The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-03-01


of us, Katie, Lille Bonfield, and /, were
walking round the square at recess time =.
Uncle Hiram came along. and taking three
bright ten cent pieces, he siad, here's a
dime for each of you girls, to buy sugar
plums. Lille and screamed ont and star
ting away for the candy shop in an Instant
but Katie stood still with her share Of the
money in her hand. Come along! cried.
She didn't move, but looked grave and Sc
rious. Amt you going to buy candy with
it? | asked. Then she shook her head
gravely, putting the dime in her pocket, say
ing, Il don think she meant farme to hear
the words It's for fathers honor, and
leaving US went back to the school room.
What did she mean by that, mother? Oh,
she is so strange
Her mothers poor, you know replied
Mrs. Sterling, laying up Katie singular re-
mark to be pondrred over.
She must be, - said Flora, for Katie $
worn the same hock to school every day for
nearly three months
Mr. Sterling, who did not let "A single
word OF the conversation escape him, was
| far from being comfortable under the pros
pect of getting back the money he had loaned
Mr. Granger, as he had felt an hour before
lie understood the meaning Of Katie S re-
mark-"lts for father honor!" the truth
| flashing at once through his mind
| There was another period of three months
and Mrs. Granger called again upon Mr.
Sterling and gave him twenty-five dollars
more The pale thin face made q stronger
| impression on him. 1t troubled him to lift
the MONEY her small fn"erS, in which the
blue veins shone through the transparent
| skin, had Just counted out He wished
| that she had sent the money instead Of call
ing. 1t was on his lips to remark, DO not
trouble or pinch yourself to pay faster than
convenient Mrs. Granger" but cupidity
whispered that she might take advantage of
his considerate kindness, and he kept 81
lent
mo dear; its for fathers honor, l cannot
spend it. -
| Mr.. Sterling was passing print shop,
! where two children were looking in at the
window, when this sentence stuck upon his
ears.
AN apple won't cost but a penny, Katie;
and want one so badly" answered the
younger Of the two children, little girl not
| five years of age
Come away, Maggie" said The other,
| drawing her sister back from the window.
Don t look at them any more-don think
about them. -
But / can't help thinking about them
sister Katie. pleaded the child.
1t was more than Mr.. Sterling could
stand. Every want of his own children was
supplied He bought fruit by the barrel -
And here was little child pleading for an
apple, which was denied because the penny
must be saved to make good the dead faith
err honor WHO held that honor in pledges?
Who took the sum total of three pennies.
saved from the self denial Of little children,
and added them to his already brmning
cofers? A feeling of shame burned on the
checks of MIR. Sterling.
Here little one," he called, as the two
children went slowly away from the fruit
shop window lie was touched with the
sober look on their sweet young faces, as
they turned at his invitation.
Come in, and I'll get you some apples, -
he said
Katie held back, hut Maggie held ont her
hand eager to accept the offer, for she was
longing for fruit.
Come, repeated Mr.. Sterling, speaking
very kindly
The children followed him into the shop,
and he filed their aprons with apples and
oranges Their thankful eyes and happy
faces were in his memory all day. This was
his reward and it was sweet
Three months more and again Mr.. Ster-
ling had visit from the pale young widow
This time she had only twenty dollars 1t
was all that she had been able to save, she
said; but she made no excuse, and uttered
no complaint Mr. Sterling took the mon
ey and counted it over in hesitating way.
The touch was pleasant to his fingers, for he
loved money But the vision of sober child
faces was before his eyes, and the sound of
pleading child voices in his ears Thougl,
over taxing toll and the denial of her self
and little ones, the poor widow had gathered
the small sum and was now paying it into
his hand-to make good the honorable con
tract of her dead husband. He hestatcd,
ruflling in halt absent way the edges of Il
lttlc pile Of bills that lay under his fingers
One thing was clear to him, he would never
take any thing more from the widow. The
balance OF the debt must be forgiven. Poo
pie would get to understand the widows
case; they would her sell: denial and that Of
her children in order to pay the husbands
and fathers debts, in order to keep pure his
honor; and they would ask, naturally, who
was the creditor? This thought affected
him unpleasantly.
Slowly, as one in whose mind debate still
went on, Mr.. Sterling took from the desk
pocket book, and selected from one of the
compartments the note on which Mrs.
Granger had now made three pawn ent -
For some moments he held it in his hands
looking at the face thereof He saw writ
ten down in clear figures the sum $500 -
Seventy of this had been paid. If he gave
up or destroyed the slip OF paper, he would
lose two hundred and thirty dollars. twas
something of a trial to one who loved money
50 well, to come up squarely to this issue.
Something fell in between his eyes and the
note Of hand. lie did not see the writing
and figure Of the obligation, but sad,
pleading, little face, and with the vision Of
this face came to his ears the sentence mo
dear, it's for fathers honor" The debate
in Mr.. Sterling's mind was over. Taking
up pen he wrote across the face of Mr.
Granger note the word Cancelled" and
then handed it to the widow.
What docs this mean?' she asked, look
ing bewildered.
1T means, y said Mr. Sterling, "that |
hold no obligation against your husband. y
Some moments went by ere Mrs. Grangcrs $
thoughts became clear enough to cOmpre-
hend it all. Then she replied as She
reached hack the note:
II thank you for your generous kindness
but he left his honor in MY keeping, and |
must maintain it spotless. +"
THAT you have already done" answered
Mr.. Sterling, speaking through emotions
that were new to him. 1T is as white as
snow !"
Then he thrust upon her the twenty dol
lars she had Just paid.
''No, Mr.. Sterling, the widow said
L s'It saall be as / will |" was the response.
II would rather touch fire than your
money. Every dollar of it would burn up
on my conscience like living Goals. y !f-