, 1862-08-28
The Heavy c:rosn.

| ",
who had served under Admiral Nelson, had not
gained at Trafalgar small pension, which he
| Maid for by the loss Of one 0f his legs Now
partly that leg, and still more that pension, were
constant objects Of je e,lousy for Robert; he
blamed fate lnr having left him his two legs, and
he colnrlained bitterly to God because he could
not as he said sell his legs at the same price rs
HnHns. Every time that he went to pay his
rent, he repeated, grumhiugly, that his neigh
hor was a very happy man that he was well
able to pay rent, the king gave him such
good pension.
Al Rrs,. Robert 'ntented himself with talk.
ing If his Crirvancrs to himself, but little BY
little lks discomfort was expressed more loudly,
and soon Il became his habitual and faVcrite topic
oF conversation. One week, when he was he.
hinhhand with his rent, and as he was going tn.
wards the house Of Mr.. TAYLOR to make his ex.
cuscs, he met his nrighhnr Hullns, whO was go
| ing aS regular as a click to ray his rent The
very sight Of Samuel had on Robert the effect
If sickness; so when he bowed his head in re
NV to the salutaiion of HulliGs his face singn.
larly resemhled that Of bull showing his h0fns
To dng. On reaching the house Of the land.
lord. Hope was severely repiimanded. and the
example If his nrighbOr held up to him, as al.
wavs laying regularly and to tie last penny.
"Yes. ves," muttrFed Robert, "there are
some who nre horn with their month Full Of
money; Ilnllins Is very happy. but am not as
tonishrd that person can pay regularly when
he has such pension as his"
Hnllins has a pension. II is tFue," replied
Mr. Tavlor, "hnt his intirmitv i3a heavy crnss.
aud if YOU were afflicted with il, you would
COMPLAIN much more"
"Not at AL" replied Hope; "if had been
hanpv enough to lose a beg as he has, Il would
have hcrn fmously productive day for me
! would s,l al my limbs at the same price that
SamneI has, DO you cali his Eoodrn lrR
heavy cross -fbr nv part think his pension
nnght to make it light. The hraviest cross that
know ot, is to he obliged to work increasingly
tn nav yonr rent"
Mr.. Tavior was a good naturrd man and a
keen observer. IL had fnr long time remarked
R0irrt's PnvioIS disposition, and he resolved b.
convince bin that with dscOntented spirit the
lightest cross would soOn become hravy.
~ see" said he to Hope, "that you are dis
nosrd to do nothing; very well. can free you
from this necessity Of working, which you think
sO eriev0us You think the cross of your neigh.
hoF Samuel easy IN hear, do youp n You will
acceni n one mnrh lighter. will engage 70 bold
Won quit ri vnnr rentlT
But what kind of rrnss will Won mt on INV
shouldrr?" a>ke'i Robert uneasy, for he feared
that the proposition would not he acceptable.
''Such rs this said Mr.. Taylor, taking a bit
of chalk AMI tracing white cross on Roberts
coat; las long as YOU wear this will not ask
Won for your rent"
Hope thought at first that his landlord was
i"king; hut on being assured that he was speak.
ing seriously;
"By ST. Gcnrgel" cried he, "you may he
sure hat you have seen the last Of NV money,
Tor I will carry such rruss all my liiel
Robert soon left. congratulating himself on his
..An LII. N II. l. I.N
the folly of Mr.. TAYLOR IN giving up his rent 20
easily. He had never felt happier in his life
than when he reached home; he found fault
with nothing; even his dog came and sat down
1t his feet without hrng punished Tor his tamil
iArity. As he sat down on entering the house,
his wife did not a. lirSt see the white cross he
had on his shoulder; hut passing behind her
husband to wind 40 the clock, she cried out all
at once, in a sharp voice:
"Ahl--gOod h aVenS Robert, where have
vOu beenI You have q cross q foot long on
your back. You must have come home from
the tavern, and suppose some drunken friend
has played you this trick to make you look like
n b0ohy. as u you needed a mark for thatl
Get M, and keep quiet till l brush of that
cFusS"
"Get Oft" cried Hope, turning away quickly;
"my clothes have no need Of you; 60 and knit
your stocking, and let me alone"
"That will nOti" said Mistress Hope, In q
still sharper voice. 81 do not wish my husband
u become the laughing stock Of the village. aud
4 tear yh,ir coat in piects, you shall not wear
that ridiculous crOssi"
81 saving, the whue hous hold endcavored IN
brush Roberts shou' der; and he knowing that
resistance was uselrSs, q, d, swearing and shut
ting the door violently.
"What luiyn murmurcd he; "if she had
been more gentle would have told her Of NV