Nevada County picayune., 1889-12-18
THE MISER'S DREAM.

upon his door, although he was halt asleep at the time. It was such a rare event that he could not miss hearing it. He did not stir, how ever, or even bid the one who was seeking admittance to come in.
 II wonder who's there,' Inc growled. "Some beggar of course nobody only those who want my money ever come to see me" Rapl rap! rap!
 s'I wish there was no such thing as a beggar," he said, in his rough, un, pleasant way.
 Then the door opened and the vis- itor walked in without any bidding. It was little Paul Kearns who en- tered-the boy who had sometimes done errands for the old man who was too lame to go out for himself.
 II heard you speak, and so l came in, MT. Mitchell" the boy said, little hesitatingly, as he noticed the scrowl on the old mans face.
 "Well, what do you want, young man? Did I not pay you for the last errand you did for me?''
 "Oh, yes, you always pay me. but l want money for somebody else. Little Bessie Lee is sick and her mamma cannot work out any more, for she fell and broke her arm last week. 1 am trying to get some money for them," and the tender hearted little fellow grew bolder as he said this.
 "Well, you had better be doing something else. What is it to you or me if somebody is sick, and some body else has an arm broke.' and the old old man scowled as tiercely as ever.
 But it is something to me and something to you, Mir. Mitchell. If we can help people who are worse off than ourselves, it is our duty to do so. You have lots of money, and you would never miss it if you should give lots of it away. Poor little baby Bessie. She cries and moans all the time, and l feel real sorry for her. l have carried her lots of cookies and oranges with the pennies l have earned, and went without any myself" ."
 "You are little fool, Pau Kearns. Take care of yourself, and don't be running after all the sick babies in the town. Suppose l should hunt up all the paupers in the neighborhood and try to take care ol them"
 "You would be great deal better and happier man than you are now Mir. Mitchell" the boy said, inter rupting the old man.
 The words spoken almost angrlly touched the miser and he dropped his head before the wide open flash ing eyes of Paul. There was some thing in them he did not care to meet
 "Yes, Mir. Mitchell, if you would give some of your money to the poor suffering people all about you, you would be a great deal happier than you are now"
 'How do you know that l am not happy now?" asked the old man, in a lower voice.
 "Because nobody can be happy shut up in this dismal-looking room And you don't seem happy, Mr. Mitchell, and 1 dread even to look at you. l know that l am great deaI happier than you are, even though have no home of my own, and get kicked and knocked about the streets pretty often. can hear the birds sing, and see the pretty flowers, and walk out in the bright sunlight. 1 These things make me happy, and then am happy when l try to helr others worse off than myself. "
 The old man did not answer, and he kept looking down at the floor.
 "Please give me something for poor Mrs. Lee and little Bessie, and Paul reached out his hand. The old miser placed his hands in his pocket