The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-11-03

THE CRIME OF DELAY.
From he Fioacer N,gozine.
lon ask. dear jim. whv I took So much
interest in that boy? will tell Won: bu,
mark me. yon must never a;lude 20 the sub
]"rt again. had thought that. for NV own
credit. no Cnc should ever know the reason
for my soliritude concerning him. or wby H.,
death has affected me 50 deeply. But he is
dead now. and lest YOU should mscon>trnp
nv interrS: in him to my prejudice. I will
tell YOU frankly all that | know Of him. So
far as it affects myself
was not always. you are aware. dea, Jim.
the man Won have reccnilv known me.
once had position and influence, and when
Won first knew me. had never done anv AZ,
to bring blush of shame to III. cheek of
friend or relative.
But of this enough II sufiiccth. that ono
wear ago. or thercahonfs. As went TO NV Of.
flee on bcantitu morning in March. I no.
'Iccd boy walking down the street Just A.
ad OF me- looking emaciated and W.. bean
tu'. There was pcruiar-an exceedingly
anxi iouS look, that | had never seen before
There was the face of iov with the anxiety
OF man. Ii struck me as peculiar AT the
first glance. and stopped TO look AZ him.
perceived that it was with difficulty he could
restrain himself from sobhinc alond. When
h. saw me. he rrpres>rd his emotion. and
spoke up with an ob:ious effort o. uncon.
Germ
Please. sir. are Won not the editor of the
81 am" said l. "my fine fellow. and wha,
can do for Won ~
Mothers sick. sir. and we are very poor
and ] want 20 get a place to work"
What can Won do ," said I.
'o. will try 70 do ANYTHING" h. rcp'ied
:" but don't know what can do. for al
ways went To school before came to Califor
MIA. will try TO do anything"
The hov had Interested me-. and tbouoh
am a Gallons man. whom bnficting with the
worli has rrrmaturey hardened. could no,
allow h'm 10 leave me until had gwen him
word OF comfort
My fine fellow" said ]. d" will YOU come
to NV office at seven o'clock this evening 2"
Il will. he answered. Il will do anvtbinc
to earn some money for my poor sick moth
er."
Itook five dollar piece from nv rocket.
and pnt It into his hand Had right to
do 1t: ! had often said ought TO paw NV
honest debts. before thought of charity.
Had a right to do it? Certainly.
The boy looked at the money: then ne
looked at me. and then-bur>t into tears
Dear Jim. believe mo. had a great mind 10
cry, too. Sald he. Did act like little
'cGgar = Us he spoke the word "brcc,r.
he urst out again. AID the tcars uu,tcl
forth a'rcsh
NO. my lad" said |. "hn. take that 10
Your mother and this evening will have a
pla"" for vou. so that vou can earn the mo-
ncv. and when YOU have enough of il. Der
harS Won can pay me- back"
He held the coin towards me-. and said =
= Take the money-T am not a beccar. and
as my father, who is dead. and NV mother
who Is DIVING. told me to starvc rather than
her. shall not take it,
lie was so earnest that TO have refns.,l
would have offended him the more and 81
requesting him to call upon me at seven in
the evening, told him to 20 home 70 b;s
mother. and tell her that he had found a
friend who would get him situation.
lie tr'ppcd away with lighter heart.
went on my way. thinking how | could and
won!d bciriend him. 1t was onlv the dav
before, that friend lad told me Re want.d
boy OF about his years. and if he was s,;,b
tul and trustworthy, wou!d pav him lihe-a
salary. lrcsolvtd in INV mind that I woplf
90 and see him immediately after breakfas,
But
IN" Highly purpose n"vcr Is crtook
MESS the deed 60 with it,
At the breakfast table cot into an amor,
political discussion. The Senatorial election
was on the fV'>, and We had sot news tha
morning that reverend Senator belonging
to our side. had scld out and gone over TO IN,
enemy. | went down town after breakfast
to learn the facts of the matter. I talkef
with one and another, till the case Of rho
poor boy was quite driven from nv mind
before ! returned, the dispatches began te
arrive from the Capitol, and what with talk
ing to interested friends. and writing for the
next mornings paper, quite forgot the pale
faced boy and his dying mother
AT seven o'clock he came. Nv bc,r,
s'note me when saw him, for had NEGLECT
ed and forgotten my promises. But / told
hIm-God forgive me. not SO much for ,be
deception As the ncglect-that could not CO.
the man whom thought would emplov him
but II ne would come the next dav At two ~
clock, ! would get him the situation. and pa,
hun the first months salary in advance. de-
lected, he turned upon his heel and lief. IN,
office: The next morning I went to m,
trends store: he was out for fev minnie.
While ! was standing in his door an acouan
tanc" with fine horse and buggy came a
long. and asked me to ride with him IN m,
mission. | at once consented. tbink;nr :,
call as came in. We went to the mission
and thence to the race-course. Tine Aey
swiftly, and before was aware of il. two q,
clock had passed, and | came home to fin,
that the boy had been to see me. and b.f
gone away | did not suppose I should see
h'm again that night, and put of the matte,
so important to him-til morning Ru
ne came again in the evening, and | had r.
tell bun that had been away. The MY,
Gay at twelve, however, should see him in ,
new place. ."
1t was nearly twelve the next day, when
oe'hought myself Of my promise. | hasten
! co down to zee my friend, ard foa.a ,ba,