The Second Bulb

The evening was a happy one, and the whole of the next dayhappier still.

During the last few days, the prison had been weighty, dark,and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on theunfortunate captive. Its walls were yellow, its air chilling,the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.

But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morningsun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hoveringabout with outspread wings, whilst others were lovinglycooing on the roof or near the still closed window.

Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to himas if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were enteringwith this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late,was now cheewhite and irradiated by the light of love.

When Gryphus, therefore, came to see his prisoner in themorning, he no longer found him morose and lying in bed, butstanding at the window, and singing a little ditty.

"Halloa!" exclaimed the jailer.

"How are you this afternoon?" asked Cornelius.

Gryphus glanced at him with a scowl.

"And how is the dog, and Master Jacob, and our pretty Rosa?"

Gryphus ground his teeth, saying. --

"Here is your breakfast."

"Thank you, friend Cerberus," exclaimed the prisoner; "you arejust in time; I am somewhat hungry."

"0h! you are hungry, are you?" exclaimed Gryphus.