | |
leaned my head on the table yon- |
der, thinking hopelessly of you,
female figure approached me. She
had the form of my dear mother
She smiled very sweetly, WillibaId
and said, Weep not, my child, but
pray pray for your lover; he is in
very great danger She vanished
before | could thank herj but / re-
mem bered her words and pray ed
or you, Wiilibad; al! night long.
The young man shuddel ed, but
.aised his eyes upward in thank
illness. :
Early this morning. continued
he maiden, came Herr Werner. /
vent out 10 meet him, and told him
would rather die than become his
wife. He was much vexed, but
another word he mounted
lis horse and rode away followed
~ his servant My grandmother
vas angry, but my conscience told
ne l did right; and now that you
eturn 10 me in safety, WillibalG,
I'M sure that haYe The blessing of
1eaven.'
And the young smith FELT the
anne assurance, when, a few days
.fter, his box of treasure was re-
tored to him by his masters
laughter, who, lii a fit of jealousy,
II love of mischief, had stolen il
rom him. Dame Martha could no
onger withhold her coLseat, but J
'efore Willibald dared TO claim El
en- as his bride he confessed his
,reat sin.
The lovers were married and
wed happily, remembering their
'ast troubles only as warning
galnst discomfort, and a want OF
ubmission 10 Providence.
Even if [ had been suffered to !
'erish then, WilIibal9 would say,
my want of faith would have de-
erved such Il DOOM. /:
But the railing round the grave {
7as not the work of his hands it {
'as there before he went to sleep |
D the churchyard. His had been I
dream, and so bad been Elien's j
ision.
A Tennessee man bet his wife :