The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-16
tence of condemnation ?" asked the

visitor.
YES" answered the miser, scarce
ly knowing what he said.
The angel struck the wall with his
wand. and instantly there CLEANED
upon it in fiery letters:
EVERY tree that briDgeth not forth
good fruit. is hewn down and cast
into the fire"
"What has that to do with me?"
asked Peter, his teeth chattering.
"Tell me of your good works, have
you any to show"
Peter was silent.
"When have you ever given the
value of fartning to relieve the
necessities of others? Can you name
single instance? ?"
Peter hung his head.
| "DO you remember the shivering
child that passed you on the side
walk this afternoon and held out its
hand for gift. What did you
who had in your pocket what would
have been fortune to her-what did
you give herT
The miser's face was tinged with
shame.
Tell me. then. what good you
have done in the world? What be.
comes of all the gold that pours into
your Golfers? Do you eyer encour-
age industry by spending it on your.
self? LCoK at this miserable room,
where you lead miserable life, con.
finlng yourself to the barest necessi-
ties. when you might enjoy all it's
comforts. Tell me, Peter Riggs,
have you anything to gain yourself
by LYING? A few years of privation
could bring YOU no happiness"
but am not fit to die" said the
miser, appalled,,
Are you fit to live ?" was the stern
rejoinder.
"Do you think anyone would be
the worse off for your death ?"
II will reform; only try me-" i'm.
plored the miser.
"What good would 1t do?"
"Just year!" eptreated Peter.
"Then if I am not different man,
come and take me-"
There was pause. AT length the
reply came:
1T will be as you wish. If, after
the end of year. 1 find no change in
you will come again"
Peter aWoke, to find himself in
the dark. and the cold perspiration
oozing from his brow.
The dream had made a great i'm.
preston upon him. Suddenly the
great delusion of his life was rent
away, and he saw his life in all Its
barrenness and folly. He pictured to
himself what he might easily haye
been, if he had not bowed all his life
long at the shrine of Mammon and
with this ideal picture, he compared
what he was, and he shuddered at
the wide contrast.
my life has been a terrible mis-.
take" he confessed TO himself, "but
thank Heaven. 1 have a little time
left. 1 will devote it to making rep
aration. Heaven helping me. will
so act that, when die. some one shall
miss me-"
AS the first fruits of his good reso.
lutiCn, ne built a brisk fire and re-
pIenished it bountifully from his
scanty stock of fuel. The old room
fairly danced in the cheerful blaze.
and the miser spread his chilled
hands before it with an air of salts
faction.
n 4 y
The morning dawned. At the usual
hour Peler set out on his collecting
tour.
Hitherto he had been a most mex
orable landlord. Woe betide the un.
lucky tenant who failed to have the
rent ready for him at the day and
hour he called he was likely to re.
ceive small mercy at Peters hands.
Such was the condition of Mrs.
Mercer, widow with one son. on
whom he first called. Her son had
been in the habit of selling newspa-
pers, and upon this, more than upon
the scanty amount which his mother
made by sewing, they half managed
to live.
But fortnight before Charlie Mer-
Ger had been taken sick-the sick
ness. no doubt, being induced by ex-
posure in stormy weather. In conse-
quence of this misfortune, she was
50 short of the amount required to
meet her quarters rent. knowing,
as she did, Peters reputation. she pre-.
pared to meet him, with trepidation.
He's hard man." she said. II
fear the worst"
"But God can change even his