True Riches; Or, Wealth Without Wings

st as the light began to come in dimly through the windows on the next morning; and, a

g-baby asleep, I sewing, and you, as usual, reading aloud. How happy we were! happier, it seemed, than we had ever been before. A sudden loud knock startled us both. Then two men entered,

too, had been dreaming, and in his dream he had done what his heart prompt

never wronged another, even in thought-you were accused of robbery in the presence of hundreds, and positive witnesses were brought forward to prove the terrible charge. All they alleged was believed by those who

some time. The relation of a dream so singular, under the circumstances, had startled him, and he almost feared to trust

rit in your ear. Happily, his power to harm extends no further. The fancy may be possessed in sleep, but the reason lies inactive, and the hands

alone that is refreshed and strengthened. The spirit, plied with temptation after temptation through the day, and almost ready to yield when the night cometh, finds rest also, and

ful and revolting secret, in his heart, and he feared lest something should betray its existence to his wife. What would he not have given at t

ng, and the dream which had haunted her through the night, left impressions that could not be shaken o

ay, she lingered by his side and clung to him, as if sh

e could ever move on, hand in hand and side by side,

" replied Claire, tenderly. "You are

side; our mutual thought gives presence. Yet it wa

s upon those of the babe she held in her arms. He then passed forth, and took his way to the stor

a woman almost as pale as himself. A little girl, not above five years of age, sat on the foot of the bed, with her eyes fixed on the countenance of her father, for such was the relation borne to her by the sick man. A lovely creature she was-beautiful even beyond the common beauty of childhood. For a time a solemn stillness

sick man's lips. He only drew his arm about the

n ran clear: there was

ny," said he, in a feeble yet stea

in, white hand was laid against the speaker's bo

d, who sat gazing upon her parents, with an

g man comprehend the

e her up friends," said he quickly; yet,

how much of bitterness was in the parting hours of the dying one, and she felt that duty required her to sustain him, so far as she had the strength to do so. And so

for the mastery over her weakness. As she spoke, she leaned over the sick man,

this, again and again?" was returned, a fee

! a thousand times!" sa

his goodness, and w

ted the words, "His children;" his voice falling lower and lower each time, until

ast obscuring all objects in the sick-chamber,

her reclining position on the bed. "And dear Fanny sleeps also," wa

e last record was made

i

ind was clear, and he then spoke calmly of what

ll see that every thing is done for the best. There is not much property, yet enough to insure a small in

a weary child falling into slumber, slept that s

, however, lost no time in ascertaining the amount of property left by Elder, which consisted of two small houses in the city, and a barren tract of about sixty acres of land, somewhere in Pennsylvania, which had been taken for a debt of five hundred dollars. In vi

annoyed at the prospect of more trouble than profit in the matter of

e, stated that Mrs. Elder was so ill

," said he. "Be sure you give her my na

servant wore a

ke a seat, for a moment, until I go up and tell her that you are here? Maybe she

to see him. Jasper arose and followed her up-stairs. There were some strange misgivings in his heart-some vague, troubled antici

ss lips, the ashen countenance, all testified that the hour of her departure drew nigh. How strong, we had almost said, how beautiful, was the co

ed her hand, as Mr. Jasper ca

e come; I was abou

n that the presence of Jasper, whose relation to her and her child

id Jasper, with as much of sympathy in his voice as h

s replied. "There is no further any

d all furth

ealed. As the dying woman said, so he felt that it was. The time of her departure had come. An instinct of self-protec

adam, at this time. Let me go for them. Hav

s self-possession of the dying mother, and she raised herself part

and orphan. I am called, alas, too soon! to follow him; and now, in the sight of God, and in the presence of his spirit-for I feel that he is near us now-I commit to you the care of this dear child. Oh, sir! be to her as a father. Love her tenderly,

ement, placed her in his arms. Then, with one long, eager, clinging kiss pressed upon the lips of that child, she