Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-31


Theu be ~ dowa ami enjoyed hinsef .a
tue epicurean style When be Vas thor
ourhiv satisfied be got up and examined III
M Of the hossse. He found gcld evuy-
whore; ia every room and cupboard nothing
but gold Even tine bed was guadsn- and -
found ii pretty hard to lie on
Robert, for q day Or two. thougAs be vas
in paradise. He bad plenty to eaf-and good
things 70 eat-and he bad loads Oh mooey-
What elss did he wSnti
After a week, however, be became already
tired Of his life. He had nobody TO talk to.
He had nothinS to spend the time with. and
eating he could not always be at To occupy
himself be began one day to walk around the
island and see how many steps il would take.
But that soon became monosonous, too. Then
he remained in his house. He now counted
how many gold coins there were In each cor
ner beam Of the house. But that did not take
him long, and again be bad nothing TO do.
He racked his brains to think Of something to
occupy himself with At night, while lying
ON the hard bed. he could not sleep because
hs. had eaten tho much In the morning he
got up wretched and miserable After q
month be WAS almost crazy. and be resolved
10 lump into tn. water which surrounded the
island. So he did But a. soon a he made
lump into the water the waves receded, and
Robert lii with his back on the hard bottom
OF the sea. He hurt himself awfully, and as
he could not drown himself he went Jumping
back TO his golden house.
.Oh, that | were back home again" he
cried one day. Il would work with my
father on the farm as hard as any laboring
man
No sooner had he said so than the boatman
Of the lake stood before him.
Well, how do you like life of ease with
lots Of money! | suppose you are happy
nowf
NO; not at all" replied Robert. Il visit
had something to do to spend my time l
do not care fig for all the gold in the
world.
"AI right my fine man; cone along with
me and | will give you a job"
He took the young man back Ia the river,
where boat awaited them. They rowed
back TO the country where the boatman lived.
Arrived there he said To Robert:
Now, | will see whether you are really
fond of work. Ii you are Will reward you
welt Come along. We have had a battle
here, and there are 1000 bodies lying near
here on battlefield II you will promise me
10 bury tnefH ali, Will iIihke you uol oHiy
rich but also happy man.
Robert promised, and he went at once to
work on the battlefield to dig graves for the
fallen warriors. 1t took him long time to
do it, and it was hard work, but still he was
more satisfied with himself now than he was
when he lived on the golden island.
When his task was accomplished, the old
boatman shook Robert joyfully by the bnni
'All right, my boy, now come with me and
receive your reward He led him to the
boat in which they first rowed together on
the lake, and in n few seconds they were back
again on the smooth waters. Robert did not
know how it happened, and he did not care.
When the boat got ashore the boatman gave
Robert three trees.
When you get home plant them in your
fathers garden They will all bloom and
bear fruit One will give you happiness, the
other long life, and the third competency.
That is all man wants in this life
Then the boatman disappeared, and Robert
went home, where he planted the three trees,
and found everything he had been prom
ised. -Globe-Democrat