The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-02

archaeologist might have found it
 century later and Bontsie's name would
 have again been sounded. He was but
 a shadow, and like a showow his coun- ] tenance left no impression on any hu-
 man mind. Even his memory no longer
 exists in anybody's heart.
 He left no child no worldly possess
 sions. He had lived in misery and died
 in seclusion.
 Had 1t not been for the noise of the | crowd some one might have heard the | cracking of Bontsie's bones under his
 heavy burden; had humanity more time, some one might have noticed that | Bontsle had frightfully dim eyes and | sleepy sunken cheeks for one alive. 1 Even when carrying no load, his head
 was bent low as If he were looking for 1 his grave. If men were as' few as | horses, some one might have asked: What has become of Bontsie?' When Bontsie had been taken to the 1 hospital, his corner in the cellar was not long unoccupled Ten people had been waiting for it, and it was auc- | toned off to the highest bidder, When | they carried his body from the hospital bed to the morgue twenty poor sick people were ready for the vacant bed. | When he was carried out of the dead | house, twenty others, who had been killed by falling wall, were brought in. | Who knows how long he will remain in | his grave? Who knows how many are now waiting for that piece of ground? Quietly he entered this world; even | so he lived and died, and his burial passed unnoticed.
 ' But it was not so in the other world
 There Bontsie's death produced great | commotion. The sound of the rams
 horn rang loudly in all the seven heav- ] ems The silent Bontsie was dead! The most dignified angles were flying | about, announcing the news. Bontsle | was summoned before the judgment ] seat In heaven there is great excite
 ment confusion and joy-the silent Bontsie Is coming,
 Young cherubs with sparkling eyes with beautiful golden, gauze-like wings
 and silver sandals rushed out to receive | Bontsie and to carry him within. The
 rustllng of their wings. the chatter of | their sandals and their ringing joyful | laughter filled the heavens. even to the
 seat of honor God himself reioiced at | the appearance of the silent Bontsie. | Father Abraham himself took charge, | of the Gate of Heaven and reached out his right hand to Bontsie in friendly welcome and a sweet smile spread over his venerable face. What excitement there is in heaven?
 Angels are rolling forward seat of pure gold for Bontsie, Others are bringing a golden garland set with pre-
 cious stones. What! How is this. be- fore the sentence of the supreme court has been passed!" the saints ask, not | without envy. oh was heard in re- ply. that will be a mere formality The prosecuting attorney will find no | words against Bontsie. The trial will l hardly last five minutes Bontse is no ordinary parsonage"
 The angels scarried Bontsie through the air playing sweet tunes for him
 Father Abraham shook his hand like that of an esteemed friend and when
 Bontsie heard that a golden chair was ready for Inf in Paradise, and a pre- cious garland was to bedeck his head and that no idle words would be spoken against him before the supreme court he collapsed for joy His heart failed him. He was certain that this was dream mistake: but he kept silent for he had been used 10 both. More than once he had dreamed find ing money in the other world and woke
 up as poor as when he fellas leep
 Many a time smiles and words of praise were rendered him by mistake and
 when the donors perceived their errors i |.
 That's just my luck" he thought.
 He dared not raise his eyes for fear the dreams would disappear and that he on awakening should find himself
 somewhere in a cave full of serpents
 and lizards. He was afraid to utter a
 sound to move limb, even to breathe lest he be recognized and hurled to
 perdition.
 He shudders and does not hear the
 angels compliments, does not see their
 dligent attendance upon him, does not reply to Father Abraham's hearty sal
 uta ation Peace he with you and be-
 ing led before the supreme court. he
 does not greet them Bontsie, terror stricken. has completely lost himself.
 His timidtv increased as he involunta- rily noticed the floor of the Court Hall under his feet Pure alabastor and di- amends! "On such floor do I stand with my feeti" He grows stiff with fright. "Who knows what rich man. what Rabbi what saint is meant! When he will be presented it will be the end of mel,
 Appalled,, he did not even hear the presidngJ officers call: "The case of the silent Bontsie!" and his command to the clerk Read, but be briefn'
 Bontsie feels as in whirl with the whole assembly: his ears being filled constantly with noise, but In the din he distinguishes the pleading voice of the advocate His name' he hears him saying. "has fitted him like per feet gown on q graceful body"
 'Whom is he talking about Bontsie unused. An impatient voice interrupted him and said:
 "Pray, without comparisons,'
 "He has never" continued the advo- cate, complained against any one; neither against God nor against mem not spark of hatred has ever famed up in his eye; he has never uplifted