Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-29
Cbairs gttsralnrt
FIEDENe M0NEY

and windy- such ynt g1t aa december usu-
ally brings among the hilIa 81 New Hamp-
shire. Williams bed was hard, aud the
ccld wind had found its way thro many a
crncg aud crevice 10 his ruined cottage |
bat he might have sleptif his mind had
been az ease. His wife was delicate wo-
man toll aud exposure had brought on a
lliurerino illness, aud she layall night moan
IND Wifh pain and shirering with cold.--
W sfac.tso v. an.ls 8 fnd Ia 4 fire,
went forth into the open air The cloads
were black and heavy, and the winds swept
in gusts through the naked trees. Away
ia the distance the tops Of the trees were
already white with snow. He had engaged
days work on a neighboring farm but
il was useless to 90, the farmer would not
work that day; so he turned away with a
heavy step and entered his dwelling. The
children were soon stirring, and the pale,
suffering mother rose from her couch to pre-
pare the morning meal. A few potatoes
we're boiled for the father and children, and
cup Of Cruel for herself
William Carter and his wife had seen
better days but sickness and misfortune,
the fraud Of some, and the cruelty of others,
had driven them forth from their pleasant
home for which he had spent the strength
Of his early manhood to purchase, and
forced them to take shelter in their pres
ent miserable abode.
sWhy cant we have some bread and but
ter p said little James, child SIX year:
old, pushing away the potatoe which wa
offered. I'VE used to have bread and pies
and | don't want potatoes all the time
An expression of agony passed over thr
fathers face. Bitter feelings were rushing
through his heart-murmurings agains
Providence-repining at his lot-unbelie
in God.
Il would bear everything but this mur
INJURED he. Il can bear toll, humiliatio
aud want myself; but cannot see my Chi
drcn pine for bread, and my wife shiverin
in this miserable howell Ifthere is a Coo
why'does ho suffer the rich to oppress th
poor, and the strong to crush the weak
sometimes feel like taking justice into m
own hands, aud with my own arm avengin
my cause.
But the storm was soon over. Sottene
by the tender, hopeful words of his Athlete
wife, his bitterness of spirit passed ava
His poverty and his wrongs were all forge
ten, la the memory qf.his sinful anger az
murmurings. The spirit Of other days
turned-the divine triumphed over the b
man; and they bowed down before Gc
and the loving confidence Of little childre
casting all their cares on His mighty ar
and committing the future to his directic
A sto m was evidently coming on outsi
Already the snow began to fall but tn
was not wood enough at the door to
two days aud William must go to his nei
b,r TO get permission to cut a few trees,
at least to pick up the limbs that were
ing about. He buttoned up his coat
went out Already thin white drap
Law over the bosom of the earth, twisted
10 graceful knots and wreaths lie step
on something which moved beneath
fo1t-and, looking down he saw Ii
pocket.book half covered with snow.
sudden fash Of JOY dashed through
heart. Selling it, he turned his face I
the wind to examine the contents. Il
was a roll Of bank notes, which he unrc
and counted. His first impulse was t.
cure the money and throw the pocket
AWAY. Was it not his own! lie
found it had not heaven sent it in m
as relief to his wauts-au answer tC
PRAYERS? How much good this m
would do! Bread and shelter for his
AMI for his little ones, whose cheeks
growing pale with want-whose merry
waschangei toanxious looks ofcare.
be reasoned but conscience whispere
ware Suffer not the love of gold to
plague spot on thy heart The mo
not thine; and this may have been pc
,eI rs trial Of thy faith
But perhaps, he thought, cannc
ths owner-then it will be mine; no
mine; and with the hope that it Nigh
tain no evidence of the ownership, he
moaced examining the poczet-book
Mortal, condemn him not too sever
sit not in hasty Judgement on the ht
thy cryiug brother Thus temptei
haps thine own would have been no
But the examination left no room for
There was the ner's name fully ins'
the name of rich merchant, with WI
days plst, William had been acquain
Whit death blow was this to hi
h)pa3l The vision of comforts, whi
blesAl him for amoment, as If in m
WIS oIltCNcu away, duu nc SAW az
miserable hut, the pale wife, and
chllran. Dlshing the pocket book
gr1n !, he stood for q moment gazir
81 lptor! decoiverv heexclaime,
am nus mocked and tantalized =
a then as if sudden thou
stra;k him, he picked it up and
into thicket, which afforded part
ter from the storm, and seated hi
a fallen tree. The eiJmcuts were
motion, but there was 6ercer cc
his bosom. He sat there for more
hour, the rushing wind and the fal
all unheeded; but when he rose
conflict was passed, and the exp
his face, though sad, was peacetu
signed.
That night, after the childre
bod, William produced the pocket
rolled the bank notes before his .
wife, aud told her how he found
den beneath the snow.
What shall you do with it z
What shall do with it {? "