The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-05-11
A GOLDEN BRAIN.


had brain of gold-yes, entirely of gold,
When he came into the world, the physi-
clans thought he would not live, his head
was so heavy and his skull SO large.
He lived nevertheless and flourished like
O beautiful olive tree only his head was
too heavy for him, and it was pitiful to
see him bump into the furniture when he
walked
He fell often. Ono day he tumbled from
high stoop and knocked his forehead
against marble step. The conclusion
produced strangely metallic sound.
They thought he was dead, but on lift
ing him they found but slight abrasion
and two or three drops of gold clothed in
his blond hair
1t was thus his parents learned that the
child had brain of gold.
1t was kept secret, the poor child sus-
pecting nothing himself From time to
time he asked why he was not allowed to
play in front of the house with the other
boys of the street.
Somebody would steal you, my beau
tiful treasure, " responded his mother.
After this he became afraid of being
stolen and played quietly alone, moving
heavily from one room to another.
When he was Is years old, his parents
told him of the monstrous gift he had re-
ceived from destiny and asked him for the
return of little gold for having reared
and nourished him.
The youth did not hesitate. That same
hour-how, by what means, the legend
docs not say--hc tore from his skull mass
i've piece Of gold the size Of nut and
flung it proudly into his mothers lap
Then, dazzled by the wealth he carried in
his head, u fool in his desires, he left the
paternal roof and went out into tho world
to waste his treasure.
1t seemed from his royal manner of liv-
ing and his scattering of uncounted gold
that his brain was inexhaustible. 1t was
decreasing nevertheless and one could SEQ
that his eyes We're growing dull and his
cheeks wero becoming hollow.
Ono morning after foolish debauch, as
he sat surrounded by tho debris of the fcs
tival and tho fading lights, he was shock
ed at the inroads he had made on his in
COTS 1t was time to stop!
From this time OH he led n new exist
ence. The man with the golden brain went
off by himself and lived by the toll of his
hands, suspicious and fearful as u miser
flying from temptations and attempting
to forget the fatal riches, which he did not
want to touch again.
Unfortunately friend who knew his
secret had followed him into his solitude.
One night the poor man woke suddenly
with pain in his head--an intolerable
pain. Raising himself quickly in bed, he
saw by ray of moonlight his friend in
flight attempting to hide something under
his mantle
Again he had lost little of his golden
store.
Some time after this the man with the
golden brain fell in love, and then all was
over with him. He loved with all his
heart q little blond woman who loved him
also, but sho loved still better top knots,
white feathers and tassels on her boots In
the hands of this pretty creature, half bird,
half doll the gold melted away. She was
full of caprices, and he did not know how
to say motor fear of paining her he hid
the sad secret of his fortune
"Wc are very rich them" she said
The poor man responded:
"Oh, yes-very rich.
And he smiled lovingly ut the little blue
bird who was eating his brain so limo
gently. At times he would have fears and
feel that he must be- miserly, and then his
little wife would come dancing up and say
to him.
my husband you arc So rich, buy me
something very dearI'
And he bought her something very dear.
Thus matters went on for two years,
and then one morning the little wife died
AS bird dics--no one knew why.
The treasure was nearly gone, but with
what remained the young widowcr gave
his beloved dead beautiful interrnent.
There were chimes, coaches draped in
black, horses with plumes, tears of silver
on the black velvet raperics--nothing
was too good. What was gold to him nowG
He gave it to the church, to the bearers,
the women selling iInmortelles, to every
pody wTJnouU question, ana when no came
out of the cemetery he had nothing left of
his marvellous brain except u few scatter
ed particles.
Presently he was seen IN the streets stag.
gering like drunken man, feeling his
way with his hands before him, his cx.
preston bewilderod. Tnut evening, when
the shops were lighted, he stopped before
o large window in which was u confusion
of stutfs brilliant under the flood of light.
He stood long time looking at two blue
satin boots bordercd with swans down.
II know some one to whom these boots
would give great pleasure, said he to him.
self And no longer remembering that his
little wife was dead he entered the shop to
buy them
From the back part of the store the pro-
prietress heard a. great cry She ran for
ward, but rccoiled in fear on seeing u man
standing near the counter looking ut her
In stupid anguish. In one hand he held
the blue boots with their fur border--in
tho other, covered with blood, he held out
to her few scrapings of gold.
This is the legend of the man with the
golden brain, and despite its fantastic air
1t is true from one end to tho other.
There arc poor people in the world who
are condemned TO live by their brain and
to pay in fine gold-thcir sap and their
substance--for the smallest things in life.
Each day for them is sorrow, and when
they are tired Of suffering
-TransiaScl From the French For Ro