Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-09

mark-''lbS IOf lhblbI HeuOE
the truth flashed at once upon his
mind.
There was another period of three
months, and Mrs. Granger called again
upon MIR. Sterling, and gave him
twenty five dollars more. The pale,
thin face, made a strong impression on
him. 1t troubled him to take the
money from her small fingers, ia which
the blue veins shOne through the trans
parent skin, as il was counted out. he
wished that she had sent the money In
stead of calling. IL was on his lips e.
remark, "DO not trouble or pinch
yourself to pay faster than is conve-
nient, Mrs. Granger" but cupidity
whispered that she might take advan-
tage of his cOnsiderate kindness, and 50
he kept silent.
mo, dear, it's for my fathers honor;
l can't spend it."
Mr.. Sterling was passing fruit shop,
where two children were looking in at
the window, when this sentence struck
his ears:
San apple don't cost but penny,
Katie, and / want one So badly" an-
swered the younger Of the two
children, little girl not five years of
age.
"Come away, Maggie. " said the 9th
er, drawing her sister back from the
window, Don't look at them any more,
don't think about them"
But I can't help thinking about
them, sis er 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 cost only
a cent but the apple was denied, be-
cause the penny must be saved 10 make
good the dead fathers honor Who
held that honor IN pledge ? Who took
the sum total Of these pennies, saved in
seIf-denial, of this little child, and add
ed them to his already trimming cof-
fers ? A feeling of shame burned the
cheek of Mr.. Sterling.
''Here, little ones, " he called, as the
two children went slowly away from
the fruit shop window. He was touch
ed with the sober" look on their sweet
Young faces as they turned at his invi-
ton.
Come in, and I'll get You some APP
pies" he said
Katie held back, but Maggie drew
out her hand, eager TO accept the offer,
for she was longing for the fruit.
Come" repeated Mr.. Sterling,
speaking very kindly.
The children then followed him into
the shop, and he filled their aprons
with apples and oranges. Their thank
full eyes aud happy faces we're in his
memory all day. This was his reward,
aud it was very sweet.
Three months after, and again Mr.
Sterling had n visit from the pale young
widow. This time she had only twenty
dollars. 1t was all she had been able
to save, she said; but she made no ex-
cuse and uttered no complaint Mr.
Sterling took the money and counted
it over in hesitating way. The touch
thereof was very pleasant to his fingers.
for he loved money. But the vision of
sober child-fa was before his eyes.
and the sound of pleading child voices
in his ears. Through overtaxing toll
and the denial OF herself and little
ones, the poor widow had gathered this
small sum, and was now paving it into
his hands to mike good the honorable
contract of her dead husband. He
hesitated, rufhlng In a baif-absent way
the edges of little pile of bills that
lay under his fingers. One thing was
clear to him-he never would take any,
thing more from the widow. The bal
ance Il the debt must be forgiven. -
People would get to understand the
widows case; they would hear of her
self-denial, and that of her children, in
order to pay the husbands aud fathers
debt, in order to keep pure his honor;
and they would ask, naturally, who was
the exacting creditor? This thought
affected him unpleasantly.
Slowly, as one in whose mind debate
still went on, Mr. Sterling took from
his desk a large pocket book, and Sc
lected from one of the compartments
the note on which Mrs. Granger had
now made three payments. For some
moments he held it in his hands, look
ing at the face thereof. He saw writ
ten down IN plain figures the rum $500
Seventy of this had been paid. If he
gave MP or destroyed the slip of paper,
he would lose $3.50. 1t was something
of trial for one who loved money so
well to come up squarely to this Issue.
Something fell in between his eyes and
the note of hand. He did not see the
writing and figures of the obligation.
but sad, pleading little face, and with
the vision of this came to his ears the
sentence, mo, dear, it's for fathers
honor"
The debate in MIR. Sterling's mind
was over. Taking mp pen he wrote
across the face of MIR. Granger's note
the word Cancelled" and then handed
ID to the widow.
"What does this mean ?" she asked,
looking bewiIdered.
''It MEANS" said Mr.. Sterling, that ]
hold no obligations against your hus-
band.
Some moments went by ere Mrs.
Changers thoughts became clear
enough to comprehend it all. Then
she replied, as she reached back the
note:
ST thank you for your generous
kindness-but he left his honor in NV
keeping, and / must maintain it spot.
less"
"That you have already done, $
answered Mr.. Sterling, speaking
through emotions that were new t.
him; sit is as white as snow"
Then he thrust upon her the twenty
dollars she had just paid him.
mo, MIR. Sterling" the widow said
ut shall be as / WILL" was The
response. 81 would rather touch fire