DEAD AND THE MISER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 152, 5 January 1871, Page 7

DEAD AND THE MISER.

PBvAil^te, and yet the Miser sat, still counting o'eatts gains. -„ 1 Though the night wind whistled coldly tlnougli the broken window-panes" : The tempest loudly raved without— twas bitter cold within, . „ l For though the hut could boast a hearth, no nrq burnt therein. . , ,- / The only fire that ever warmed the miser s neay ■was gold, , . / And while he turned his treasures o cr his fifgers ne'er wore cold. [ He never thought of those poor wretchs, doomed to undergo < The coldness of so fierce a night, unsheltered the snow ; „,,,/ j. The hopeless beggar, wand ring by, knocke' at his door in vain — His heart was shut to every thought, savephat alone of gain. Within his hovel cold he sat, this drearjwinter's night, With all his worldly treasures there uft>lded to his Bight ; The lamp burnt in its socket, and it fljkered low and dim, — He heeded not— his glittering gold ga> light enough to him. The storm that wildly raged without dturbed not his content, '. Too eagerly his heart and eyes upoqais gold ■were bent. He heard no sound but one alone, ana>nly saw one sight, - '. And now he listened, ndw he gazed, fith rapturous delight ; The jingle of his golden coin was mub to lua ear, And then its glitter, to his eyes, wtt could more bright appear? He smiled triumphantly to see what valth he had amassed : " The golden object of my dreams is raised at last !"' ' . , He told it over fifty times, and turnt it o'er and o'er, And still resolved, ero he retired, topokon it o ;c.e r;o. c. \ J'litVu* that m \t; a tsiriinjer o.'tei' 'O. by , iihn -as*", »., - , ■ r . • W> 'f. ■.shau6f.. 1 . 3C3?--''"'.iu. wtl^i ';,, j 4. so le»nt ; * ' . it in the air alof^ ntl Briump'fiaut | Exclaimed, " The saTic^f life are run, and you must follow me \f In vain the old mr pleaded for a few more years to live,/ The jtranger wa/mplacable— 1 11 not a monienfc^ivs'fJ' The mi*r feltfcis cold, damp hand laid heavy or his hea/t, - . .-,,-' An itf chill An through his veins to feel his itrength depart. 1 He mew 'twas vain to strive* 'gainst Deaths inevitable power, \ f et still he prayed that he woull spare his life mother hour. \ " I'll give thee half —aye, all my gold, but only spare my breath !" I " Vain mortal ! think'st thou gold can buy an hour of life ?" said Death. '"Ti3 ever thus with those who throw their years of life away In worshipping this idol, GOLD, until their dying day ! But what can all this yellow dust, for which they whine and crave, Avail them when at last I come, and call them to the grave ? How many an orphan's wail is heard, how many a widow's tear ■> shed, to feel the bitter pang of poverty severe, such as thee, in corners dark, their countthousands sum '! '"■ :i_ _ find no use for it anon, where Ivvuti { thee— come 1" j away. The day belu?itH«:e *ru treasure? ; ai:. -m* his H fj, Miv 1 jje"d f_ awajflH^B^Hai, \ > v Xe* still he seemed to feast his eyt ° '^or his gold in death ! Castle-street, Dunedin, Nov., 18/0, /