San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-23
was well for MIN rnar this was SO.

in the place, ana Annie might ma them
there, for now it was really the time for
blooms. We knew not what 20 do. re-
member that it was the 10th of May, when
bethought ME thGt trip to the city might
divert Annie, and Wsu. 20 the house to in
vite her. Ny dear gin met me at the gate,
holding a violet leaf in her hand.
"How green they are just before they
bloomr' she said.
took the leaf from her and threw 1t
away.
Forget al about those violets, love-"
said l. Let US take an outing. Come to
New York and spend the day"
She smiled and said that she should like
that very much, and ran away to dress,
while l talked with her mother, who was
very sad and anxious.
II fear for her mind and her life," she
said
/ also had my terrors. but my darling
came back looking so bright and pretty
that began to feel hopeful again, and we
started on our way quite merrily.
We all know how people who visit New
York but seldom amuse themselves. We
saw all that was to be seen and mad lunch
at fine restaurant. We had finished and
were about to seek other amusements when
in turning the corner of a busy avenue we
came upon a little museum where curiosi-
ties were exhibited, and there was every
afternoon performance of some kind, and
at the foot of the long line of attractions
read these words: The prophets cave.
Don't fail to have your fortune told by the
only surviving prophet"
"The prophet again. cried I. Now for
it."
Annie clutched my arm and tried to pull
me away, but refused to depart.
'My dear" said l, "a dime museum is a
very vulgar show, but 1 intend to inter
view that prophet and tell him my opinion
of him, and shall be obliged to take you in
with me-"
As spoke stalked through the door,
and, having bought my ticket, made my
way directly to the curtained archway over
which saw the words:
'The prophets cave. Mr.. Mesrom is the
only prophet yet alive"
"Ahr' said as l read this, land it is very
probable that in little while the world
will be entirely destitute of prophets. i
intend to finish off this one"
As expected, Mr.. Mesrom was our old
original prophet-white wig, beard, robe,
young people were just departing with
their envelopes in their hands, and we had
the place to ourselves. l walked up to the
counter, and, fixing a stern gaze upon the
prophet, said, in low voice:
"Mr. Mesrom, have an account to settle
with you"
The prophet retreated as far as the wall
of his cave permitted.
IL. -. -, - ,n,I h. 10, Il
no trouble with no gent, but if you are
looking for any you will be bounced. My
remarks are not personal, but any gent
| making trouble in this museum will be
| bounced by the management"
"All right" said l. II suppose, being a
prophet, you don't mind answering few
questions?"
Not if they're civil, )" said he.
"What / want to ask you, Mr.. Mesrom,
| is this" said l. "What the deuce do you
| mean by putting up in your envelopes
| prophecies calculated to alarm nervous fe-
males-prophecics Of death and disasterH
Such one, bought Of you, has done more
| mischief than / can tell. 1t is absurd that
| it should be so, but it is fact. You have
upset lady's health and unbalanced her
| mind"
I'm, JOINT WulSptrtu Auule TbprOdCu-
fully; but | went on, shaking my fist at the
prophet:
"a woman who believes that your non
sense is prophecy got hold of one of those
yellow envelopes that foretold her speedy
death, and, as | said, the consequences
were deplorable and are still. She will not
listen to reason. She may die Of over
wrought imagination, and if she dies you
die alsol Pve a mind to kill you now"
The prophet retreated again as shook
my fist at him, but he stared at me in
amazement as he did so.
Look here SIR" said he, I'VE don't put
no prophecies of that there character into
none of our envelups. Them sort wouldn't
be popular Our'n is all favorable and en-
couraging. We make a rule they shall be.
Besides,
Him that prigs what isn't his'n.
When he's cotched shall be sent to prison,
which is in the gents basket, and is re-
garded as joke. There amt no evil
prophecies in the collection. Oh, no, it's
some other prophet. There is two or three
of them along the BOwery. None genuine
but me-"
"My friend" said I, you are the person
who had booth at the state fair at Hobbs
witch last autumn"
eyes, l was there" said the prophet;
''but, as l said, our'n, especially for the la
dies, is all encouraging"
"Do you call this encouraging" asked,
taking the envelope from my poclletbook,
where had kept it since that fatal day.
"Read it!'
Mr.. Mesrom took the slip of paper from
me, gazed at it, and read it aloud:
"'Lovely lady, you will die before the
violets blow he repeated.
Now, eff that amt blamed shame, I'm
a donkey! See here-that amt no fault of
d. Al.