The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-03-02
" | can get it, SIR

' can get it, sir.
GO on--I'll follow you"
The cobbler said no more, but hobbled
down the narrow steps, and when he came
to that part of the wall where the purse
had been concealed he asked his compan-
ion to hold the torch. The latter did so,
and when Jareb removed the stone and
drew forth paper parcel, all damp and
mildewed. They returned to the upper
room, where Jareb unfolded the stout
papers and produced the purse uuinjured.
Here, sir, here is your purse, just as
l found it."
The old man emptied out the broad gold
pieces and counted them-just Fifty Of
them.-He returned them to his purse
and then looked into Jareb's face
Have you suffered for want of money
during your sickness ?" he asked.
Much, much" was the answer.
And you had this gold by you all the
while ?"
" It wasn't ours, sir. Oh, may have
suffered but not as would have suffered
had | taken that. It wasn't mine, it was
yours. Take it, sir; and when you re-
member poor old Jareb Gropp and his
seven children, and his own wife, you will
say they wern't very larned, but you'll
say they were honest
"Gropp 2--GroRp p GRoPP ?" re-
peated the old man fixing his gaze not up
on Jareb, but upon his wife "You are
not from England are you2 turning to
Jareb
Yes, SIR answered the cobbler
From what part ?"
From Daventry, among the hills of
Northampton,
And what was your name before you
was married ~ the old man asked Of the
good wife.
My maiden name was Hepsebath
Munson, sir"
"Were you from Daventry?
No, sir. | was from Kibwarth, in
Leicester. | went to Daventry to live
when | was sixteen"
"You never had brother ?"
"Yes, sir. | had one---George-ho
went off to India and there he died ! Poor
George He was a good boy--he was
very good to me. He was smart young
man when he went away"
q" How do you know he is dead ?
Because we never heard from him sir"
Hepsebath !" cried the old man, start.
ing to his feet, look at me Look at
me, say See if you can't tell me who
| am I remember now of hearing that
you had married man named Gropp
but I could not find where you had moved.
was negligent-very. But say do you
know me?
"It amt George MunsOn!" gasped
Heppy, starting from her chair, and tremb-
ling ike an aspen.
Look at that purse Didn't you see
that name 2" ane as the old man spoke he
showed her namo worked in golden
thread, but which she had not detected
But she read it now-George Munson,
Then she looked into the time worn face
and gradually the features of one she had
loved in years long agone were revealed
to her. 1t was her brother-her own
dear brother George.
Presently Jareb Gropp saw his wife in
the old mans arms, and with one bound
he reached the middle of the floor.
There, he cried, now see Supposin'
I'd taken that gold? If I had we'd never
have known George Munson. tell ye,
there's always a sunbeam sure to fall up
on good action It'll come sometime,
ye may depend. George, how do ye do
Aint l glad now that we didn't touch your
gold. How could ever have looked my
delights brother in the face after it, How
de do--how de do ?"
The last half of this speech had beer
made with the old mans hand N hi
grasp for even then the thought had moi
worked itself into Jareb's honest mint
that any pecuniary good was to grow ou
of this.
But it was indeed Heppys own brother
and Of the chief objects he had in view
when he first set out on his travels was Il
find his sister, if possible. He had for
gotten her husbands name, having hear'
it but once in India, and then only casual,
in conversation with man who had jus
come out. The old man was rich an,
: now that he had found the only livin
| relative he had on earth, he resolved t
-