The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-03
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1855

WuioPCiCu, DcNdIe SulIer not TIE love OF
gold to make plague spot on thy heart =
The money is not thine and this may have
been permitted as trial of thy faith
But, perhaps, he thought, cannot find
the owner-then it will be mine, honestly
mine and with the hope that it might CON
tain no evidence of the ownership, he com
menCed examining the pocket book again.
Mortal, condemn him not too severely-sit
not in hasty judgment on the heart of thy
errlng brother. Thus tempted, perhaps thine
own would have been no better But the
examination left no room for doubt. There
was the owners name. fully inscribed-the
name of a rich merchant, with whom in
days past, William had been acquainted.
What a death blow was this to his wild
hopes
The vision of comforts which had blessed
him for moment, as if in mockery, was
snatched away, and he saw again the msera-
bIe hut, the pale wife, and hungry children
Dasling the pocket book to the ground, he
stood for moment and gazed on it.
Tempter deceiver. y he exclaimed, why
am thus Knocked and tantalized 2"
And then, as if sudden thought had
struck him, he picked itup and stepped into a
thicket, which offered partial shelter from
the storm, and seated himself on a fallen
tree. The elements were in commotion, but
there was fiercer conflict in his BOSOM
He sat there for more than an hour, the
rushing wind and fallen snow all unheeded
but when he rose up the conflict was passed.
and the expression of his face, though sad,
was peaceful and resigned.
That night after the children were in bed,
William produced the pocket book and un-
rolled the bank notes before his astonished
wife, and told her how he had found it half
hidden in the snow
" What shall you do with it 7" said she.
:" What shall do with it?' was the
reply,
Return it to the owner. We can bear
toll and poverty, but not the aches of a
guilty conscience
Il knew it would be thus. When the
dark temptation was on me, and the evil in !
my heart seemed ready to triumph, knew
that you would not fail TO see clearly and
approve the right. The storm is now over,
and tomorrow | must carry the money to
Mr.. Carlton. 1t is about fifteen miles. Il
will start early, and perhaps he will give
me enough to pay my passage back in the
stage"
The next morning, long before sunrise,
William was on his way. 1t was hard
walking through the newly fallen snow; and
the wind was cold and piercing; but he
pressed resolutely on. and before noon he
reached tie house of Mr.. Carlton. He as
cended the marble steps and rang the bell. |
A servant appeared and in answer to his in |
quiry if Mr.. Carlton was at home, informed |
him that the gentleman was out, and that
he would not be back till dinner, which
would be at two. William cast a glance at
his thread bare coat and rusty garments. He |
did not wish TO enter that house, where the |
splendor and luxury would form a strk-
ing contrast to his own comfortless home, |
but he was cold and weary, and would be |
glad OF seat anywhere near the fire so he |
said to the servant:
81 have important business with Mr.. !
Carlton; and, if you please, will come in
and wait till he returns"
The man eyed him from head to foot and
with slight sneer on his face, which Will |
liam did not fail to mark, conducted him to
the kitchen. Preparations for dinner had
commenced. There was baking, broiling,
roasting-such q dinner as would have
tempted the appetite of an epicure. How
ever, the two hours passed away. Mr. Carl
ton came in, and William gave bewildered
and timid look around the magnificent
apartment; and he had shrunk as he caught
a full view of himself in the mirror, which