Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-01-22

door wished 10 see him.
"Tell him 10 come in, them" returned
Walker.
"But it's that miserable Wilkins, SIR"
"Never mind" said the captain, alter
moments hesitation, "show him in. Poor
fellow" he continued, after the servant
had gone; 81 wonder what he wants. In
truth pity him"
With trembling step and downcast look,
Thomas Wilkins entered Captain Walkers
parlor.
"Ah, wilkins" said the old captain,
"what has brought you hprr!"
The poor man twice attempted TO speak,
but his heart failed him.
"Do you come for charity 7"
"No, sir" quickly returned wilkins,
while his eyes cleaned with proud light.
Then sit down and out with it," said
Walker, in blunt, but kind tone.
"Captain Walker" commenced the poor
man, as he took the proffrred seat, 81 have
come TO ask you if you still own that little
cottage beyond the hill"
81 do"
Sand is il occupied"
"No."
ais il engaged" I"
"No," returned the captain, regarding
bis visiter with uncommon interest. "But
why do you ask %
"Captain Walker" said wilkins, in a
firm and manly zone, even though his eyes
glistened and his lips quivered, 81 have
been poor and degraded, deeply stepped in
the dregS of poverty and disgrace. Every
thing that made life valuable, have al
most lost. My wife and children have
suffered, and God only knows how keenly
have long wandered in the path OF sin.
One after another the tender cords Of friend
ship that used 10 bind me TO the world have
snapped asunder; my name has become
by-word, and upon earth | have been but
foul blot. But, sir, from hencefor,h, |
am man Up from the depth of its long
grave, have dragged forth my heart, and
love still has its home therein. / have
seen my old employer at the machne-shop,
and he has given me situation, and iseven
anxious that should come back and sir,
he has been kind enough to give me an or
der in advance for necessary articles of
clothing, food and furniture. Tomorrow
morning | commence work"
Sand you come to see if you could OBJ
| tain your cottage back again to live in %
said Capt. Walker, as Wilkins hesitated.
eyes, Sir-to see if could hire it Of
you,' replied the poor man.
"WilSins, how much can you make at
your business 2" bluntly asked the old Cap
tain, without seeming TO heed the request.
"My employer is going 10 put me on
Job work, STR, and as soon as get my hand
in, can easily make from twelve 10 four
teen dollars a week"
Sand how much will il take 10 support
your family 2"
GAS soon as get cleared up, can easi'
" get along with five or six dollars week.
"Thrn You might be able to save abou
four hundred dollars year"
81 mean TO do that, sir"
A few moments Capt. Walker gazed in
to the face OF his vsitrr, and then asked:
"Have yon pledged yourself ye, 2"
"Brfore God and in nv heart, | have
but one of my errands here was to get yo'
to write me- pledge, and have it made t'
my wife and children"
Captain Walker sat down to his tabl
and wrote out the required pledge, ant
then, in a trembling bat bold hand, Thoma
wilkins signed it.
"Wilkns," said the old man as he tool
his vister by the hand, 81 have watched
well your countenance, and weighed you
words. | know you speak the truth
! | hot trpp n rr.i
dtors six years ago | paid them one thou
sand dollars for it. 1t has not been harm
! ed, and is as good as il was then. Most O
, the time | have received good rent for il
Now, sir, you shall have il for ust what
, paid for it, and each month you shall pa
s me such a sum as YOU can comiortabl
r spare until it is all paid. ] will ask for N
rent, nor Tor a cent OF interest. You sha
have deed for the estate, and in return
] will take but single note and mortgage
4 upon which you can have your own time.
? Thomas Wilkins tried 10 Thank the ol
: man for his kindness, but he only sank bac
4 into his chair and wept like child; an
: while he yet sat with his face buried in h
hands, the old man slipped from the room
: And when at length he returned, he boz
S in his hand a neatly covered basket
! "Come, comp," the captain exclaimr'
: "cheer up my friend, Here are some ii
i bits for your wife and childrpn--iake thei
I home and believe me, wilkins, if you fe,
t half as happy in receiving my favors as
b do in besowing it, you are happy indeed.
80 God God will bless you for thi
r sir 2" exclaimed the kndness-stricken mar
: and if | betray your confidence, may d
on the instant" !"
"S,ick 10 your pledge, wilkins, and
p will take care Of the rest" said the o.
f" Captain, as his fiend took the basket. "
r, you have time tomorrow, call on me, al
d | will arrange the papers,"
As Thomas Wilkins once more entere
', the street his tread was light and easy.
= bright light of joyousness shone in evel
l. feature, and as he wended his way HON
ward, he felt in every avenue OF his so
d that he was once more man.
n The gloomy shade that ushered in 4
night of the thirty-frst OF December, b
~ fallen over the snow-clad earth. With
II the miserable dwelling of Mrs. Wiki