Eastern times., 1856-04-10
A Short Fireside Story about Honesty.

A Short FIreslde Story about Honesty.
One evening a poor man, and his son, lit
tie boy. sat by the way-side, near the gate of
an old town in Germany. The father took
loaf of bread, which he had bought in town,
and broke it and gave half 10 his son.
Not so. father said the boy; Il shall not
eat until after you. You have been working
all day, for small wages to support me, and
you must be very hungry ! shall wait until
you are done
You speak kindly, my son. replied the
pleased father; 'your love TO me does me more
good than my food, and those eyes Of yours re-
mind me of your dear mother who has left us,
who told you TO love me as she used to do :;
~and indeed, my boy, you have been great
strength and comfort to me; but now have
eaten the first morsel to please you, it is your
turn now TO eat
Thank you, father but break this piece
in two, and take little more you see the
loaf is not large, and you require much more
than do
Il shall divide the loaf for you, my boy !;
but eat it, shall not (; l have abundance; and
let us thank God for his goodness in giving US
food and in giving US what is better still
cheerful and contented hearts. He who gave
us the living bread from Heaven, to nourish
our immortal souls, how shall he not give US
all other food which is necessary to support
our mortal bodies =
The father and son thanked God. and then
began to cut the loaf in pieces, TO begin their
frugal meal. But as they cut one portion Of
the loaf, there fell out several large pieces Of
gold, of great value. The little boy gave
shout of joy, and was springing forward TO
grasp the unexpected treasure, when he was
pulled back by his father.
My son, my son = he cried, do not touch
that money it is not ours
But whose is it, father, if il is not oursP
Il know not, as yet, to whom it belongs,
but probably, it was put there by the baker,
through some mistake. We must inquire.
Run
But, father interrupted the boy, you are
poor and needy, and you have bought the loaf,
and then the baker may tell lie, and
Il will not listen to you, my boy; bought
the loaf but did not buy the gold in it. If
the baker sold it to me in ignorance, shall
not be so dishonest as to take advantage of
I him remember him who told US to do TO 9th
ers as we would have others do to US. The
baker may possibly cheat US | am poor, but
that is no sin. II we share the poverty Of Je-
sus, Gods own Son, Oh let US share, also,
his trust, and his love, and his goodness in
God. We may never be rich, but we may al
ways be honest. We may die of starvation,
but Gods will be done, should we die in do
ing it. Yes, my boy, trust in God, and walk
in his ways, and you shall never be put to
shame. Now run to the baker, and bring him
here; and | shall watch the gold until he
comes
So the boy ran after the baker.
Brother workman said the old man, you
have made some mistake, and almost lost your
money! and he showed the baker the gold
and told him how it had been found. is il
thinel' asked the father, 'if it is take it away.
My father, baker, is very poor, and
Silence, my child put me not to shame
by thy complaints. am glad we have saved
the man from losing his money
The baker had been gazing alternately or
the honest father and the eager boy, and the
gold which lay giitteFing on the green turf.
Thou art, indeed, an honest fellow sait
the baker; 'and my neighbor, David, the laA
dresser, spoke the truth when he said thou
vert the most honest man in the town. Now
I shall tell thee about the gold. A stranger
came to my shop three days ago, and gave me
that loaf and told me to sell it cheaply, o.
give it to the most honest poor man whom
knew in the city. Itold David to send the'
to me as a customer this morning as tho'
wouldst not take the loaf for nothing, sold