The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-28
The Heavy Cross,
A STORY WITH A MORAL.


lived next door to one another for more than
twelve years, and it 10 probable that they
would have continued TO live in harmony, II
Samuel, who had served under Nelson, had
not gained at Trafalgar a small pension
which he had paid for by the loss OF one OF his
legs. Now partly that leg, and the more
that pension, were constant objects OF iea.
ousy for Robert; he blamed fate for having
left him his two legs and he complained bit
terly because he could not, as he said, sell
his legs at the same price as Hulins. Every
time that he went 10 pay bis rent, he repeat
ed grumblingy that his neie hbor was very
heppy man; that he wss we'll able to paw
his rent, the king gave him such good pen.
sion.
At first, Robert coItented himself with
talking of his grievances to himself but
little by little his discomfort was expressed
more loudly, and soon it became his habitual
and favorite topic Of conversation. One
week when he was behind hand with his
rent. and as he was going toward the house
OF MIR. Taylor to make his excuses, he met
his neiehbcr Hullins, who was going as reg.
uar as clock to pay his rent. The very
sight Of Samuel had on Robert the effect OF
sickness SO when he bowed his head in ra
ply to the salua;ion of HuIins, his fece sin
guarly resembled That OF a bull showing his
horns to n dog. On reat hing the house
the landlord, Hope was severely rcprimand-
ed, and The example Of his neighbor held up
70 hiG', os always paying regularly and to
the last penny.
"Ycs, yes" mIitered Robert, srhpre are
some who are born with their mouth full Of
money Hulins is very happy, but AN not
astonished 'hot person Can pcv regularly
when h. has such pension Ms his.
"f4uina has pension, i Is true" replied
Dir. Tsylcr, "but hi4 irfrUiy is heavy
cross, Dnd if you were Dflijct.d with it you
would complain mach more"
"N"t at all" replied IL pc :"i had been
happy enough TO lose leg, as he was, it
) would have been famousIy productive day
Tor me would sell all my limbs OF the
same price that Samuel has. Do you call
his wooden ey a heavy cross! For my
part, think his pe' sion ought to make it
light. The heaviest cross thst know of, is
to be obliged to work Increasingly to psy
your rent"
Mr.. Taylor was o good natured man, and
keen observer. He had for a long time
Fen anked Roberts envious disposition, and
he resolved TO convince him that with dis
contented spirit the ishtest cross would soc n
become heevy.
81 see," said he to Hope, "thdt you are
disposed to do nothing very well. l con
free ycu from the necessity Of working,
WHICH you think so grtvous. You think the
cross Of y ur M il hbor Samuel easy to bear,
do you! II you will accept OF one much
lighter, I will engage to hold you quit of your
rent"
"But what kind Of cross will you put on
, me 7" asked Robert, uneasily, for he feared
that the proposition would not be accepted.
"Such as thie," said Mr.. Taylor, taking G
bit of chalk and tracing a white cross on
Roberts coat; "as long as you wear this |
will not rsk your rent"
Hope thought at first that bis landlord was
joking; but on being assured that he was
: speaking seriously=-
"By St. George!" cried he, "you may be
sure ,ha. you have seen the last Of my mon.
ey, for | will carry such cross oil my life"
: Robert soon left, congratuIating himself
on his good luck, and oil along the road he
laughed at the folly Of Mr.. Taylor in giving
3 up his rent SO easily. He had never felt
} happier in oil his life than when he reached
} home (; even his dog came and sat down at
is Ieet without being punished fer his ia
, miliarity. AS he sat down On entering the
house, his wife did not at first sec the white
} cross he had on his shoulder; but passing
behind her husband to wind up the clock,
she cried opt all OF once, in a shArp voice
"Ah Robert. where hove you been you
have n cross foot long on your back. You
must have come from the tavern, and 1 sup
pose some friend hos played you this trick to
, make you look like booby-as il you need
. ed mark for that! Get up, and keep quiet
. till brush off that cross -
"Get off :" cried Hope, turning away
. quickly "my clothes have no need of you ;
go and knit your stockings, and let me
: alone" ,a's
"That will not - said Mrs. Hope, in o
' still sharper voice. II do not wish my hus
r band to become the laughing stock of the
village, and il tear your coat in pieces. you
e shall no. wear that ridiculous cross !"
= So saying, the whole household endesvor.
. ed to brush Roberts shoulder, and he, know
y ing that resistance was useless, fed, shut.
e ting the door violently.
"What fury - murmured he; "if she
t had been more gep.le,E would have told her
. my good luck but she is not worthy Of
knowing it." irg., j.. a.-n,, ~a. s.ae
D "O-Robert - cried the old man Fox, the
moment Hope turned the corner ofhis house;
"whas is that white cross you carry on your
4 back'?" ....s.. tsF,s. AID ...
"Mind your own business" replied Hope,
insolently. aa.'' +@it2 'l,''s2a 7i