Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-12-15


"No one has ever tried to rob me yet,
but tho time may have come. People
hate me and would be glad to sec me
loose my last shilling. John White
would get no sympathy here. Suppose
it is an assassin ! declare il it didn't
move then. I'll 60 home. Clark may
burn the house down to spite me, but if
he does I'll send him to state prison if it
costs me $500.
AS he moved away on his route home
the something followed after. lie made
o run across the darksomc commons. 1t
kept its distance. He slowed up as he
reached frcqucntcd street. 1t was no
nearer to him--no farther away. Under
the gaslight it disappeared entirely, but
as he entered upon his own dark street,
10 the something was nearer to him than
before, He heard no footsteps on the
walk except his own. There was no
word or rustic Of garments as they en-
tered the gate side by side and passed to
the door. There was no presence beside
him, and yet there was. 1t was nothing,
and yet it was something. IIc was
awed and frightened, but at the door he
turned at bay and struck out furiously
and shouted:
'Back! Go away! You may believe me
old and helpless, but I'll grapplc with
the strongest man and fight to the
dcathm
He struck only at the empty air, though
the shadow was at his elbow 1t took
the key from his hand, unlocked the
door, and ho was forced to enter first.
AS he stood in the darkness Of the room
he heard the key turn in the lock again
The something was locked in with him!
'Its only some trick to scare me-" he
whispered; "or else my long walk in the
cold has made me nervous and near
sighted. As soon as | strike q match it
will be gone"
A candle soon she'd its light over the
room, and the old man threw some fag-
OTIS on the fire which was nearly dead on
the hearth.
"Thcrc!" he whispered as he looked
about him, OTIS gone. 1t was some trick
by the boys. They hate me and like to
annoy me. Yes, it's gone"
dts here" answered a voice, and 10!
the shadow stepped into view on the
hearthstonc.
In his amazemcnt the old man was
silent for a moment. and before he had
found his voice the shadow the some
thing-said:
81 have been with you for half a cen
fury, but never before this night have
you seen me-"
"And--and why to-nightl' asked
Miscr John in trembling voice.
"Because your life ends with the year
When the bells ring out the old and ring
in the new you will be no moro on
earth. John White, what has been placed
to your credit on the books Of lIcdvcnN
"Why--why, I've obcycd the law,
haven't l And Incver done nobody any
harm. l amt no Christian, but I've
tried to live right"
'1ve been with you all these long
years, John White! You have been an
usurer. You have let avarcc triumph in
your heart. Selfishncss has chased all
pity from your soul. The widow, the
orphan and the poor and unfortunate
have appealed to you in vain"
"Thcy wanted my money" whined
the old man.
'NIcn have learned to hate you and
children to shun you," continued the
voice. "You have gold hidden away, but
you have no friends. If your soul was to
pass from earth tonight there is not one
human being in all this world who would
volunteer to toll your years upon the
nearest church bell. Point INC to one
who is your friend. Tell Inc the name of
one you have bcfricndcd. Ii
you have ever done one kind act towards
humanity speak of it that may have it
recorded on the books of the angel in
Heaven"
The old man was silent.
"You have been an usllrer Of the rich
a robber of the poor. Even this night
you went forth to gloat over the troubles
and misfortuncs of a fclow-bcing. Hark
to the winter winds! Feel the cold as il
creeps in through crack and crevice
And yet, to add few dollars to youI
hoard you would turn helpless children
out of dcorsw
There was never word from the shiv.
eriug, trembling man who croncd over
the dying fire.
"And this is the last week Of youl
life," whispered the voice. "You will
die here in your bed, and it may bc
days and days before men miss you and
enter this grim old house and find yor
dead. Your hoard Of gold will buy you
coffin, a shroud and grave, but there
will be no mourncrs. Children will ever
rejoice that you are gonc3"
With head in his hands, and his half
closed eyes looking into the fire, the ole
man remained silent for long, long
time. BY and by he lifted his head witt
n sudden start of surprise, and the some
thing was gone. He called out to it, h'
searched the dark corners, but it had
silently disappeared.
1t was the day before Christmas
Clark, the mechanic, entered NIiscl
Johns house with fear and trembling
He came out wiping the tears from hi
eyes aud his face illuminated with thu
great joy in his heart; NIiscr John hat
cancelled the mortgage. Others cam'