The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-07-12

"llcavcns, Mr.. Hope~ cried she, gath.
ering up her apron with her hands, "what
horrible thing on your back p
Robert turned around TO tell her to let
it alone but when the blacksmith perceiv-
ed the mark
"By heavens, lo-k"' said he laughing,
"le can serve as sign for the inn Of the
| White Cross ~
"I suppose" added the butcher, "that
his wife put this sign on his shoulder for
fear of losing him."
Hope felt that there vas but one way to
escape their Jokes, SO he hastily left the
place, but not without calling them foolish
idlers; the cross began to weigh on his
shoulders more than he had at first sup.
posed possible.
The unhappy Robert seemed destined
this day to unplea ant meetings, for scarce
ly had he taken few steps when le found
himself in the midst Of the school children
Th, school was over, and tn scholars burst
out into the road, disposed to make the
most Of any OCCASION for frolc which
might present itself. Hope was seized
with terrible re,tlessneSs; he seered al
ready to hear th hue and cry after him.
Before long his fears were realized; hardly
had he passed, when loud cry was heard.
and at least fifty scholars began to run ar-
ter him, pointing at him, and throwing
their honnets and caps in the air.
"Look, lookI cried one; "he looks like
sheep marked for he butcher"
"Do you not see," said another "that
he has been crossed, and is going to leave
for Palestiue!"
Aud the shouts of laughter began
gain, louder than ever. Hopo now be-
came pale with anger, he turned round
like Il surly house dog worried by children,
and perhaps would have taken cruel re-
venge on bis prosecutors if Mr.. Johnson,
the schoolmaster, had not just then shown
himself at the door Of his house.
Robert went towards him and began to
complain that his school WAS composed Of
vagabonds and insolent children. NJ.
Johnson replied gently that he would not
for all the world encourage impertincnce
il lis scholars, bat >that the white cross
which he had on his back would make peo'
pie wiser than children laugh.
"What business is that TO yuo" replied
Robert. haughtily; sis not my back my
own propertys'
The schoolmaster bowed, and Hope con.
Lnuei on his way. But the cross bore
more and more heavily on his shoulders
IIe began to thinl; it woul not be so easy
to avoid paying Mr.. Taylor lis ront, after
all. If 50 many jokes followed him al
ready, what would 1t Do when they knew
the reason Of this foolish orOamcuti H@'
flccting thus, R"Iert came near the tavern;
nc was going to pass on, when he perceived
Mr.. Taylor himself Il few steps in advance,
and on the other side, lis neighbor IluIIius,
dragging slong his wooden leg, and chat
ting with Harry Stoke, the carpenter.
Harry Stoke was the wit Of the village,
and on no account did Hope wish to be
iokcd by him before Eluilius. So BE- took
refuge in the tavern. But that was not
lon! tenable The d'juker- were not slow
to perceive the cross, and joked Hope a
bout it, a quarrel broke out, and the inn
keeper fearing something serious would
happen, had Robert pat ont oi BIS h use
by his man.
Robert had left his own house, intend
ing to 90 and look after some work which
had been offered him in the ueghborinc
village but his temper had been 50 ruiH q
b, the old man Fox, Patty Stevens, the
blacksmith, the butcher, Peggy Turton,
and the scholars, that he decided to rc'nrn
home, thinking that after all he should b,
more quiet there. So h. started ios home.
Sometimes ho would walk quickly, 50 as
not to lie oycltaken; then he would take
step minute, in order not to pass some
one he would see in adyaHco sometimes
in the yotd, sometimes in the fields, he
woull glide b'hinl braho. and jump over
walls, anl H. from the sight of m'n with
as much care rs a robbcr who hal stolen q
chicken tron farm yard-all this ,in'
the white cross was inSupportahIy heavy.
At la.t he reached home, and he hop Il
now to find a little quiet. But as soon as
his wife saw him she cried OUT
"Are you not ashamed to come back as
you went out? Already five or six Of our
neighbors have asked mo if YOU had not
los, your senses Quick now, let me pass
my apron over that cross"
so saying, Mstles lIoIe t'ed to get
hold of her husbands arm but he rulcly
pushed her back. Mistress Hope, who
was not ovc,burdenel with patience rcpli.
ed with blow, and the result WAS a rcgu-
lar fight between the two, TO the great
scandal Of the ncighbors, who ran to scpcr.
ate them.
Ii is not necessary to say every body de
cdcd against RroberI, who at first lraved
the general disapprobation, and even found
consolation in his fury, but the more impet-
uousIy the fire burns, the sooner it con-
sumcs that which nourishcs it; even as
passionate men soon exhaust their energy
/ 10y the violence of their feelings. Robert
on becoming calmcr, had not the courage
to continue this painful contest; he felt
that there was no hope Of quiet for him,
either out Of doors or in his own house, as
long rs he wore that cross on his coat, and
he decided to cllace il that evening himself
Of his cwn accord The following Monday
lac went at an early hour to the house Of
his landlord with the rent for the week in
his hand.
"Ah, all, Robert" said Mr.. Taylor, as
hc saw him; IL thought YOU would repent