The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-01-25


thoughts were all running ~ onr direction.
A startling truth seemed suddenly 10 haze
been revealed to him, and he felt inclined
to look at it in all posshle aspects Why
am not happy r That was urging the
question home. But the answer was not
given.
After breakfast, Mr.. Edgar left home and
went to his store. As he passed along the
street, he saw at window the face Of most
lovely child. Her beauty, that had IL It
something OF heavenly innocence, Impressed
him SO deeply that he turned To gam second
look, and, in doing 50, his eyes saw IN the
door OF the dwelling the name If abraham
James, There was an instant reyHlspn of
feeling; and for the first time ihat morning,
Mr. Edgar remembered one of the causes OF
| his uncomfortable state of mind. Abraham
James was an unfortunate debtor who had
failed TO meet his obligations, among which
were two notes Of five hundred dullars each,
given TO Mr. Edgar. These had been placed
by the latter in the hands 0t his ltwSer, With
directions to sue them out. and obtain the
most that could be realized.
Only the day belnre-lhc last day OF the
year-he had learned that there were two
y judgments lndl NUuN idnt VltAShfHIr W
his. and sweep off a share Of the debtors pro-
perty. The fact that chattd him considtra.
bly,. causing him to indulge in harsh Ian.
guage towards his debtor. The language
was not just, as his heart knew. But the
lnss Of his money fretied hin, and filed him
with unkind feelings towards the individual
who had accustomed The luss.
No wonder tIiat Mr.. Edgar was unhappy.
He continued on his way, the angry impulse
tha, quickened the biond in his VEINS ,aasi.
ded. and, through the mist thar obscured his
mental vision, lie saw tie bright face Of 4
child, the child Of his unfortunate debtor.
His own precious one was no lovelier. no
pufer; nor had her lips uttered nn that morn
ing in sweete- tones the words" A happy
New Year. papa !"
How the thought thrilled him!
With his face bowed, aud his eyes upon
the ground, Mr. Edgar walked OF. lie could
not sweep aside the image Of that child al
the window. nor keep back his thoughts ii
entering the dwelling where her presence
might be the only sunbeam that gave ligat
in us gloomy chambers.
a happy New Year, papa" Mr.. Edgar
almost started, for tie words had ~ distinct
an uttcrance 70 his inward ear, that the Y
seemed as il spoken in the ambient air. In
fancy he had seen the troubled doctor, over
whom hung many suits, his oSn ampag the
rest, leaving Tie chamber where he bad pass
ell an almost sIeepless night, and coming
with slow step. aud sd face 70 the family
sitting-rno There, alone, with his face
bowed upon his breast IN gloomy reIcry, Mr..
Edgar had seen him; aud while his hear,
was enlarged with pits and sympathy, the
door opened-ligbt footsteps moved across
the r0um-a ch.il sprang into hi. arms, and
glad voice exclaimed
a happy New Year. papa ~
When MIR. Edgar arrived III the store, his
feelings toward. Nj. James were yer. differ.
en-: from What ibey were ON the day previous.
All angeF--all re.enlment-wrie suae. ant!
kindness had taken iheu pace. Whatii Nr.
James did USe him !. :liop.afld dhliass: Muat
IL he should nse Tie watie amount ii Ills
indebtedness, Was the CONDITION ct tie
! fprmer 50 much better Than hts own. tnat he
would care to change places with arm: The
very idea caused shuddtr 10 run alun. Us
nerves.
Poor man = he said To himself. pity
ingly.
\ "What terrible thing to be t,us involved
IL debt.-ihu- crippled, l',p, driven ii the
wall. Il would kli he . MeH are very cruel
10 each other. aud am cruel Hl.h the re-,
\ What are thousand d0ilars 10 ine, ug 10 nv
wcil.to.du ncisb8or. compared with tha rBla
Uf helpless lrll0W.maii James asked iIae
IN two yrar, he VI, sure, be cUgld recover
himself aud make all guud. BJ', wiIh .
4 Il
as think Of II, | answered. - the hFst loss
/ is always the best loss. ! will get what |
can, and let the balance go.' Inc inuk he
/ then gave me, has troubled ms conscience
ever since. No wonder il is not happy
New Year"
! Scarcely hal Mr. Edgar passed the dwell.
I Ing Of his unfortunate creditor. when the
latter, Who haJ been waking tile iiuif uf his
parlOr III q truuJltd state Ol mind, rduc 90
the window aud stoud by his child. who vas
as dear TO me as thild could DC to tie heart
VI father.
i" Happy New Year, papa" |; va. the
/ third time since morning dawn thar be had
received that greeting ifom the same sweet
lips = The third tune thit her kisses were
given with the hsatt.warmtl uf childhopd's
unseIish love.
Mr.. James tried to give back the sane
glad gtest,ig. but tile word. seemed 10 choke
him. and iai,rd in the uttrranCe. A. the
two stuUd Dy tie window, the vile AID mn.
ther came up. aui leaning against her bus
band. loUked iurth Nltii a sad heart. oh.
no! il was not happy ncw ye-r's morning
u them. Long before the dawn II another
year. they mast 20 forth tram their pleasant
home aud both their hrarls shrank back in
lear from the dark beyond.
Gopd murniug. dear.r said Mr James.
soon aitrrsards, -, with hat and coat, and
muller on, he sluol ready to 60 forth To
meet the business trials III tie day. Ills
voice was depressed, and his coanlenanre
sad. Mrs. James did not say = Goni murn-
ing" il turn. But her husband sas Tie mo-
tion Of her lips aud the tears IN her eyes, aud
l a A ~. s..N 4. A