The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-01-15

SuioA 10 thouSut nc put On MS nat aSaN
and ran from the shop. lie reached tn
hotel but the stage had gone, and the oil,
gentleman had gone in it. SO the cobble
returned to his cot, and there sat down witt
the purse in his hand.
"What shall we do With it ?'' he said, un
easily.
The wife pondered long while, and fin
ally replied
''Let's take it down cellar and hide it,
Then we shan't be robbed of it. nor w
shan't loose it and when he comes we shal
have it for him.
"But supposing he should never come
HepPyy :pPyt' S'' ,,
and they may use it,"
"Heppy, my delight, you are right"
So they went down into their narrow eel
lar, and having looked all around they fin
ally removed a stone from the wall, put th
purse in-having first rolled it up in man,
thicknesses of stout paper-and then pu
the stone back as it was before.
On the following day the cobbler watch
ed for the stage, and when it came he wen
up to see if the old gentleman had com,
back. This he did every day for tw,
months, but no old man came.
At the end of that time Jareb was take,
sick. He was very sick, and for lon,
time the doctor dcspaired Of his life. Ant
Jareb was very poor, too. Many nigh
the children went supperless to bed.
"Jareb," whispered Hcppy, with frighte,
look, "here's gold in the cellar :"
"Don't! Don't! Oh! never speak of j
again - gasped Jareb, in agony. "Tv,
thought of it Ay-there's gold there; bu
'tisn't ours, 'tisn't ours, ueppy.'
81 didn't mean we'd take it, Jareb
didn't mean we'd take it cried the wife
81 only thought you mustn't die 70
81 shan't die, SOULS delight. But
should die if we took that. 'Tisn't onrs
lleppy!"
After many days, Jareb Gropp was abl,
to walk out One pleasant autumn day n:
he hobbled along on a crutch and a staff, ht
saw the stage coach coming. 1t passed him
and he saw that same white haired old mar
upon the box with the driver. The poor
cobbler hurried on. and when he reached
the tavern he found the old man standing
in the hall.
"Ah. is this the merry cobbler 2" ask ed
the stranger.
81 am the cobber who mended your boot
last spring, SIR" replied Jareb.
"Yes, know" added the old man sand
the driver tells me you have been sick"
81 have been sick, sir. All, was made
Yes, Eve been very sick.'
"The driver tells me your family suffered
much during your illness"
''Some, some, sir. But that isn't the
thing now. Didn't you lose something the
day you came to my shop:''
"Lose!" repeated the old man. startling
Did you find anything:"
'Yes, SIR
'Was it a pursc?'
'Hcs, SIR
'Of green silk =
'Ies, SIR
with fifty gold guincas in it =
q don't know what was in it. found it
and if you will go down with me, you shal
have it,
The stranger regarded the cobblcr for
some moments in silence, and finally said
he weuld go. So Jareb led the way to hi:
little cot.
'llerc, my love- said the cobbler, addrcs.
sing his wife, 'let US have candle, the gen.
tlemnn has come for his PURSE
.We havn, got candle, Jareb, but
have something that will answer
And thus speaking, lIcppy went out, ant
when she returned she brought a pine knot
which she lighted by the FIRE. Jareb tool
this. and turned towards the cellar. anC
the stranger followed him.
81 can getit, sir
sGo on-Ill follow you.'
! The cobbler said no more, but hobblel
down the narrow steps, and when he came
to that part of the wall where the purse hat
been concealed he asked his companion t.
! hold the torch. The latter did so, and ther
Jareb removed the stone and drew forth
| paper parcel, all damp and mildcwcd L.
| They returned to the upper room wher'
Jareb unfolded the stout papers and pro
duced the purse unin ured.
'lIere, sir here is your purse, just as
| found it,
! The old man emnted out the broad @olt
pieces, and counted them just fifty of them
! He returned them to the purse, and theI
! looked into Jarcb's face.
.IIave YOU suffered for want Of none,
during your sickness = he asked.
/ 'Much, much,' was the answer.
'And you had gold by you all the while ?
'It wasn't ours, sir. Oh, | NAV have suf
fered, but not rs would have suffered haC
taken that. Itwasn't mine, it was yours
Take it, sir ; and when you remember poo
old Jarcb Gropp and his seven children, an,
larned, but you'll say they were honest
'Gropp p Crop? -GRorrf' repeatc,
the old man, fixing his gaze not upon Jareb
but upon his wife. you are not from Eng
land, are you?' turning to Jarcb.
! 'Ycs, SIR answered the cobblcr.
'From what part .
'From Daventry, among the hills O
Northampton
"And what was your name before you wa
married?" the old man asked of the goot
wife.
"My maiden name was IIcpsebath Munson
sir"
"Were you from Davcntry
"No, sir. was from kibwarth, in Lei
cester. went to Davcntry to live when
was sixteen"
"You never had brother?"
"Yes, sir. had oDe-Georgc-he wen
off to India, and there he died Poor
George! lie was good boy-he was yer.
good to me. lie was smart young MAJ
when he went away"
"IIow do you know he is dead 20
"Bccause We never heard from him SIR"
"IIepsebath !" cried the old man, starting
to his feet. "Look at me look at me,
say See if you can tell me who am .
remember now of hearing that you had mar
ricd man named Gropp, but could no
find where you had moved. was negligcn
very. But say, do you know me: :"
''It amt George Munson!' sasped iieppy
starting from her chair, and trembling lik,
an aspen.
"Look at that purse! Didn't you see tha
name % And as the old man spoke h
showed her a name worked in golden thread
but which she had not detected. But sh'
read it now-George Munson.
Then she looked into the time worn face
and gradually the features of one she love,
in years long gone were revealed to her.
1t was her brother-hcr own dear brothc
George.
Presently Jareb Gropp saw his wife in th'
old mans arms, and with one bound h'
reached the middle of the floor.
"There," he cried, ''now see! Supposin
I'd taken that gold? If had we'd neveI
have known George Munson. ltell We there
always sunbeam sure to fall upon q goo'
action. It'll come sometime, ye may depend