Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-06-09
A GOLDEN BRAIN.

nau 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 fourished like
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. One day he tumbled from
a 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 clotted in
his blond hair.
1t was thus his parents learned that the
child had brain of gold
1t was kept a 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
does not say--he tore from bis 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, a fool in his desires, he left the
paternal roof and went out into the 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 see
that his eyes were growing dull and his
cheeks were becoming hollow.
One morning after foolish debauch, as
he sat surrounded by the debris of the fes-
tival and the fading lights, he was shock
ed at the inroads he had made on his in
gots. 1t was time to stop!
From this time on he led a 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 a 1niser,
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 tho 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 little blond woman who loved him
also, but she 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.
"We are very rich them" she said.
The poor man responded:
ooh, yes-very rich"
And he smiled lovingly at the little blue
bird who was eating his brain so inno-
Gently. At times he would have fears and
feel that he must be misery, and then his
little wife would come dancing up and say
to him.
my husband, you are SO rich, buy me
something very dear!"
And he bought her something very dear.
Thus matters went on for two years,
and then one morning the little wife died
as bird dies-no one knew why.
The treasure was nearly gone, but with
what remained the young widower gave
his beloved dead a beautiful interment
There were chimes, coaches draped III
black, horses with plumes, tears Of silver
on the black velvet draperies-nothine
was too good. What was gold to him now!
He gave it to the church. to the bearers
the women selling immortelles, to every
body without question: and when he came
out of the cemetery he had nothing left Of
his marvellous brain except 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 ex
preston bewildered. That evening, wher
the shops were lighted, he stopped before
a large window in which was confusion
| of stuffs brilliant under the flood of light
He stood long time looking at two blue
satin boots bordered 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 hi
little wife was dead he entered the shop tt
buy them.
From the back part Of the store the pro
prietress heard great cry. She ran for
ward, but recoiled in fear on seeing u mar
standing near the counter looking at hel
in stupid anguish. In one hand he helt
the blue boots with their fur border-il
the other, covered with blood, he held ou
to her few scrapings of gold.
This is the legend of the man with thu
golden brain, and despite Its fantastic all
it is true from one end to the other.
| There are poor people in the world wht
are condemned to live by their brain ant
to pay in fine gold-their sap and thei
substance-for the smallest things in life
Each day for them is sorrow, and wher
they are tired Of suffering
| Translated From the French For Ro
| nance.
F! Fish That Sing.
A species of fish known as the "singinl
shad' are often seen and heard along TIN
| Atlantic coast, especially in early spring