Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-02

esk narrow piece of paper, folded like
ill. He took it up with almost reluctant
ingers. and slowly pressed back the ENDS
20 as to read its face and comprehend ITS
import. Thrice his eyes went over the
brief lines, before he was clear as to their
meaning. They were as follows:
Received, January /. lS-, OF Aoram
lanes. One thousand Dollars, in full OF all
demsnds. - 81 HIRAM EDGAR.
Hurriedly, now, did Mr.. James unfold the
letter that accompanied this receipt. Its
language moved him deeply:
ABRAM JAMES, Eso..--Dedr Slr: was
not in my right state of mind when J gave
direction to have suit brought against you
for the two notes which remain UNPAID.
have seen clearer since, and wish to act
from a bet ter principle. My own affairs are
pros porous. During the year wticn mas
Just closed, my profits have been better than
in any year sLce started business. your
affairs, on The contrary, are net prosperous
Heavy losses, instead of fair profits, are the
result of years tireless efforts. ana you
find Yourself near the bottom of the wheel
while | am sweeping upwards. AS thihh
of this, AM my unfeeling conduct towards
Won. in your mis.ortunes. am mortified as
we'll as panied There is an element IN my
character which ought not to be there
am self-convicied of cruelty. Accept, my
dear sir. in the enclosed receipt, the pest
re parat ion in nv power to make. In giving
M this claim, do not abandon an Item tha'
goes to complete the sum OF my happiness. ..
Not a siDgie comior, will be abridged. IL
\ will not shrink the dim nsions OF my house'
rer withdraw from myself or family any
norton of food or raiment. Accept, then
the New Years gift offer, and believe tina
have purer delight in giving than yo'
in receiving. My best wishes are win yo'
for the future, and if, i'll anything, can all
, Won in your arrangements with creditofs'1 u
4 not fail to command my service,
/, Most truly yours,
HIRAM EDGAR.
). For the space of nearly five minutes, MI
/. James sat very still. the letter OF DIR. h'g'
before hi m Then he folded it up, with IN
r receipt inside, and placed it in his pocke
# then he put away the inventories ne I'D
~ been examining, and tore up several piecs
of of paper, on which were sundry caicui'
r tons: and then he put on his warm owe
,n coat and buttened it to the chin.
4 Edward said Mr.. James, as he wake
=. dawn the store, 81 shall not return this
10 ,ernoon. 1t is New Years day, and y
m can close up al two O'Clock.
NV 1t cost MIR. Edgar struggle to write III
y recei,, in ful. A thousand dollars was
lis large sum of money to give away BY 81
w ole stroke of the pen. Love OF gain a
Cd selfishness pleaded strongly for the last Ia
,;s thing. but the better reason and better fe'
inys of the man prevailed, and the good de
was done. How lightly his heart teit-ht
l.. suddenly the clouds were lifted irom
If. sky, and the strange pressure from his ie
70 ings. It was to him new experience.
,re On the evening that closed the Gay
90 first eyening;pfs The new year-Nr. Eae
viii, ms wife and children in his eleSt
ole home, happier by far than he was In
ON morning, and almost wondering at
bic charge in his state of mind. Little III
ces was in his arms, and as he looked upon
dor cherub face, he thought OF face as oea
u.. seen by him in the morning, at Inc"
dow of his unfortunate d. btor. The fac
in an angel it had proved to him, tor 1t pron
wen ed the good deed from which had spruh'
.re double blessing. While he sat thus
ruel heard the doof-oe,i iiAs - ~ We b,
dol the waiter hahueu nun 'e
roll the seal ann read:
,r NV DEAR SIR: This morning my
ime. little Aggy, the hight of our home, gre
re. me with joyous 'HapPy New Year,
r;,b took her in my arms and kissed her,
k to ing NY lace CLOSE " no' A. si-I
fret not see the sadness of mine. An, si''
ret day broke in gloom. The words OF my
The found no echo in my heart. could
con. wept over her, if the strength OF man
had mt risen above the weakness OF ma
Blu, all is changed now. A few minutes
Loo, the "Happy New Year" was flowing tc
n the from The sweet lips OF my child anu
~ If words went thrilling in gladness ls
came heart. May the day close as haPpii
who YOU and yours, as it is closing ior me
A
to the mine.
Mr.. Edgar read this letter twice. ane
-, handed il. without word, to his vile
e had "What Is Tue iiean, Eac.r !
swset understand it, Hiram" MIS-. Edsar
arms wonderingly into her husbands face
,nal,is The story, to which size llste 1ed ca
80 WAS briefly told When he had nm
hoods she arose, auo Will 'ea'0 rh
pa,hy in her eyes, crossed over 10 WIN
was sitting, and drawing her arms
choke his neck, said:
l. the "My good, my generous husband!
g nd very proud OF you this night. That
-, hor noble deed; and thank you tor *
), Oh name cf our com.Tun humanity.
, r..--. never had words from the lips OF .
,;nn ot sounded SO pleasantly in the ears
n their Edgar. Never h,d he known SO Il
!. sbrunk New Years Day as the one which
closed; and though it saw him poore
he believed himsel If in the morning,
-. ~ lv a thousand dollars, be was richer
Nth IN ing-richer in the hearts possession
,u HIS he had ever been in his lie.
,tenance
d morn WANTED nDo'h
saw the clan of Chester county gave '''e
her eyes, beautiful story in letter to frlen
t. .A, the commencement OF my
~ was . was called to see an Irlshman's ch
only cred ~as as ,ahnurino under a severe a
was MI pneumonia. The poor little lell
2 into any I'D ,orse for several davs,
,rs, co.dly wo' NV visits 7 found him very
hrSt los' breathing extremely difficult an IL
mt to the uen' ,ho d.n,er When |