The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-07-12
A STORY with n Moral.
TIE HEAVY CROSS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

they would have continued To live in har.
mony, if Samuel, who bad served under
Admiral Nelson, had not gained at Trafal.
gar small pension, which he had paid
for by the loss of one of his legs. Now
partly ,ha' leg, and still more that pension,
were constant objects Of jealousy for Rob
ert; he blamed fate for having left him hs
two legs, and he complained bitterly to
God because he could not, as he said, sell
his legs at the same price as Hullns.-
Every time that he went to pay his rent,
he repeated grumblingly that his neighbor
was a very happy man; that he was well
able TO pay rent, the king gave him such
a good pension.
AT first, Robert contentcd himself with
talking of his grievances to himself; but
little by little his discomfort was expressed
more loudly, and soon ii became his ha-
bltual and tayuuto topic of conversation.
One week when he was behind hand with
his rent and ms he was going toward the
house of Mr.. Taylor to make his excuses,
he met his neighbor Hullins, who was CO.
ing as regular as q clock TO pay his rcut.-
The very sight of Samuel had on Robert
the effect Of sickness; SO when he bowed
his head in reply to the sautation Of HUI
Inns, his face singularly rescmblel that Of
Il bull showing his horns to dog, On
reaching tho house of the landlord, Hope
was severely rcprimauded, and the exam-
pie of his ncighbor held up to him, as al.
ways paying regularly and to the last
penny.
ayes, yes muttered Robert, there are
some who arc bonn with their mouth full
OF money; Hullins is very happy, but |
am not astonished that person can pay
regularly whea he has such a pension as
his
"Hulins has a pension, it is true" re-
piled Mr. Taylor, "but his i1EFlnity is
heavy cross, and if you were afflicted Tith
it, YOU would complain much more"
"Not st ALL replied Hope; "if l had
been happy enough to lose leg, as ho
was, it would have been a tamously pro-
ducliyo day for me. would sell all my
limbs at the same price that Samuel has.
DO y on call this wooden leg "A heavy cross!
for ny part, think his pension ought to
make it light. The heaviest cross that |
know of, is to be obliged to work unceas-
s-'v to pay your rent
Mr.. I'a;!..r was a good na;ulcd man,
and keen Observer. lie had for long
time remarked Roberts envous ui POSITION,
ani he resolved TO convince Him that with
a di.contcuted spirit the lightest Cross wo'd
soon become heavy.
u soc," said he to Hope, "that you are
disposed to do nothing; very well. | can
fce you from the necessity Of working.
which You lhiuk so crcvous. lol think
the cross Of your ncghbor Samuel easy to
bear, DO You? If YOU will accep, Of one
much lighter, | will orgage to hold YOU
quit Of yonr rent"
'Bu, what kind of cross will you put
on me-" asked Robert, unca>ily, for he
feared that the proposition would not be
accepted.
"Such as this" said Mr.. Taylor, taking
a bit of chalk and tracing white cross on
Roberts coat; CAS- long as You wear this |
will not ask your rent"
Hope thought at first that his landlord
was joking; but on being assured that he
was speaking seriously
by St. George said he, "you may
b. sure that You have seen the lat Of my
money for | will carry such cross all my
liGcw
Robert soon left, congratalatiug himself
on his good luck, and all along the road
he laughed at the folly Of Mr.. Tayior in
giving up his rent so casiy. He had never
felt happier in all his lie than when he
reached home, he found fault with moth
ing; even his dog came and sat down at
his feet without being punished for his ia
miiarty. a. he sat down on entering the
house, his wifi did not at first sec the
whitc cross he had on his shoulder; but
passing behind her husband to wind up the
clock, she cried out all at once, in sharp
voice:
"Ah!--gool heavens, Robert, where
have yoa been? You have cross foot
long on your back. Iou must have come
from the tavern, aud suppose some drunk
on friend has played you this Trick t. make
you look like II booby--as If YOU needed a
mark for that! Get up, and keep quiet
till brush off that cross
SECT or cried Hope, turning away
quickly; "my clothes have no need Of YOU :;
20 and knit your Stockings, ard let me
alone
"rhat will not =" sail Mis-. Hope in a
still sharper voice. II do not wish nv
husband to become the laughing stock of
the village, and if tear your coat in
pieces, you shall not wear that Iiducul3us
cross y
SO saying, the whole Household enleav
orcd to brush II befl's should r, and hc
knowing that resistance was useless, fed,
swearing and shutting tho door Violently.
"What n fury" murmurel he; ''lf she
had been more gentle, | would have told
her my good luck; but she is not worthy
Of knowing IT,"
"O-Robcrt" cried the old man Fox,
the moment Hope turned the corner of mis-
house; "what is that white cross you car.
~ on your back y
Mind your own business" replied Hope,
insolcntly.
-"Mr. Hope" said little Patty Stevens,
tho daughter Of the groccr "atop a mo-
mcnt, if you please, till | rub off the
cross some one has made on your shoulder" F"
"Go sell your henings, i llo glrl," re-