Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-03-02
I q 8 Lost PURSE
BY sYLyAsUs cosB II

II C1f ff,
: the circumstance IL mind 1-4e'
hoei morton was youth Of about sereDtae,,
"a. ms mother was widow and be an only cb,Ii
HeF ,i'ed In a part OF a hut in the outskirts .
!, long cold winter the widow hal - -.
SICK, 50 that Abel had been OBLIGED ~ -
the most Of his time with her Tho - -
never learned any trade, a. var;on. c,-.,Ts.-
90 % E'd e",hhiued to prevent his leaving bon,a
: tie We: sed whenever he could e,at an, -, "
do. and lad thus far managed ,o "a - %
h""eh 20 keep himself and mother alive. tborah
'hey suffered much from the cold
As spring opened, Abel tined To find ro-L
ou' was not successful. He picked IN f.n. od,i
Y,oos now and then, but the proceeds were barr.
s1ii,cien' 20 purchase enough of the coarscs,
au cheapest food. Clothing they coufd 20,
ouS' and poor bel began to fear that h.. ~.
peg SUIT OF clothes, or what would be worss
STILL leave his mother But this latter ,bing
he could not do. NS
one afternoon he went into the VILLAGE ,,5
sPeh1 several hours IN hunting Tor work, but he
away because he looked ragp,.d Viii. - -
saiu ,hey never employed any outside OF the;r
own household. Faint and sick AZ baart Ar
turned his step homeward He had left Tho
/ n,iaSe hRd was turning iato a narrow lane tba,
Ied to his humble home when he deterta5 80.
| thlhg Pecniar upon the roadside He plcked
/ IL up ana found 1t TO te small kui. ~ T.
was quite heavy. and the Jingle of it, contents
was too sharp and clear for conner Tba -,
Eoa.h did not stop to open i, for 1t was ALREADY
tusA' ' ara ne Knew his mother would be npx-
/ IONS 90 with strangely beafiup bas-+ /
hurried homeward. He entered the Iit,Is -.
Where his mother sat. and sank into chair
! Aiaa no Sork :! the widow n,urrptraJ a.
she saw the cloHd upon her bows face
was 40 use" o1Au' oo' Il
=" Neyer mind, Abel. God is good Wasbsu
not suffer as do those W no have no tr,s. !, b; >,
:, Da' now does he help Us, mother 2" asked
abel IN faltering tone
! IN many ways. my son. He has p-ese-ved
Us through many trials, snd has Given n -
and courage. He has preserved - -. = - -
aho Vir'uous child, and has kept Us cls7r fror,
/ many sufeTlngs with which orr fallo.-s -
been afflicted Look at Mrs Tyndal: see her
win al heF wealth suffering such tortures .s 7
80 Hot s4isr ioF worlds See he only son.
/ a poor miserable InebrIate, and IN prison for
drunken crime For what would We arcb.-re
oOE hooie coIsciousness CT right and honor 50
a Del made no reply. There had been some
/ 'hihg bearing down heavily upon his soDl-
something which lay in his pocket. and sa~,
@ iorIh serpent snns Of plenty. But the load
was removed. He drew the pursa fro,~, -
pocket, and laid It upon the table by bis side
/ " p" hat - that = asked the widow "a sIo
heard the sharp click of the coin.
"A purse found II in the road
Pound 1t Oh you did Ind ;t."
] i'iStAie4 IN TIE road, a the
turn OF ogr lane 1t lay in the footpa.b
A candle was lighted and the purse en,n;iad
/ IL contained twenty sIlv.r half-dollars.
/ en- dollars. whispered Abe1. aervousIr -
/ 9 Perhaps We cant lind who lost i
/ " Ism there some name on the purse ." ssL,ed
his mother
She took 1t as she spoke. and upon the inside
II the clasp, which. was lined with red n,o-o-ro
Sc read JOHN ThaluI-, n"
'"hn thompson was one Of the veaItbIez.
! men The fftce IL !;
and neSidcs supplying a vast am6put Of min.
- c'is "'ners- te raI>cd large Quantities al zr
den sauce and fine fruit, which he sen, TO 7
ncIghSoring city.
Oh how easy he could spare it," whispered
Abel 1t would be no loss TO him
e That i 50. in 4 measure p,,- 90, "A H.
widow, soiemnly. 's His would NOT be = loss
but trc should lose. oh how much"
/ " w, mother g
Aye. my boy. Should vou keen ,bjs-,lonId
,re keep it where would orr Lo5c- h. : IT,
next ume yo1 meet Mr.. Thompson Won would
Tear 10 look Linn In the face You couId no,
'ooS MIN III the eye with happy conscience
OF Your own innocence. ncre would he a taini
u!'n No"I l"I''c.er-a sting IN your soul o
sv"uid v"u keep 1t, Abel g.
- o ray mother, would hot +; uo-Iu cary
= back = very night
o." 'uiEht wait until morning for YOU must
get sssaIe wood now"
The purse was laid away in q place of safety
ana on me following morning y bel started of
bright and early and be walked with a bvoy-
ant step, for he was satisfied with the work he
Was doing
Mr. Thompson lived in finc large mansion
! Nhlch Stood upon gentle emlHerce, al a shor'
distance from tie road, and was surrounded by
Il park II noble tree, 4 bel look his way mn =
nea; ~ graveled walk, and met the owner on
the b cad piazza.
Do you wish 10 see me . asked the host
He was kind. generous looking man : stout
and oo-Puient, with face full Of health and
: good nature.
Yes, sir" answered Abel. promptly. a, the
: same time ascending the piazza | found :
parse last evening, and upon opening 1t. We
ioual yoGr name upon H."
a And who are soe ?"
NJ mother and ], sir
" Then you didn'' think you needed Il = mon
: ev 2
"Sir. returned the you'h With an iaquirir.c
gaze.
:. Seeing that you bring the money TO nc.
? suppose you bad no Use for it."
:. Use fOr It, sir : repeated Abel, a. : loss hov
TO understand the man Oh. God knows W
had use for II. bot not much Is we have for
2 our honor aad truth"
: Were you afraid to keep II g pursued Sir
Thompson IH the same peculiar tone
Afraid " bat do VOC mean 8 D. love
my mother because am ofraid TO hate her =
: / brought your money back because II war
yours, aHd not mine And thus speaking 4 be
;tandrd the gentleman the purse. and turned
away. Nj. Thompson did not say word, ana
the youth kept on, feeling glad that Re hac
done right. but a the same tiuse almost read
&c cry AT the reception he met with
. When be reached home he sank into a chair
e and leaned his head upon hi= hand.
I, why, whats the matter, bel e asked tn,
? no; her IN alarm.
{ But before her SOD could answer. they wer,
xpstb startled BIZ hearing horse trUt up 10 In
= door. 1t was Mr- Thompson. He disInounteG
rs The door opened, and entered without cere
nlonv lie bade the widow good morning aat
! then took seat.
: I've come on business. he said. and II
proceed with Il ~ once Then turning 70 4 be
he asked
~Are yoU engaged al present g.
; " No. sir, replied he youth, eagerly, for III
d man spoke very kindly.
5 " " ould yog not Ike something 70 90 8"
. Oh, YES, slr. ! sy@nt all day yesterday !
Z iooklug afte. work. NJ mothe. ls not v eli al