Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-11-28
qFen gEfHelf
JSiri ana the Poeketl lBo0A4
aIom. | dropped nv hocket-book

"Jem, I dropped my pocket-bool
somewhere. out, here. Have yoy
SEEN itPa asked a Efsrmer, one
day, of a Boy who was hoeing po.
tatoes for him in a field.
INA We tsdl 5om0 VI hhavl
not"
"WsBgsupppse0 you help, mo te
find it, You look along that side
Of t4s AaeEd eHaril ghe gate
while l look on this" rejoined Mr.
Beers, pointing in The objection
iSSes, siss hidJJgm, cRceEfniy,
and dropping his hoe in the furrow,
he started along rhe edge Of the
field, carefully looking forithe lost
pocket book.
NWlien Be reached the gate, he
found the farmer there before him,
with the pocket book in his hand.
Jem looked pleased, and said =
.cYoa have found it, sirin5
"Yes," replied the farmer, I have,
and / guess you knew very well
where it was. l found it right be-
side your dinner kettle, under the
grass, where,4. suppose, ydd left
it"
Jem Che edidf riselto his tenn
pies, and anger burned in bis heart J
but the latter he kept down, for he
was a Christian boy, and quietly
answered / Il know nothing ABOUT
Todrl pocket, book ,str | cannot
tell how it came to be near my din
nor kettle .aae.1t s5. .ee'i4 r-v,
"You are very innocent, ] dare
say" rejoined the farmer with a
bpeeH Tbgt facts don't fay9E that
5pihibh.D I don't want Suspicious
boys about mylplace, sql you may
quit as soon you like"
baPoor Jem was dumb with sur.
prise and sorrow. Taking up bis
dinner kettle, he left the field and
went direcllyihome to his mother
He told ber the story,of his misfor-
tune, and closed by saying, You
believe he, mother, don't you 2" "
9I Do, my sops she replied; IL
dont Believe you would either lie
or steal'for the hest filled pocket
book in the world" iNt' 'hH ha
Jem was comforted. His moth
or had faith in his word, and a
voice whispered, Jesus knows. -.
Ills own, Heart too, freed him,-7I
Though suspected Of lying and dis
honesty, he was at peace, because.
1ie Know the Suspicion to be uni
Just. 1'ss ire i.saod .a4 .a,biuq sdl !
The farmer, believing that Jem
had hid the pocket book, t9ld the
story to his friends. Some belieH'
but many shook their heads
ardtsaid, tit can'tbe. Jom has al
ways been a truthful aad honest
bby4'U TlTGll3 2 Eg 3B
Jom felt sad to, know that any
thought him guilty. But he told
thsstQryt goyer 7qnd ever tof his
Father, and was comfort
evlsid' jesus made him strong to
bear this sore trial After n few
days GgoItlemmf sentfCr7Jem and
offered to hire him. Jem asked if I
he, knew about the pocketbook.
Eyes, said he, II know more
than yod do about it; fof-I saw
y9qF tdqs With q book BiR biz mouth
going toward your dinner kettle.
I supposed you had sent him to do
It, until I heard this morning from |
Farmer Beers that you were sus-
pcct Of hiding .lt yourself" Thus
the mystery was solved, Jem's dog
hadufound and hid the pocket
book, The boys honor was now
Clear. lie had d Better place than
before and his heart was a. happy
as the. love ofJesus could make it,
Happy Jeml He lived to he u
very useful man, the trusted clerk
Of hts employer the support Of his |
mother, and an hpnorlto the church |
Of God. Suppose he had been gull
II or hidibg1Ae pocket book, and |
lying Abbbt i'll wodld, nbt the spty |
Of his life have been a very differ
ent one o. You fknowdits would
Learn, therefore, to be as true, hon
est natiept and good as dem wag,
\ ouF Iiie, Vii thea b6 happy, y non. |
orable. and useful H0lllW