The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-16
A Fireside Story.

II EHeSlue otOTy.
One evening a poor old man, with hi
son, little boy, sat by tie wayside b,
the gate of an oil town in Germany -
Tie father took out loaf Of bread whicl
he had bought in the town, and broke it
and gave half to the boy.
"Not so. father" said the boy, Il ,ha,
not cat until after you You have bcer
working hard all day for small wages I,
support mr,and you mus, be very hangry
l shall wait till you have done"
"You speak kindly, my son." rcplie,
the pleased father: "your love for m,
Do es me more good than my food ant
those eyes of yours remind me cl You
dear mother, who has left us, and VIII,
told you to love me as she used To do
and, indeed, my boy, you have been
great strength aud comfort to me, bu
now that | have eaten the first mursI tt
please you, it is your Turn now to eat"
"Thank you, father; but break thi
piece in two, and take you little more
for the loaf is noi large, aud you rcqur,
much more 'han do"
IL shall divide the loaf for you. m,
hoy but eat il | shall not. | hav,
abundance, and let us thank God for Hi
great goodress in giving us Iood. aud it
giving us what is better st;ll-cheeriu
erd conlenied hearts. He who gave u
the living bread from Heaven 10 nourisl
our immortal souls. how shall He no
give US all other food tina. is necessary tc
support our mortal bodies ."
The father and son thanked God, and
then began TO cut the loaf in pieces, tt
begin their frugal meal. But as they Gu
one portion Of tie loaf, there ell oui sew
erh large pieces oI gold Of grea, value.
The little boy gave shout Of joy. ant
was spriDging forward to grasp The unex
pected treasure, when he was pulled bacl
by his fathor.
"My son, my son |" he cried, edo no
touch that money; It is not ours. know
not, as yet to whom it belongs, but prob
ably il was put lhere by the baker through
some mistake. We must inquire. Run J.
But, father" interrupted the boy
"you are poor and needy, and you ha,
bought the loaf, and the baker may tell
lie, and -"
IL will not listen 10 you, my boy.
bought the loaf, but not the gold in it,
II the baker sold it to me in ignorance,
shall not be So dishonest as to take udvan
tage OF him remember Him who told IL
TO do unto others as we would have other
do TO us. The b,ker may possibly chea
us. l am poor, indeed, but that is 70 sir
II we share the poverty of Jesus, God
ownson. oh let us share. also. his gooi
ness and his trust m God. We ma,
never be rich, bu; we may always b
honest. We may die OF starvation, bu
Gods will be done, should we die il
doing it Yes, my boy. trust in Coz
and walk in His ways, and you shal
never be put to shame. Now run to tn
baker, aud will watch the gold until h
comes."
So the boy ran for tie baker.
"Brother workman" said the old man
"you have made some error aMd-almos
lost your money :" and he then shove,
the baker The gold, and told him how i
had beeu found.
els il thine ?" asked the father ''if
is, take il all away"
"My father, baker, is very poor
and"
"Sllencc, my child put me not I,
shame by thy complaints. l am glat
that We have saved this man from losin,
his money"
The b"ker had been gazing alternatel,
upon the honest father and the eager boy
and upon the gold which lay glitterin.
upon the green turf.
"Thou art indeed an honest fellow,
said the baker "and my neighbor David
the fl x-dresser, told the ruth when h,
said thou vert the hones'est man in ou
town. Now shall tell thee about the gold
a stranger came to my shop three day
ago, and gave me that loaf, and told mt
10 sell it cheaply, or give it away 10 th'
honestest poor man | knew in the city. -
| told David to send thee to me, as Gus
toner, this morning as thou wouldst no
have il for nothing. sold it to thee. a
thou knowest, for the last pence in thy
purse; and the loaf with all lis treasuI,
land certainly il is not small lis thine
and God grant thee blessing with it,"
The poor man bent his head to th,
grouud, while tears fell from his eyes.
His boy ran and pu: his arms abou
his neck, and said
II shall always, like you, father, tras
in God and do what is tight; Tor an
sure !, will never put us TO shame"