Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-03-01
A DREAM.
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an going TO tell you story from
real life, as it is the habit of writer's
nowadays to say, whose hero is now
living and working prosperously in
an industrial establishment on this
coast. Listen to me, dear readers.
When Ernest returned to his
wretehed home after tiresome jour
neys back and forth in the streets and
public squares of Madrid in search of
work, his disconsolate wife Muuricia
had no necessity to ask him many
questions.
All she said to him was Nothing?"
and with eyes heavy with tears she
turned slightly away from him, and
looked at two handsome little chill
dren OF tender years who were calmly
sleeping on little wooden bedstead.
Nothing" he replied with sigh,
dropping into a chair and supporting
his head with both hands.
A deep silence then reigned in the
room. at length Ernest said to his
wife:
am hungry"
Mauricia looked at him with pity,
and embracing him lovingly, an
swered:
my poor Ernest. how unfortun.
ate we arel In that cupboard there 1
keep the food of our little ones, who
are sleeping so TRANQUILITY. Will you
take the half?"
'And youP" he asked.
" she replied evasively. May
God protect and guard mel 1 am not
hungry-not now"
No. will not take It." was Err
nests emphatic response, perceiving
what sacrifice his wife was ready to
make for the love OF him and their
children. am going to bed; sleep
perhaps will give me rest and
strength. "
He paused, and then remarked to
his wife how hard it was to want for
the most necessary thing of life, while
more fortunate people were piling up
money in great heaps. Fearing that
he had some particular person in
mind, Mauricia so asked him.
&c 1t is our rich neighbor that I had
In mind" quickly replied the unfor-
tunate man. "To-day she went to
collect her rent for the past quarter,
$500 pesetas. When shall we have
only the half of such sum as that?"
Mauricia was alarmed at this turn
of his thoughts and began to weep
bitterly by the side of her little chill
dren's bed, while Ernest was retiring
in an adjoining room.
How long the unfortunate father
and husband slept, he himself could
not tell Suddenly he awoke in a
deadly chill. He looked out of the
room and saw his wife seated at the
head of the children's bedstead weep
Ing.
"She cries, he murmured. "She
is thinking of our childrenl"
He went to the window, and in the
dull light of a wintry morning saw
the roofs Of the houses all covered
with snow.
How cold 1t is, he went on MUIR
muring, "and how much misery there
Is in this houser
| He took his ragged overcoat and
tenderly spread it over his wife. Then
he looked at his children and taking
of the double breasted sack which he
had just put on, he wrapped 1t over
the feet OF his little ones to keep them
warm. In spite Of the intense cold he
stood there without sufficient cover
| ing In deep meditation, immovable,
and, as 1t were, in trance.
" It is not fortune that want"
thus his thoughts ram only work,
that L may earn money to buy bread
and clothing for my wife and children.
Yet, there are many who do not work
| that have riches, that are able to
treasure up gold. Our nefghbor, for
instance, she is rich, alone-an old
maid with an annual rental of SIC, 600.
If only had as much money as that
/ r,I IoH S4rnAkht1c.
| me could by robbing. But do not
want it for myself, but for my wife
and children, who have not food to
eat"
Then he stretched himself on the
couch and terrible sense OF horror
/ crept over him. He looked out of the
window and thought that the snow
on the roofs of the houses was stained
with blood-red spots. Sleepishly he
reached out his hand and on table
near his bed found q large kitchen
knife that his wife left there In a mo-
ment OF forgetfulness. He hesitated
an instant and then hid it in the right
hand sleeve of his shirt.
II she cry, let her cry-worse for
her." he said between his teeth, his
mind now made up to assault and rob
the rich old maid.
The old lady was sleeping soundly,
and her kindly face was lit up by the
Pickering light of little lamp that
hung from the ceiling Of her bedroom.
Suddenly the lock OF her cabinet was
turned, the opening of the treasure
box within it was heard, and the next
minute there dropped on the floor,
with metallic sound, package con-
tanning gold coin. The old lady
raised herself up In her bed and her
countenance contracted with fear.
She cried aloud for aid.
"ThievesI Murderl HelpI'
She could cry no more. The thief,
the assassin, had pounced upon her,
poniard in hand, and forever stopped
her voice. Then he kneIt on the floor
and picked up the money, bank notes
and jewelry that had rolled out Of the
old Iady's treasure box and rushed
out of the room. 1t was in vain, how
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