National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-02-22

gave the old creature what she
wanted. and hurried out of the shop
and put up my shutters, growing
angrier every moment.
If it is the policeman I'll make
him pay dearly for it, said. When
stood beside the box and saw by
the light of the lamp close by, that
the ham was wrapped up in some
thing resembling a handkerchief, |
bit my lips and clenched my hands
with rage.
Had it been a common thief ]
would not have minded it so much,
but a policeman . it was more than
could stand. So | crouched my
self in a doorway and waited. He
was relieved at Il O'Clock, knew
this was the time when my police
man would come to take the ham
when the time came | heard him
challenge the man who was to take
his place. and came marching down
to the corner. let him get the ham
well under his arm before stirred
then pounced upon him like Il
| tiger.
I've got YOU | cried. "A pretty
policeman YOU are. but you shall sui
fer for it. can tell yOu.'
He struggled with me for mo-
ment, like a Wild thing. and then all
OF sudden dropped the ham and
/ fell down in a helpless condition.
I'm a ruined man !. he groan-
ed-'there is 10 help Tor me now.
Oh, my God! my wife--my poor
wife = ana he cried like a woman.
The sight sottened me. but | was
still angry.
You should have thought of that
before YOU became a thief ! said.
If the guardian of a mans property
is not to be trusted. what is to be
come of him You do not seem to
be a scoundrel-how have You
stopped to do such a diSgracetul
thing.
He was standing beside me, and
the lampight fell on his face. Il
was as white as any corpse'S, and his
eyes glittcred terribly.
.Policemcn's families don't very
often starve,' | said.
My God. can't YOU believe me
won't YOU believe me I! painted the
nan. Il have only been appointed
three days have been i'll a long
while. and had neither money or
credit. Last night we went to bed
Suppellcss-to-day there has not
been crust i'll the house. and those
hams tempted me so. You can ney-
CT know how they tempted me, and
! meant to pay you afterwards
He covered his face with his
hands. and | could see the great
tears dripping through his fingers.
At last he said-"Do what YOU
like with me the last hope is gone"
But | put my hand on his arm
and said-"God forbid that | shall
take the last hope from you. If
your story is true, | pity you more
than ! blame YOU"
He looked at me as though he
scarcely understood me, and | led
him back to the shop. Then filled
a basket with bread, butter and
coffee, and put the ham on top OF
all. Take it home to your wife," |
said--"Iou'll pay me when yoa get
Your salary and if you are i'll need
before that, come to me-
| hall never forget that mans
face i'll all my llfc--,so thankful and
awe.stricken. All he said was,
"God bless your' but there was Il
whole sermon in those words.
On Christmas night he paid me
every cent. and from that day until
left that ncighborhood, he dealt
with me regularly. But times grew
so omuch better that | took store in
u good street at the other end of the
town, and saw no more OF my po-
liceman for three years.
One cold night | was awakened
hy the cry OF fire. | started up tc
see the flames through the floor
and 10 know that the store was ol
fire. The stairs was also burning
and as ! opened the entry door th'
hot air aud smoke rushed in and al
most Smothered me. | gave up al
hope of getting my wife and dea
little ones out of the burning build
ing alive. My blood ran cold whel
my wife clasping her hands, an'
with an awful look upon her fac,
screamed
sour little Incy--our little Lac,
is in the house"
She slept with the hired girl, am
, the woman in her fright had forgot
, ten her. There she was at the to-
of that burning house. out of tn
, reach of any human help, it seeme'
r TO me as | looked up the wall. Still
hopeless as it was ! should hav
gone into the burning house an,
t saved my baby, or died with her,
: | had been able to stand. 1t woul
be u foolish sacrifice of life, the
+ said, for no doubt the child was IA
ready smothered 10y the dense smok
y and although raved and pleaded
b. and made wild promises, they shoe
I their heads, and badc me hav
t patience.
Patience /! | thought that wa
going mad, as the Face OF my Iii
4. tie girl--my pretty sweet pct--ros
up before me. But just then a taI
man dashed through the crowd an
y came toward me.