Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-31


len face of the one to the pallid cheek OF
the other. Theirs were not the first clothes
that had been sold for rum, nor viii they
The teacher comforted them with the as
s1rance that they might in future keep
their new garments at the school, where
thev would be safer than at home and in
due time they were again supplied with
suitable clothing.
One rainy night. when the two brothers
were hanging about Broadway theatre,
vainly seeking for horse TO hold, lady
and q gentleman passed from the building
to a carriage. the door of which was
scarcely shut when Christian discovered a
watch upon the pavement--a ladys watch
of great value.
"Keep it, Christie" whispered Gustave.
Christie's dark eyes flashed back an in
slant rebuke, and away he bounded after
the rolling carriage. The pavement was
sIinperv. the driver impatient, the horses
dashed on faster and faster. In vain Chris
tie shouted no one listened to his appeal.
Breathless and exhausted, he reluctantly
turned back, only to be jeered at by the
more covetous brother.
"Gustave," said Christian, as they walked
home, don't you tell father and mother
that found the watch if you do they'll
sell it, and then shan't dare to find the
owners"
Il ooia tell them, said Gustave DO
vou suppose / am going to bed without sup
per? AS if you could ever learn who the
strangers were? don't believe it was their
watch, any way.
You do suppose and Ic7soao it was their
watch, Gussie and you know 1t would be
nothing else but stealing for me to keep it.
l never viii lie nor beg again, nor viii l
steal
Then make up your mind for SUCH o
beating as you hain't had lately" returned
Gustave, sulleniy. Blow me If I'm going
to starve this wet night.
Christie walked on 6 little, then asked
care you very hungry"
''You better believe am, " growied Gus
tave. rg-
Then take this roll; / vas going to
give it to Sissy"
Gustave took the roll and ate it greediiy,
SO greedily, indeed, that Christie sighed
that ne had nothing more to give. The
bread but sharpened the boys appetite,
and he grew more and more sullen More
than once he fingered at the grocery doors
as if longing to pilfer as he used to do; but
either the sharp eyes of the police, or some
other motive. caused him to resist the temp
tation. As they reached the alley he said
once more TO his brother:
Come. let's sell the watch. Christie, and
have treat"
"Gussie," answered Christian, "Ill
starve before will do what know noac is
not right I didn't use to know; but we
know now that the Bible says, Thou shalt
not steal If you tell on me they will
whip me, there g sudder passed over the
L. ha E,1pr hot hot
whipping would bel, but tell you once
for al. Gussie, that if they kill me, it will
not bring supper to you or them.
I've shall see" shouted Gussie furiouslv
darting into the alley, which was full Of
drunken men and women, among whom
was his father.
Christian knew that his fate was sealed,
but quick &c thought he dropped the watch
into little hiding nook known only to
himself, and went il.
give me the watch" cried the mother,
with eager coaxing. well hare meat and
WHISKY plenty now.
lit isn't my watch, mother. 1 snail
keep It until the owner advertises There
will be q reward offered, and you shall have
it all, every cent
But there was a hunger IL the miserable
: creatures stomach of which Christian
could not dream-the insane craving for
liquid fire What cared she for food when
that was SO near which could make her
forget hunger, cold and the many horrors
of her life Christian was dragged before
her already brutal fether and the watch
again demanded.
Father" said Christian, Il haTen't got
the watch. hare hid it, and you cannot
have it. It isn't mine nor yours We are
as well now as before 1 found il. Don't
make me thief, father"
But the poor child might as well have
appealed 20 the stones. The next moment
the leather strap, which had never failed,
fell upon his back, raising long purple
weits at every blow. at first Christian
tried to suppress his means, but his
shrieks grew louder and louder. until the
traitor Gustave, alarmed at the terrible
scene, ran for assistance, ana fortunately
found it in season to save his brothers life.
We viii not dwell upon the sufferings Of
Christian, nor the remorse Of Gustave.
When the teacher went to inquire the cause
Of the boys absence, he found Christian a
mass Of bruises and burning with fever.
Careful nursing at the mission house saved
the boys life, and he had the satisfaction
of finding the owner of the watch.
The trifing reward which Christian re-
ceived from the lady was accepted for his
parents sake, and was spent, not for the
comfort of those who had so cruelty suffer-
ed, but for whisky-dllcQgs 3chiSlg
One day, in the dead OF winter, Christian
was ordered out TO steal wood. where
can I find wood, mother" asked the lad.
81 1cozt steal if we all freeze together"
BE off y cried the brute, ''if you come
home without something to burn, I'll make
a fire of you p
Christian stopped down and kissed his
little sister, handing her at the same time
q bit of food he had brought from the mis-
sion house. She put her thin arms loving
" about his neck, and laid her soft cheek
g moment upon his breast.
Christie laid the head tenderly aside,
kissed her again, took the rope with which
he bound the faggots from the peg upon
the wall, and went out without speaking.
Gustave followed him, for although he
was older than his brother, he was more
influenced by Christian than the latter had
ever been by him.
They had never been the same to each
other since the night of the whipping; SO
now, as had often been the case of late, the
two walked silently-Gustave invariably
walking behind.
Christian turned one corner after anoth-
er until he reached the ruins of a recent
fire, the lofty brick walls of which were
still standing. Without appearing con-
scious Of the danger to himself, Christian
went directly into the midst of the ruins
and commenced throwing the charred wood
toward his brother.
Don't come any nearer, Gustave, the
walls may fall any minute Gather up what
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