Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-12-19
a Strange Dream.

1t was dreadful winter. The snow
lay thick and heavy in the streets
and the lanes and alleys were fillet
with heavy drifts.
There was bound to be much suffer
.. ing among the poor. Christmas wa.
approaching, and hundreds of child
, rem had no prospect whatever of {
visit from Santa Claus, unless some
thing happened. The ladies of the mic
| societies of the churches determined
to come to the relief of the poor
children of the city. They trudget
day after day, thru the snow collect
ing money, buying gifts for the child.
rem, making arrangements for the
big tree which was to be planted anc
trimmed for Christmas morning. Or.
ders had been given for coal to be
delivered to homes where women and
children were shivering in the dread.
full cold of the December SHOWS and
winds. The responses were liberal an ]
willingly made. The times had beer
prosperous and merchants and busi-
ness men had made money. Mister
tune and extreme weather had, never
thelcss, hindered the day laborers, and
without help there must of necessity
be suffering,
Two consecrated women, late in
the afternoon, called upon one of the
wealthlest men of the town, and laid
the case before him, as he sat i'm his
richly furnished office. They told him
their story-how that many people
were suffering, and must continue to
suffer unless the severe weather broke
up soon, and besides, Mt this joyous
season hundreds of little ones would
M h.,
citizens of the town furnished them.
They reminded him of the Babe of
Bethlehem and the story of the Angels
of Good Will to Men," and that the
wiscst men of "the East" honored
themselves by bringing costly gifts
to the Baby and his mother who were
too poor to provide them themselves.
They told the pathetic story of the
sick and suffering people at home,
eloquently and tearfully, did these
consccrated women. They waited a
moment, and laid their subscription
list before him. He looked it over
carelessly, folded it and handed it
back to them with a positive refusal
to contribute any thing whatsoever,
and gave his reason. He said: az am
tired of this constant begging. The
calls are so frequent that would
soon have nothing for myself if
responded to all of them, or even half
OF them. | must look out for number
one. These people have no business
being poor. They are thriftless and
extravagant. If they would work and
save their money as / do and other
business men, they would have some
thing. No, | wont give cent. do not
mean to encourage this class of shift
less, thriftless people. Let them 20 to
work. will not give away my hard
earned money. I've been years toiling
and trying to save something for old
age and my own children, and | don't
propose to squander it on n lot of
poor people and their dirty brats."
and this rich millionaire bowed the
ladies' out, and settled himself in his
easy chair, lighted costly cigar, and
turned to his desk to close up the
work of the day. Closing his desk
and drawing on his heavy fur lined
overcoat, he pressed a button, and his
chauffeur appeared. Soon he was roll
ling home to his costly mansion. The
slAw blew blizzard, but binding
a}@ cold though it was it did not reach
hNh in his comfortable closed car.
w servant brought tea and crack
ers, comfortable slippers etc., and the
rich man settled back in his easy
chair The children played and laugh
ed IN the nursery. The wife and ser
wants were busy preparing the even
ing meal. The blizzard ragged outside.
He dropped to sleep and had a Won
derful dream.
He rang the bell for the butler
There was no reply. He rang for the
mouse maid. No reply. He went to his
Wlfe's chamber. She was not there.
line Inc children were not in the nursery.
The lights in the dining room shown
upon table with no food. The fires
were out in the range. Bewildered he
called aloud, the only answer the echo
OF his own voice. The halls and room
of his costly mansion were silent. He
rushed to the door. His car stood there
dead" He called his chauffeurs name
no reply. In his amazemcnt he rush
cd up town. Every store was brilliant
ly lighted but silent. No clerks, guar
dians or policemen were to be seen.
The vaults of the big banks as well
as the cash drawers of the small
establishments, were wide open, dis
playing millions at his disposal. The
toy stores, loaded with Christmas
goods, were silent. There were no
purchasers. Rushing ito
a telephone booth he called central.
No response. The entire city seemed
deserted. He was the only occupant.
All its wealth and magnificenoe was
his.
Thinking something must be all
wrong, he rushed down to the Central
railroad station, thinking to leave this
deserted city. Only one engine seemed
to have n head of steam. Knowing
something of machinery he mounted
the cab, opened the throttle, and pull
ed out for the next city, twenty five
miles away. The road was clear. The
side tracks were filled with silent
engines. The stations were silent.
Reaching the city he rushed from
the engine thru the large station.
Everything quiet. Money drawers and
ticket Offices all open. On the streets
there was the same silences, open
money vaults, open but empty resid-
ences-not living soul. He rushed
into a large long distance booth, rang
up one city after another, with like
result. Only an impenetrable. myster-