Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-15
Select MtsrrIlunp.
from UhHmbers' Edinburgh Journal.
THE HONOR OF HONESTY.

THE HONOR OF HONESTY.
when shall get new bonnet ?" doubtfully
sollloquized young serving giIl, who, in dis
NAL back garret, where great baby was Sleep
ing, was despondingly considering her head
gear, as she prepared to go out one Saturday
evening. She might be excused for rejecting
on the subject; for the coarse straw bonnet
which never had been handsome-was now sun.
burnt and dirty, and with its soiled and faded
ribbon, looked hardly neat, though it had been
carefully kept. 81 declare Pm almost ashamed
to go to church in it, it's SO dirty" she contin-
ued, as she turned it around in her hand 'tho'
may be it's of piece with my gown and shawl:
but come, they are not dirty neither. wonder
whether nsother can SPARE me my wages this
week? Perhaps she can; know she was sure
of work last Saturday well, we'll see." So say
ing, she tied OH the shabby bonnet, and careful
ly folding up two shillings, which she took from
the window-ledge, she put them into her pocket;
and giving last glance at her little bed,
to see that her little baby bed-fellow was safely
tucked in, she hurried out of the room, and out
of the house, away on her weekly visit to her
family.
Bessie Abbot was pretty, pleasant-looking
girl of nearly eighteen, strong, active and indus
trious. She was the daughter of worthless
man, and an excellent woman. The teaching
of the latter had borne good fruit in Bessie, who
only drudge in the family of little shop
keeper, was neat and excellent servant, as far
as her knowledge went while her integrity and
good temper would have rendered her valuab le
in any situation she was in the receipt of what
she considered the handsome sum of two shil-
lings per week, for which, with board and lodg-
ing, she did everything in her employers house
for its mistress was constantly engaged in the
shop, and left the whole care of her five chill
dren, as well as all the household work, to 'Pret-
ty Bessie, and never was burthen laid upon a
more willing worker. Besse's father did little
for the support of his household he spent hall
Of his time, and more than half of his earnings
in the beer-shop; and the little money left for
his wife did hardly more than support his board
sometimes, indeed, he even demanded food
when he had given no means for procuring it
The burthen of the family of course fell wholly
upon his poor wife, who was quick and dexter
Gus needlewoman, and who was glad to obtain
any species Of work by which she might earn O
little; for her supply from the tailors, who were
her usual employers, was not very regular, and
sometimes failed altogether for time.
Bessie was the oldest of large family the
two next in age to herself, boy and girl, ol
fifteen and thirteen, were both we'll placed,
though neither could contribute to The family
income; but there were seven still younger, en-
tirely dependant upon their poor mothers eSer
tons. Such being the circumstances of the
household, we need not wonder that girl so af
fectionate as Bessie should have felt very doubt
ful of the possibility Of buying new bonnet
for unlike too many in her situation, she neve
felt that her money was her own if itwere need
ed for her mothers use, and was only happy i
the thought that she was enabled to contribut
to that mothers comfort and in this respect he
natural feelings were aided by higher principle
implanted by Him who severely censured tn
unflial conduct Of the protesting Jews.
AS Bessie hurried along the streets to h,
mothers house, which was on the other side
the town, she cast many wistful glance towar'
the displays of bonnets and ribbons in the she
windows, and paused once or twice to besto
particular admiration nay, she went SO far
to decide what shape she would buy, and ho
it should be trimmed, if she could but get Il
money for it, and she had strong hope of beir
able to accomplish this, because she knew tn
her mother had been promised more work tn
she could do for several weeks to come.
last Bessie reached her home, which was o.
ill-lighted room, with dark closet adjoining,
tumble-down old house, situated in one of t
courts of densely populated neighborhood, a
tenanted by five or six families besides the A
bots. 1t was home, however, and Bessie f
that it was SO, as, after running up the totteri
stairs, she opened the door Of her mothers roo
which, il not very comfortable, was at least We
clean.
} "Oh, Bessie, Bessie here is Bessie !" cri
a posse of little ones as she entered. "Here
Bessie come, mother Come to mother, Bess
she's crying" and two of the young thir
seized their darling sister by her dress, and pr
: ed her forward, as though at her coming tn
: mothers tears must dry.
} "What is the matter, mother dear ?" cr
, Bessie, frightened, as she approached ne
t care-worn woman, who, with her hands convu
=, lively pressed together, and silent tears droppi
= from her eyes, looked absorbed in hopeless q
! tress.
/ Bessie, Bessie, what shall we do ?" she
: claimed as her daughter knelt and threw
+. arms around her L" what will become of US
=, "Oh, mother, what is the matter' What
d happened ?" returned Bessie, her own tears
: ginning to flow ir sympathy and alarm. {"
i dear !! l thought to find you SO comfortable
= night"
s cay, and so we might have been, answe
(" the mother, in tone of heart-broken despond
: cy,-" only for him-for your father, Bessie
r How could he do it p
}, Mother, mother, what has he done ?"
It claimed the terrified girl, all possible visions
!, crime starting up before her.
= /" He has taken away my work, Bessie -
d work that had hoped to gain SO much for
1t he has pawned it for drink--.I don't know VIII
If and he beat mo like dog when begged
= HIM to tell me where it was. And the ma
If wanted it, and hadn't it for him; and oh,
&c was angry-and no wonder; only it's hard u
a me, Bessie. And he says the waistcoats
y wo rth two pounds, and he'll have them or