Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-04

tht pittdHSC cSIsibIt atHIulcu.
1T is the poor widows mite, said Mrs.
Burgess; do not spend it for what will
make you more wretchcd than you now
are
The fingers closed over it, and the man
turned away and walked rapidly down the
street, though now and then he checked
his speed for an instant and muttered in
distinctly to himself. AT the end of few
minutes he stood before the door of mis-
cradle rumshop. ana looked through the
| torn window curtain into the room, where
| drunken, half idiot group was gathered
around an old rickcty table, busted with a
game of hazard.
The man was now sober, and as he gaz-
ed on those faces, purple and bloated, or
of deathly palor, those tottering forms
and those wildly staring eyes, and listened
to the deep oaths and the ficndisll laugh
uttered by those trepulous voices, lis bet
ter feelings awokc, ais upliltcd hand fell
from the doorlatcL aud lie aycrted his
eyes from the wretched group, but the face
ot their courade had been seen through
the window, and before he had quite de
cided to turn away from the spot two or
three of the more sober of the company
were draggn. him into the shop.
The man did net go very reluctantly.
but When he entered the room he suiIk
away into corner aad sat down by him
self. His cheek habitually so pale was
crimsoned with shame, not because the
eyes of those miserable men were upon
him. but awakened conscience was whis-
pernE IN his ear M toucs which sent his
/ blood like fiery torrent through his veins.
| ,..h i,, 4. L.,
Writhing in bitter agony, while his COM
pauions who had forgotten his presence
continued their drinking and play--that is,
those of them Who had not fallen to the
floor. overcome with their deep potations.
At length the man shook oil those terrible
thoughts, h appetite had conquered.
He took from his pocket the bit of silver
which the poor widow had given him. 1t
was an old coin and its inscription was
very nearly oblitcratet, and he drew near
the light to ascertain its value. For an
Instant his eys sazed upon it with strange
expression, and then it fell to the floor,
while an exclamation snch rs silenced the
noisy group in the shop burst from his lips
but before the. had time to inquire the
cause oi bis sudden emotion the man pick
cd up the silver, a"d rushed out of the shop.
In an incredible short space OF time, con
| sidcrin@ the distance he had to walk, the
same individual stepped into one of the lar
5est dry goods stores III the city. \ half
suppressed litter was heard among the
Younger cle"i;s as he made his appearance
but the man did not seem % ho... i., he
walked on with quick firm step till he
reached the counting room, where the
owners of the establishment were arrans.
ins their accounts. licpauscd then and a
look of shame and degradation stole over
that face. which nature had made noble
and handsome, as tue blue eyes of the sen
ior partner were fixed OH his countenauee
"Why are Non here again have told
YOU already We cannot employ YOU !"
There was pity i'll the old .entloman's tone
but his voice was firm. If you would
promise what We requirl tLere is no one
we would trust !"
II will promise said the man quickly
Twill sign the pledge Mr. Crompton.
The CID gentleman drew forth from his
desk a paper, on which was a list Of names
which his own and that of his partner
headed, the name of every man i'll his EN-
ploy was there The man took ihe paper,
and in large bold characters added his
name to the list while AR. Crompton look
ed over his shoulder.
"Georse. you will never break that
pledge there is something III your look and
manner which assures me Oft Take this,
and drawing from his pocket book a small
roll of bills he placed them i'll the mans
hand and get you some clotlilug,' and
when the man. who could only grasp with
fervor the hand so kindly extended toward
him, LETT the room, he added addressing
his partner; II will be surely for him. lie
is Il reclaimed man.
Half an hour afterwards, the individual
stood again at the door of the widow Bur
oes.
lie had approached the dwelling with a
more cautious tread than before, but per-
haps ille sound of his steps reached her, for
as he stood on the threshold she came to
the window, and lifting the curtain looked
ont into the street She did observe him
hut he obtained glimpse of her face and
fgnrc. That tall, delicate form, that
white brow and that raven hair it was she
and as she again let fall the curtain he
pushed open The unbarred door and step
ped within the apart;ncnt.
The widow was startled she raised her
head suddenly. for it had been bowed over
the couch of her sleeping child, hut she ut
tered no shrek. There was somcthiA% Ill
that figure which stood before her and
which she recognized us the same who Il al
hours before had solicited her charity two
held her silent and spell bound. Did hor
eyes deceive her or was she dreaming.
The man pushed his bat from his head
and brushed the hair from his high broad
brow and then he sank on one knee be-
fore the lady, and murlnured in broken
tones
"Annot, can YOU forgive me and will you
be mine again -
The widow-Mrs Burgess was no longer
widow, for it wss her husband who was
knecling before hcr,.thr report of his death
which had reached her years before, was
urfounded- Mrs. Burgcs wound her arms
round her rcpentant husband and pressed
her lips to his.
"Do you see how wret he'd am J" ask
ed the man striving to check her caresses,
"do pou know that for my base desertl"h
the law will release you from me T.
But the wife drew him to the couch OF
there sleeping child and whspered-'Dear
George, my heart tells me and yonr count
nance confirms 1t, there is more happiness
in store for Us than we have ever yet
known :"
That little Auuot awolle, but her half
opened ewes saw only her mother.
A happy New Year. dear mama y she
said extending l,er arms. at is morning
is it not aud YOU will 80 out soon aud