The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-17
N'0-e'NH H's-s'N V~s"s-V V's-s'VW
A PROPHECY
How It Affected a Young Girl
Who Was About to Be
Married.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

cents, ana Incll ullle green pfil idhCC'
came down from a perch and picked out
an envelope as he stood on the prophets
finger OF course we bought a prophecy
each. Were we not engaged? Did we
not delight in the mysterious, as all lovers
do, and after that hurry home to take
high tea with Annie's mother? We had
no time to open our envelopes before we
reached the table, and as it seemed proba-
BILE that they would amuse the party we
produced them there.
"Ahr' said l, reading the words printed
on a slip of paper within my envelope.
"Ah, l shall be rich and powerful if l
live Beware of speculation!
We all laughed, and Annie was called
upon to read her fortune aloud She
opened the paper laughingly, but no soon
err had she cast her eyes upon it than she
turned pale.
"Oh, dear!" she cried "Oh, how dread
full, just when l am so awfully happy!
Oh, John! Oh, pa! Oh, mammal" And
she burst into a flood of tears and began
to sob bitterly l caught the paper from
her hand and read those words:
"Lovely lady, you will die before the
violets bloom"
"And they bloom in May" sobbed An
ME.
Surely, my dear, you don't believe this
nonsense?" l calculated.
But Annie cried between her sobs:
ooh, yes, do, You will, be rich and
powerful, and you will marry some charm
ing woman. but shall be dead before the
violets blow"'
GLOW absurd A printed slip given
you by an old humbug in a fair booth, !"
said her father.
In fact. we all said something, but An
ME wept until she grew hysterical, was
led away and put to bed and was ill for a
week. The doctor was very serious over
the attack. and when she came down
stairs again she was pale and nervous
and persisted in taking the prophecy as
though it were a revelation from on high,
continually repeating:
81 shall die before the violets bloom!'
1t was quite Christmas time before she
began to be like herself again, and, al
though l loved her better than ever and
she was always the sweetest little crea-
ture alive, l could not but wonder how
such an absurd thing could have such an
effect on any one endowed with a grain
of common sense. l felt sure that, al
though Annie was merry and bright again,
she had not forgotten the prophecy, and
once when | spoke of the fact that we
were to be married in June she sighed
and said:
"Ah, John, spring comes before sum-
mer. and the violets bloom in May"
The worst of it was that the doctor
made such serious matter of her condi-
ton and told us that he could not answer
for the results unless we could rid her OF
what he spoke of as monomania.
Still the winter was not bad, but when
April came we found her constantly wan
dering about the garden and watching the
violet plants. of which there were many.
As l coaxed her away from them
used to wish that / could meet that old
wretch of a prophet and punish him as he
deserved, but he never crossed my path.
He had vanished with the closing Of the
fair. 1t was we'll for him that this was
so.
With MAY our trouble grew greater
We who loved Annie were in despair.
The mother arose at daybreak to nip off
the violet buds But there were other
gardens in the place, and Annie might
find them there, for now it was really
the time for blooms. We knew not what
TO do. | remember that it was the 10th
of May when | bethought me that trip
to the city might divert Annie and went
to the house to invite her. My dear girl
met me at the gate, holding a violet leaf
in her hand.
GLOW green they are just before they
bloom" she said.
l took the leaf from her and threw 1t
away.
"Forget all about those violets, love-"
said l. 'Let us take an outing. Come
to New York and spend the day."
She smiled ard said that she would like
that very much and ran away to dress,
while talked with her mother, who was
very sad and anxious.
Il fear for her mind and her life," she
said.
l also had my terrors, but my darling
came back looking so bright and pretty
that | began to feel hopeful again, and
we started on our way quite merrily.
We all know how people who visit New
York but seldom amuse themselves. We
saw all that was to be seen and had
| lunch ut fine restaurant. We had I'M
ished and were about to seek other amuse-
mcnts when in turning the corner of a
busy avenue we came upon little mu-
scum where curiosities were exhibited,
and there was every afternoon perform
ance of some kind and at the foot of a
long line of attractions read these words
'"The prophets cave. Don't fail to have
your fortune told by the only surviving
prophet?'
"The prophet again!" cried L. "Nov
for it,
Annie clutched my arm and tried to pull
ma ou-ov but I rpfuSp1 TO depart,
"My dear" said l, "a dime museum il
n very vulgar show, but | intend to inter
view that prophet and tell him my opin
ion of him and shall be obliged to TAX
you in with me-"
AS | spoke l stalked through the doc
and, having bought my ticket, made m,
way directly to the curtained archwa!
over which | saw the words:
'The prophets cave. Mr.. Mesrom l
the only prophet yet alive"
"Ah," | said as l read this, land it |
very probable that in little while tn
world will be entirely destitute of proph
cts. intend to finish off this one.
As expected, Mr.. Mesrom was our oil
original prophet-white wig, beard, robe
baskets parrakeets and all as before
Two young people were just departin
with their envelopes in their hands, an
we had the place to ourselves. | wake
up to the counter, and, fixing stern gaz
upon the prophet, said, in low voice:
"Nlr. Mcsrom, have an account to sci
tie with you"
The prophet retreated as far as tn
wall of his "cave" permitted.
'Iook a-here, SIR" said he, Il don
wish no trouble with no gent, but If 20
are looking for any you will be bounced
My remarks are not personal, but an
gent making trouble in this museum WI
be bounced by the management"
"All right" said 1. 81 suppose being
prophet, you don't mind answering fe'
questions?"
''Not if they're civil said he.
"What l want to ask you, Mr.. Mesron
Is this" said l. "What the deuce do yo
mean by putting up in your envelope
prophecies calculated to alarm neryor
females prophecies of death and dlsa
| ter2 Such a one, bought of YOU, he