The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-05-08
The Miser's Dream.
CHAPTER I.

-
might have read it in his face, with its
pinched outlines and eager expression,
in his slouching gait and whole appear
ance. They would have read it still
more closely in the room which he oc-
cupied, bare of everything but the
most absolute necessaries. A couple
of old wooden chairs, table standing
on three legs and rude bedstead con-
stituted nearly all the furniture he
possessed. His housekeeping was on
the most inexpensive scale. He boarded
himself, and the man worth thirty thou
sand dollars Jared worse than his poor
est tenants.
Peters wealth consisted almost en-
trely in tenement houses, of which he
owned large number, and which, in
proportion to their value, brought in
large income. 1t was questionable
how much good all this did to Peter,
since his personal expenses scarcely
exceeded one-twentieth of his income.
What remained he either invested in
additional houses or boarded up in an
old chest, which he kept, securely
locked, under his bed.
1t was the last day of December;
tomorrow would be quarter-day.
Peter sat in his miserable room SILVER
ing, in spite of his cloak, which he had
worn time out of mind. He had no
fire. AS it was six in the afternoon,
and he usually went to bed at eight, he
preferred to SILVER for two hours rather
than incur the expense of fire.
Peter was jubilant with the thoughts
of the money he would collect on the
morrow from his tenants. He drew
out his strong box from his accustomed
receptacle and counted for the hun
dredth time the glittering gold coins
with which it was filed.
1.-TWO thousand three hundl ed and
seventy-fve,' he exclaimed, with salts
faction, as he finished the count; " and
tomorrow will make it nigh upon
three thousand. All, what fine thing
it is to have money. 1t pays for all
my privations-and l suffer many.
Money is powerful thing. All, little
do they think that see the old man in
his threadbare clothes how much he
has to make him happy
Peter was really happy, after his
fashion, yet he was never quite con-
tent.
If it were only five thousand" he
continued, chow fine it would be. But
it will be in year or two. l must be
more economical"
1t would be hard to tell how Peter
could easily be more economical than
he was now; and he tortured his fancy
to devise some means of retrenchment
without thinking of any.
/" 1t costs me a sight to live," he
sighed, "a sight. If l could only live
as cheap as they say one can in China
for cent day-it would help me
greatly"
Peter locked up his chest carefully
and pushed it back under the bed. He
then sat down, folding his cloak closely
about him, waiting until he should hear
the city bells strike the hour of eight,
his usual bedtime.
But Peter was more tired and drowsv
than he imagined. He began to nod,
and-perhaps it was the influence of
the cold-he soon dropped asleep in
his chair, with his head resting on his
hands. Then a dream came to him
which was destined to change the
whole tenor of his life.
1t seemed to him that he was sitting
in his room as usual; the door was sud-
denly opened and dark figure of a
threatening appearance entered. Peter
was terrified, as he might we'll be, since
the door he knew was locked, and yet
the visitor entered as if there were no
obstruction.
"Who are your" faltered he, eyeing
the unknown. Have you come to rob
me?"
"Of what?"
"Of my-my money-that is, what
little I have -
"And if should, it would be of no
service to me-"
"Oh!" said Peter, treasured, then
l am ready to hear your business"
" have come for you," was the an
swer.
4" For me2" again repeated Peter, ter
rified.
YES"
"What for?"
" You may guess what for when |
tell you who | am"
"Who are your" asked Peter, more
and more uneasy.
I" 1 am the angel of DEATH" said the
intruder, solemnly
Peter nearly jumped from his chair
in alright.
1.-The angel of DEATH" he repeated,
horrOr-stricken.
"YOu have said it,"
"But," said Peter, nervously, "you
have made mistake, good angel. Per-
haps you think | am older than | am.
l want eight years of being the APP
pointed age of man. | am only sixty.
two."
81 know it," said the visitor, COM
posedly.
"Then why-why do you come fol-
me now?" stammered the miser, shiv.
erng with fear.
Would you like to read your sen.
tence of Condemnation" asked his
visitor.
eyes," answered the miser, scarcely
knowing what he said.
kaHH EOUaTu ooIUNH