Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-05-15

| Here, little ones, he called, as the two chill
dren went slowly away from the fruit shop win.
dow. lie was touched with the sober look on
their sweet young faces as they turned at his in.
yitation.
Come in. aud I'll get you some apples" he
said.
Katie held back, but Maggie drew out her
hand eager to accept the offer, for she was long
ing for the fruit.
Come" repeated Mr. Sterling speaking very
kindly.
The children then followed him into the shop.
and he hlled their aprons with apples and oranges.
Their thankful eyes and happy faces we're in his
memory all day. This was his reward, aud it was
! sweet.
Three months more, and again Mr. Sterling had
visit from the pale young widow. This time she
bad only twenty dollars. Il was all she hal been
able to save, she said but she made no excuse.
aud uttered no complaint. Mr. Sterling took the
money and counted it over in a hesitating way
The touch thereof was pleasant to his fingers, for
he loved money But the vision OF sober child
faces was before his eyes, and the sound Of plead
ing child voices in his ears. Through over-taxinp
toll and the denial Of herself and little ones the
poor widow had gathered this small SUM- aud was
now paying it into his hands, to make good the
honorable contract OF her dead husband lie hes
itated. ruflng in half absent way the edges Of a
little pile Of bills that lay under his fingers. One
thing was clear to him. never would take any
.
debt must be forgiven. People would get to IN
derstand the widows case they would hear OF
her sefdenial, anl that of her children, in order
to pay the husbands and fathers debt, in order to
keep pure his honori aud they would ask natural
ly, who was the exaeting creditor? This thought
affected him unpeasantly.
Slowly, as one in whose mind ;blte still went
on, Me Sterling to1k from his le5S Alarge p ic<et
book, and selected from o1e of tn. comp trt nsnts
the note on which Mrs Gran ger had now made
three payments; for soma moments he he'd it in
his hands looking at the fa3s thereof H. saw
written down in clear figures the sum three hum
dred dollars. Seventy OF this had been paid II
he gave up or destroyed the slip Of paper, be
would loss two hundred and thirty dollars. 1t
was something OF a trial for one who loved money
so well to come up squarely to this issue Some
thing fell in between his eyes and the note of
hand. lIs did not see the writing aud figures OF
the obligation, but sad, pleading little face, and
with the vision OF this to his ears the SEN
tence-"No, dear, it's for fathers honor"
I The debate in Mr. Servings mind was over
I Taking up pen he wrote across the face of Mr..
I Grangers note the word cancelled and then
handed it to the widow.
What does this mean!" she asked, looking
/ bewildsred.
! 1T means, said Mr. Sterling chat hold no
/ obligations against your husband
/ Some moments went by ere Mrs. Granger's
/ thoughts became clear enough to comprehend it
ALL Then she replied as shs reached back the
/ note
81 thank you for your generous kindness, but
he left his honor in my keeping aud must main
tain it spotless"
That you have already done,n answered Mr..
Sterling, speaking through emotions that were
new to him; "it is as white as snow"
Then he thrust upon her the twenty dollars she
had just paid him
"No. Mr.. Sterling the widow said
II aba ba I vy,1f tha -
would rather touch fire than your money. Every
dollar would burn upon my conscience like living
coalsln
But keep this last payment urged the widow,
81 shall feel bettern
"No, madam Would you throw fire upon my
conscience? Your husbands honor never had
stain. All men knew him to be pure and upright
When God took him, He assumed his early debts
and did not leave upon you the heavy burden oi
their payment But he left you another and most
sacred obligation, which you have overlooked in
part
"what?' asked the widow, in an aim ,st startled
voice.
ITO administer to the wants of your children,
whom you have denied in their tender years -
giving Of their meat to cancel an obligation which
death had paid And you made me a party in the
wrong to them. All, madaml'-Mr. Sterling.
voice softened very much-''if we could all see
right in the right time and do right at the right
time, how much OF suffering might be saved
honor your true-hearted sell-devoton; but shall
be no party to its continuance. As it is, | am
your debtor in the Of fifty dollars aud will re-
pay it in my own way aud time
Mr.. Sterling made good his word. Under
Providence, this circumstance was the means o
breaking through the crust of selfshne,s and Gu.
pidity which he had foi,nsd around his heart. He
was not only generous to the widow in after years
but doer of many deeds of kindness and human
ity TO which he had been ia other tim a stranger.