Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1858-04-29
SELECTED STORY
THE LOST PURSE.

A friend related 10 me simple story. not
long since, whA ] think is worth telling
over The parties Of whom be spoke were
near by, aud it was the presence Of the hero
that called the Circumstances 10 mind.
Abel Morton was youth Of about seven
teen His mother vas a Widow, and be au
only child. They lived 10 part of a small
hut ia the outskirts Of the village. aud were
very poor During the long, cold EIuter
the widow bad bsen quite saek. 30 that Abel
bad been obliged TO spend most OF bis time
With her The youth never learned suy
trade a. various circumstances bad cOm tin
I'd TO prevent hrs having home lie worked
Whenever be could gct work to do aud thus
fsr maosgcd To bnd food enough to keep him
self aud bic mother alive, though they suffer
ed much With cold.
As the spriug opened, bel tried 70 6ud
work, but was not successful u e picked up
few jobs, now Abd then, but the proceeds
we're barely sufficient to purchase enough Of
the cosTsest and cbesp 81 food. CIOtbinE
they could NOS buy, and poor Abel began 20
fear that he must beg sait Of clothes, or.
what was worse, leave bis mother But tbis
latter be could Dot do
Doe afternoon be vent iDio tbe village sbd
'pett several tours 10 huutiug fcT work be:
fUuuG 'USbi1S to do. some seemed 70 trya
him away because he looked 90 ragged, while
others sad they never employed any ooe
outside of their oup households Faint aud
sick al heart, Abel bsbt bis steps bomewsrd
lie bad leit the villsge aud vac turning
toto the yhsTrow lAue that led 10 his bum
bic home, when he detected something ps.
eulisr upon tbs roadside lie picked /,
up, and iosod it TO be a small knii purse
IL was quite heavy, aud the jiogls Of
'bs contents vas too sharp aud clear for
copper.
The poor youth did not stop TO open 1,
then. Tor it Wss already dusk, aud be knew
thai bis mother would 10 snEious So uith
strangely beating heart be hurried home.
| vsrd he entered the little room where bic
mother Wss sitting, and sack down 10 q
I chair.
'Alssl no work The widow murmured
- she saw The cloud upon tbs boys
I face
No, be replied, I tried al around bu,
I it was uo use
Never mipS. Absl God ls good We
Y shall DOT suffer a. these do ubo bsvs 90 trus,
I 10 hiBi
But bow does 10 belp us, moibsrf' ask
I od Absl, 10 q fsltsriEg Eoies.
In many uAys. ny son. he has pfsssrv
ed us tbfoaRb tasny TRIALS sod has given us
/ hope snd oouFsgo Hs hss preserved 70 ne
. tTas abd Siftsous ehild. Abd has held us
olsaT ffem many suHsFings shiob afiist oar
fellows LUOt ., Ars Tyndsi sss bsF sith
80 hs1 wealth suasriug toiturss that vosld
BOt suhsr for worlds Sss Der only son .
I poor. miserable ihsbrists, asd Ia pfis5e r.,
7 q dfuukeb crime Fof shat Hoald We sa
ebasgs our hebls oouseIoasssss q righi aud
I konaf
Abel made no reply Thsrs kad been
sosastbibR bsafing dgsn heavily upos b.,
ssul somsttisg sbieh lsy iu he poske,
Y snd ssut foFta q ssfrsnt fonr ~ pisnsy Bot
I che .oaf 49, removed Hc drsu soc psrss
IRON tis pockst sad isii Is % ths tsbls /,
/ be side
Whist is thstr sd tbs sidoa, ss sbs
I heard che eink q ths caia
a paSss-- fsasd it 81 ths Fosdf
'Rouad itF Oh, did yuu -
'Yes, ~ noibsF. In tbs foad ius, Al
tbs tufu of ouf lsus Il lsy 10 ne foot
| path
A esuaIs vrs lighted. sud ths yarss snp
tied It csBtsiusa tssnty aivss hs8 Eel
! lars
Tea 5olisrs. ubispsfsd Absi .Psrhsp.
ss e.a aod vba lass BE-
fsat there sons bsus e. tks paFss 2
ssfe4 lie rsrftsr