The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-09

ooe or lsawshsrne's Hest Exquisite
akesches.

tudss Of our fortunes life would be too fui,
AZ hone and fear, exuitation or disappoint-
,nent. 10 Afford ~ q single hour OF true Sc
reuuy, The idea may ne illustrated by
single page from the secret history OF David
Swsn.
We have nothing to DO withDavi until
we md him, at tke age OF twenty, on tue
hlxh road from biz os,ive place to the CITY
az Boston. wkere his uncle, small dealer
In the grocery liee, was 10 take bim oenino
the counter. he II enough TO say that ne
was q native al New Hampshire, born OF
respectable parents, and had received an
Ordinary school ed0cstion. with a classic
finish OF q yeas n cinnamon acaoeu'y'
Aftet journeytng On foot from sun
rise 10 nearly noon OF 8 summer
Az his wearipess and the increasing
49,. netermined him to sit down IN
the fest convenient shade and wait Tue
coming uo al the stsge-cosch. As II planted
-, nurnose for ann. there soon appeared
lutic inf of mapies. with delightful re-
.,ess In tho midst. and s,sch fresh, buDDilng
srrsog that seemed never 10 have sparkled
Snr sny wayfarer bat David Sven. VIZ
si. ar mot. he kissed 1t with hs thirsty
Inns. and then hung himself along the
hrink. piliow,ng bis bead upon some
shirIs and pa,r Of psuts,0Ons tied up IN
= s,rined cotton handkerchief The sun.
heans could not reach hun; the d4st dIu
rot ri,<s from the road. after the heavy RAIN
of Yesterday; ard the grassy lair suited the
vopnp man better than bed Of down. Inc
ep,iny naurmuTed drowsiiy Scsidc binis tue
bird, f|oaied across tbe blue skv ofeTheao'
and q deep sleep, pei ehance Otn'hs uleStns
w,tbjn its depths, fell upon DAVID swan:
But we are 20 relate events wh'ch ne Aiu
not dream OF
While he Law sound asleep in the shade
other peorIe we're wide awake, and passed
IN and fro on no, setback and la all sorts OF
vehicles alopg the sunny road by his he'd
chamber. Some looked neither TO the right
hand nor the left. and knew not that he was
there: some merely glanced that way, WIN
ont admitting the siumberer among their
busy Thoughts: some laughed TO see how
souodly he slept aud several, whose hearts
were brireming full OF scorn, tJeeted their
yepomous supernuIty on DAVID swan.
middle.aged widow, when NOBODY else was
near. thrust her bead little way INTO tDe
recess and vowed that the young fellow
looked chsrming IN his sleep. tenn
perapce lecturer saw him, ana wrought
Door David INTO the texture OF DIS eve
nino,s discourse rs au awful instance or
tiead-drunkenness by the roadside. But
ccnsure, merrIment, praise. scorp, ana IN
difference were all one, or rather all notn'
ing. to David Swan.
He had slept only few moments when
q brown carriage, drawn by pan VI
handsome horses. bowled easily along,
and was brought TO stand-stlIl nearly
In front OF DayId's resting'place.
lypcb.p!n had fallen out and permitted
one OF the wheels TO slide OF. TIE dam'
age was slight, aud occasioned merely
monetary alaim to an elderly merchant
and bis wife who were returning 10 Bos'
ton In the carriage. While tue coacuman
and q servant were replacing the whee'
the lady and gentleman sheltered tnem'
selves beneath The maj le-trees, ana there
espYtd the bubbing fountain and David
Swan ASLEEP beside il. Impressed with the
awe which the humble>t sleeper sheds
around him, the merchant trOd as lightly a.
The govt would allow him, and his spouse
took heed not to rustic her silk gown lest
David should start up all OF sudden.
Chow soundiy be seeps!" whispered
&be old gentleman. From what depth
he draws that easy breath Such sleep as
that. brought on without an Oplate, would
he worth more TO me than half my in
come; for it would suppose health and an
untroubed min1."
"Apd youlb besides" said the old lady.
"Healthy aud quiet age does not sleep thus.
Our sIumber is no more like that titen our
wakefuIness."
The longer they looked the more did this
elderly couple feel interested in the I'M
known youth, to whom the wayside and The
napie shade were as a secret chamber, win
the rich gloom OF damasi curtains brOodlDg
over him. Percclving that stray sunbeam
glimmered down upon his face. the lady
contriyed to twist q branch aside, so as TO
intercept ii. And having done this little act
OF kindness she began TO feel like mother
10 him.
.sProvidence seems TO have laid him
here" whispered she to her husband,
"and to have brought us hither TO lind
him, after our disappointment in our cou-
sins son. Me,hinks i can see likeness
10 departed Henry. Shall We awaken
himf"
.sTo what purpose?" said the merchant,
Aesitating. owe know nothing OF The
youths character"
"That open countenance !" replied the
wife, In the same busbed voice, yet earnest
~, "Ths innocent sleep!"
While these whispers were passing the
sleeper's heart lid not throb, nor his breath
become agitated, nor his features betray tue
least token OF Interest. Yes, fortune was
bending over him, iust ready to let fall
burden OF gold. The old merchant had lost
his only son and hid no heir TO his wealth
except distant relative, with whose con-
duct be was dissatisfied. In such eases poo
pie sometimes do stranger things than 10 act
the magician and awaken TO splendor
Young man who fell asleep in poverty.
SO a
the lady, persuasive'y.
eThe coach ~ ready, sir" said the SER
want behind.
The old couple started, Redeemed. and
hurried away, mutually wondering that
they should ever have dreamed OF doing
ANYTHING so ridiculous. The merchant
threw himself back 10 bis carriage aud Oc
cupied his mInd with the plan OF magDifi'
cent asylum for unfortunate men OF bust
ness, Meanwhile David Swan enjoyed his
nap.
The carriage could not have gone above
q mile or two when a pretty young girl
came along with tripping pace which
showed precisely how her little heart was
dancing IN her bosom. Perhaps it was
this merry kind Of motion that caused
n there harm 10 saving itf-her garter TO
s,ip It's knot. Conscious that the sllken
girth-if silk il were-was relaxing It's
bold, she turned aside into the shelter OF
the maple.trees, aud there fouUd a Young
man asleep By the spring! Blusbing as
red Is any rose, that she should have 10
truded into gentleman bed-chamber. and
for such purpose, 100, she was about to
make her escape on tiptoe. Bnt there was
peril near the sleeper. A monster OF
bee had been wandering Overbead-buzz,
buzz, bazz-uow among the leaves, now