The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1855-01-25

ncighbor and get permission to cut few
trees, or at least to pick up the limbs that
were lying about. He buttoned up his
coat and went out Already thin white
drapery lay over the bosom of the earth,
twisted into graceful knots and wreaths.-
He stepped on something which moved be-
meath his foot-and looking down he saw
large pocket-book, half covered with snow.
A sudden flash of joy dashed through his
heart. Selling it, he turned his face from
the wind to examine the contents. There
was a roll of bank notes, which he unrolled
and counted. His first impulse was to Sc
cure the money and throw the pocket
book away. Was itnot his own? He had
found it; had not hesyen sent it in, mercy
as a relief to his wants-an answer to his
prayers? How much good this money
would do! Bread and shelter for his wife
and little ones, whose cheeks were grow
ing pale with wapt-whose merry smiles
were changed to anxious looks of care
Thus he reasoned but conscience whisper
ed, Beware! suffer not the love of gold to
make a plague spot on thy heart The
money is not thine;and this may have been
permitted as trial Of thy faith! .s
But, perhaps he thought, L cannot find
the owners-then it will be mine, honest
ly mine; and with the hope that it might
contain no evidence of the ownership, he
commenced examining the pocket a.
gain. Mortal, condemn him nottoo severe
IIy-sit not in hasty judgment on the heart
Of thy erring brother. Thus tempted, per-
haps thine own would have been no better.
But the examination left no room for doubt.
There was the owners pame, fully in
scribed- name off rich merchant, with
whom, in days past, William had been ac-
quainted. What death-blow was this to
his wild hopes!
The vision of comforts, which had bles-
sed him for a moment, as if in mockery,
was snatched away, and he saw again the
miserable hut, the pale wife, and hungry
children. Dashing the pocket book to the
ground, he stood for Il moment and gazed
upon it. ..t..-
'Tempter! deceiver' he exclaimed, why
am thus Knocked and tantalized?'
And then, as if a sudden thought hat
struck him, he picked itup and stepped into
the thicket, which offered a partial shelter
from the storm, and seated himself on {
fallen tree The elements were in commo
ton, but there wasa fercer conflict i'll hi:
BOSOM He sat thee for more than al
hour, the rushing wind and fallen snow al
unheeded; but when he rose up the conflic
. was passed, and the expression of his face
though sad, was peaceful and resigned.
That night, after the children were il
!, bed, William produced the pocket-book
: unrolled the bank notes before his aston
|. ished wife, and told her how he had fount
$ it half hidden beneath the snow.
a What shall you do with it?' she said.
. what ShaU do with it?' was the reply
Return it to the owner. We can bea
+ toll and poverty, but not the rcproaches @
. a guilty conscience
. Il knew it would be thus. When TIL
dark tenn ptaton was on me, and the evil i
, my heart seemed ready to triumph, | kew
that you would not fail to see clearly an
approve the right. The storm is now ovel
and tomorrow | must carry the money
Mr.. Carlton. 1t is about fifteen miles;
d will start early, and perhaps he will civ
d me enough to pay my passage back i'll til
r stage" -..l
" The next morning long before sunrise
d William was on his way. 1t was har
h walking through the newly fallen snow
IS and the wind was cold and piercing; bi
d he pressed rcsolutely on, and before moo
"a he reached the house of Mr.. Carlton. II
N ascended the marble steps and rang tt
# bell A servant appeared, and, in answe
II to his inquiry if Mr. Carlton was at hom
n informed him that the gentleman was on
"a and that he would not be back till Dime
d which would be at two. William cast
glance at his thread bare coat and rus
Is garments. He did not wish to enter th
ID house, where The splendor and luxu'
TO- would form a striking contrast TO his oW
nTr comfortless home, but he was cold al
a. weary, and would be glad of seat an
,,s where near the fire; so he said to the Sc
p. want
co The man eyed him from head to foe
,r and with a slight sneer on his face, Whit
,oo William did not fail to mark, copduct'
eI him to the Kitchen Preparation for di
- nef lau cOmmcHCeu. lHeIo WdS udhiu
on broiling, roasting-such dinner as wou
"a have tempted the appetite Of the epicul
: However, the two hours passed away
Mt Mr.. Carlton at length came in; and w
of liam gave bewildered and timid look
m round the magnificent apartment, and
,lc shrunk as he caught full view of hims
in the mirror, which extended almost fire
nd the ceiling to the floor.
'rs Have you any business with me, si
,as said Mr.. Carlton, in an impatient tone.
nd Yes, sir, said William, producing
be m pocket book, and handing it to him.
- found this yesterday; and as it bears yo
he name, Ihave brought it to you
ii. 'Ah! then you found my pocket-book.
nst 1 am glad to see it again, which i neN
ief expected to do
He carefully examined it.
,r. 'All right he said, and l am oblie
ion to you for returning it, for it contains Y
Ill liable papers, then carefully placed ii
err his pocket.
. William had no more to say. He arc
m. and with no further evidence of gratitr
,,al, ,El or obligation, he was suffered to depart.
ino 4 am sorry you did not give the p
nv man something, father said fair girl,
she seated herself on an ottoman at
ned feet. Did you notice how pale he look
4