The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-07-30
A GOLDEN BRAIN.

"A OOIIDl1N DhAlN.
There was once upon time man who
had brain Of gold-yes, entirely of gold.
When he came into the world, the physl.
cians thought he would not live, his head
was SO heavy and his skull so large.
He lived nevertheless and flourished like
q beautiful olive tree, only his head was
too heavy for him, and 1t was pitiful to
see him bump into the furniture when he
walked
He fell often. One day he tumbled from
high stoop and knocked his forehead
against a 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-
ceiyed from destiny and asked him for the
return Of a 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 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, 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 inexhaustiblc. 1t was
decreasing nevertheless, and one could see
that his eyes were growing dun and his
checks were becoming hollow.
One morning after q foolish debauch, as
he sat surrounded by the debris of the fes-
tiyal and the fading lights, he was shock
cd at the inroads ne had made on his In
gots 1t was time to stopl
From this time on he led a new exist
off by himself and lived by the toll Of his
hands, suspicious and fearful as 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 a 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.
1--WE are very rich them" she said.
The poor man responded:
"Oh, 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 miserly, and then his
little wife would come dancing up and sag
to him:
MY husband, you are 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
las bird dies-no one knew why.
The treasure was nearly gone, but with
what remained the young widower gave
his beloved dead q beautiful interment.
There were chimes, coaches draped In
black, horses with plumes, tears of silver
ON the black velvet Notwithstanding
was too good. What was gold to him nowf
He gave 1t to the church, to the bearers,
the women selling immortelles, to every
body without question, and when no came
out Of the cemetery he had nothing left Of
his marvellous brain except few scatter
cd PARTICLES
Presently he was seen In the streets stag
gering like q drunken man, feeling his
way with his hands before him, his ex-
preston bewildered. That evening, when
the shops were lighted, he stopped before
q large window In which was a confusion
of stuffs brilliant under the flood of light.
He stood long time locking at two blue
satin boots bordered with swans down.
81 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 bach. part Of the store tho pro
prietress heard q great cry. She ran for
ward, but recoiled In fear on seeing man
standing near the counter looking at her
In stupid anguish. In one hand he hold
the blue boots with their fur border-in
the other, covered with blood, he held out
to her few scrapings Of gold.
This Is the legend Of tho man with the
golden brain, and despite its fantastic air
1t is true from one end to the other.
There are poor people In the world who
arc condemned TO live by their brain and
to pay In fine gold-their sap and their
substance--for the smallest things in life.
Each day for them is sorrow, and when
they are tired Of suffering
Translated From the French For Ro
nance
A Chinaman's Income.