Page:The Decameron of the West (1839).djvu/176

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166
THE SPECTRE BARBER.

to meet him on the Weser Bridge, and what sort of communication he would make to him regarding the improvement of his fortunes; also whether the road to wealth would be easy or toilsome. He longed for the first of June, which at length arrived. He slept none the preceding night; and when the day dawned he rose, dressed himself, and long ere the appointed hour he stood on the Weser Bridge. The first person whom he observed near him, about eight o’clock, was an old soldier, who, for the loss of a leg in the service of his country, was now rewarded with a very small pension, and the privilege of begging conferred on him. He asked an alms of Francis, who immediately gave him a large piece of silver money. Poor Wooden Block looked and spoke a thousand thanks, for he was unused to receive so great a sum at once. Our hero now looked anxiously for the arrival of his unknown friend, and he searched the face of every passenger, who no doubt wondered at his inquisitive staring in their faces. But, alas! noon arrived, and no one hailed him as the person he was in quest of. Sunset beheld him still quite unnoticed by any body, save the old pensioner, to whom he had been so kind in the morning. This poor creature appeared sorry to observe grief and disappointment most sensibly depicted