American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-03-06

"Are we going home now, sir 2"
"Not just this mute; I've got to stop
at the Savings Bank. 1t don't close till
five, and must draw little sum out"
Harry Morton held the hcrSes, while Mr.
Oxiey went into the handsome brown
stone building and transacted his busi>
ness, and gave up the reins in silence
| when he returned.
"Well, boy, what are you thinking of"
asked Mr.. Oxley, after he had driven
some distapce without word being spoken
on either Side
81 was thinking how nice it must be
to have lots of money r answered truth
full Harry.
Mr.. Oxley laughed "You arc young
q sing that song, Harry, lu; it's true as
gospel. Money is nice thing"
Harry Morton was proud boy thai
eyening, as he showed his mother the
guerdon of his days labor.
"Only see, lff cen cents, mother, and
he only promised me shilling but he
said had earned 1t, and he wouldn't be,
grudge it."
Mrs. Morton kissed Harry, and gave
her waited for congratulations, while
Charley standing on tip toe to eye the
fifteen cents, regarded his brother as a
capitalist.
Mrs. Oxley's bright kitchen looked
even brighter than usual, as her husband
came in out of the frosty starlight to the
CLEAN of blazing chestnut logs, and the
steady glow of the big lamp on the man
tie. The evening board was duly spread
white, new bread, crisp honeycomb, swell.
ing over with golden liquid, butter as
yellow as dandelion, and the fragrant
slices of thinly cut ham, in which the
farmers soul delighted; while brown
cone of hot gingerbread smoked in the
centre.
81 heard you coming" said Mrs. OK
ley, as she set the tea pot on the tray and
poured out pitcher of thick cream
"Come sit down A cup Of hot tea will
take the frost out of YOU
Mr.. Oxley, nothing 10th. sat down to
the evening meal thinking for the nine
| ty-ninth thousand time, what good wife
he had
"And what luck 2" demanded the
comely matron, cutting off section of
overfowing honeycomb for her husbands
plate.
"Well, | sold all the apples-got good
prices for 'em, too, and contracted for
! two hundred pounds of butter, and"
"Did you get the money Cor my new
dress p
YES"
Farmer Oxley laid down his knife and
fork, and be gan searching in his pocket
for the little Savings Bank" book,
81 must ha' left it in my overcoat rock
et.' lie rose up to look for it.
Strange where can it be 2"
Dear me, John; l hope you hav'nt
lost it - ''
''Lost it no, of course not; where
should | lose it ? Give me the lantern
and III go and take look into the wag,
on. Mike hain't put it up yet"
Bet the lantern and the look were
alike in vain. No Savings Book ap-
peared.
"Rebecca," said the farmer, solemnly,
"you may depend uTon it that young
scapegracc has stolen 1.-THE boy l told
you about"
"My DEAR" demonstrated charitable
Mrs Oxley.
81 tell you he has" ragged Mr.. Oxley;
"and I'll have the money back or I'll
have him in Jail. l was fool to believe
in his smooth speeches. They're a bad
set, and I've Il ought so all along. Give
me my hat, Rebecca; I'll go down there
| at once !"
The little supper Of hasty pudding and
milk was op the table at the stone cot
tage, and Mrs. Motion and her two little
boys. after having made the aickering
| freight last as long as possible, had just
lighted the one tallow candle that shed a
faint circle OF brightness round the loom,
when laundering knock came to the
door
"Who can that possibly be al So late
an hour!" wondered the widow, rendered
a little nervous by overwork and Insult
cient meals.
Mamma don t go to- the door. It's a
robber, I'm surSe, or else bear !' fal.
tered little Charley, dropping the spoon
whieh had been lifted half way to his
mouth, and hiding behind his mothers
skirts.
But Harry, fearless of evil, drew back
the iron bolts and opened the door.
"Why, Mr.. Oxley!"
/ "You young vagabond," exclaimed the
iucensed man, "what do you mean by
looking at me in that brazen- faced way
give ME the hundred dollars you've sto-
len from me, or by all the fates, I'll have
y odg ge in Lede sport Jail before anotn'
er hour has pessed over your head"
Hundred dollars " hat hubdred
dollarsY l have never seen it, sir" saic
Harry, TOO much teslliered at first Il
realize the full force of the accusation
that had been made.
"You lie, you little miscreant; yot
have stolen it !" shouted the farmer
grasping the boys coat collar, and shak
ing him violently. 80 u
| II think there must be some mistak'
e here, SIR" said Mrs Morton, advancing
e with scarlet spot brewing on each 0
7 her pale checks II am sure that m,
e boy can never have taken any money tha
does not Justly belong to him.
; 'Once more | ask you, Harry Morton,
e said the farmer in choked accents of pa:
O sion 0wili vou oiv. hack that mone