Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-01-15
PARIS, ME.
NJ 5 c L. LII AN Y.
THE LAST sIxPENCE.
nv ArsTIN c. nuRpIcK.N

~ MAa u 'Hllls nttAA morning IN NoNCm-
bor, that Charles Aubrey emerged from an
old'hed, where he had passed the last part Of
thc night under pile Of shccp skins. lie
was a young man not over two-anl.twcnty,
and yet retained great beauty OF person,
though his clothes were torn and dirty. and
bis face pale and haggard Ouly one year
before he bad been lett an orphan, with
eleven thousand dollars in money in his pos
session. lie had always been generous
hearted, frank and loving companion, but
evil associations had gathered about him,
and in an unfortunate hour he gave himself
mp to their influence. lie thought not Of
the value Of money, and designing knavcs,
under tue guisc OF friendship, could always
draw it from him. But the poor, mi'guid-
el youth had run the race, and was now
alone. His money was gone and his sun
shine companions had lcn him. lIc had
reached the soal towards which he had been
dashins on Tor a whole year.
rs young Aubrey stood there now. his
lips wcro parchcd and his limbs shook as
though with pal.cy. lie mechanically
PLACED his hands in bis pocket, aud took
therclrom a siSpcncc. he searched further
--ielt in every poeket-Jui be could End no
moro. That single siNpencc was the last OF
m, fortune.
"Ah. Charley, Charley" he murmurcd
to himself, "you have run your race. Whoro
now are the friends who have 20 long hung
about you? One poor sizpenec' twill
buy u,e glass OF gros to alIay my burning
thirst. q. would 10 God it would boy me
ono true friend"
lie spoke thus, and with thc words came
rushing through bis mind the memory of
thcplsi. IIc rcm,mbgrci his mother, as shc
held him for the lasi time % her bosom and
blessed him aud he remembered when be
saw them cover her body up Ia the warm
liwcry earth Of tho summer, not many
years agonc. lie remembered his kind,
good hthcr, and how that father had loved
and blessed him with his last br~a'h. Ani
ne remembered ono other, bright.eycd.
pyous sirl. in whose keeping hc had oncc
placcl all his love, aud all his hopes of joy.
But it was gone now. Thus he stool with
thc small coin in hi- hand. when hc heard
footsteps approaching. H. raised his eyes
aud bshcli an old woman, with bcniei
hack, who came lettering along slowly aud
irrmblinsly. Her garments were torn and
aiirrci, and the thin, grey hair long, mat
tri and uneonbcl. She siorp.d when she
came to where the youth stood, and lcaucI
heavily on her staff,
Charity, good SIR" mut,crcd she, in
hoar.c, trcmul2us voice. Give me where
with n purchase a single meal, aud | will
ask God to blc,s you"
"By my life, good woman, yoa ar, tho
very one was wishing Cor. Here, is all
ha,c--i, i, my las, sizpence! Takcii. /
have only wished i, would buy me one true
friend"
The old woman hesi;aicl.
"will You no, take IT," asked Charles
earnestly. Take i, - that may fcel that
have one friend"
81 need it. SIR" the old woman said,
&" but dare not take it from YOU, FOR YOU
would not prof, by my friendship
"Yos would. would send ray Of
sunshine through my soul to know that one
human being blessed me. "
bat ,lcn wha, good would come Of that
while You still continue to curse yourself"
The youth started but spoke not.
"lfyou would have me for friend, will
you listen 70 mc a. a iriend?'
Listen! Yes"
Then lc, this bo your lowest vale Of liie."
said the old woman, with startling snlcmni-
". Turn now, anI 20 up high. so uP,
up, until YOU have reached the sunshine
once more. knew your mother, Charles
Aubrey. and remember well how kind she
was. o, did she ever think that her well
beloved son would sink 80 low ?"
Stop, stop" sroanel tho unhappy
youth. 30, who will give the the drsi lilt
to regain all have lost
- will"
"You2 Who are you? You say YOU
knew my mother. Who arc you?"
Never mind. Sliicc it ior you to know
tha, hay, suffered as deeply as You ever
did. | know what Il, is to safer. I say
can give you the frs, lin. mean by that
can show YOU TIE way Follow my coan-
sci and you may yet recover all you have
lOst?"
"No, no, not all. There Is one loss
can never make up" Aud as he spoke be
bowed his head and covered his face with
his hands.
let not such feelings DC with you now.
Firs, resolve that you will turn from the
evil that has broughtyou down. You know
what /, is as well as | do. Can you do
this ,"
"Aye, had done 1, ere you came up"
"Then take the mex, step. Go and make
a friend who will help you further. Go to
Amo. Williams, and"
"No, no. not there. o, not there" in
terrup,ed Charles.
:" Go TO his store and freely confess TO
him all your faults" resumed the old wo'
-. ...,l.... t.. j., ,,,tt., tho iutar-