The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-21
The Power of Trushfuiness.
A TRUE STORY.

Once there was a good man whose
name was John Kant. He lived at Cra-
cow, in Poland, where he taught and
preached 1t was his rule to suffer wrong
rather than do wrong to others.
When he got to he quite old he was
seized with wish to see once more the
home of his childhood, which was many
miles distant from where he now lived.
So he got ready, and, having prayed to
God, set out on his way. Dressed in a
black robe, with long gray hair and beard,
he rode slowly along.
The woods through which he had to
pass were thick and dark but there was
light in his soul, for good thoughts of God
and Gods works kept him company, and
made the time seem short
One night, as he was thus riding along,
he was all at once surrounded by men
some on horseback and some on foot
Knives and swords flashed in the light of
the moon, and John Kant saw that he
was at the mercy of a band of robbers.
He got down from his horse and said
to the gang that he would give up to them
all that he had about him. He then gave
them a purse filled with silver coins, a
gold chain from his neck, ring from his
finger, and from his pocket a book of
prayer with silver clasps.
''Have you given US all ?" cried the
robber chief, in a stern voice ''have you
any more money 60
The old man, in his confusion, said he
had given them all the money he had ;
and when he said this, they let him 90.
Glad to get off so we'll, he went on and
was soon out of sight. But all at once
the thought came to him that he had some
gold pieces stitched in the hem of his robe
These he had quite forgotten when the
robbers had asked him if he had any more
money.
F'This is lucky" thought John Kant.
for he saw that the money would bear
him to his friends, and that he would not
have to beg his way, or suffer for want
of food or shelter.
But Johns conscience was q tender
one, and he stopped to listen to its voice.
1t seemed to cry to him in earnest tones,
''Tell not a lie !" These words would not
let him rest.
Some men would say that such prom
Use, made TO thieves, need not be kept
and few would have been troubled after
such an escape. But John did not stop
to reason.
He went back to the place where the
robbers stood, and walking up to them,
said, meekly, 81 have told you what is
not true. l did not mean to do so, but
fear confused me so parden me-
With these words he held forth the
gold pieces, but to his surprise not one OF
the robbers would take them. A strange
! feeling was at work in their hearts.
These men, bad as they were, could
not laugh at the pious old man. ''T'hou
shalt not steal - said voice within
them. All were deeply moved.
Then, as if touched with a common
feeling, one of the robbers brought and
| gave back the old mans purse; another,
his gold chain; another, his ring another
his book of prayer; and still another led
up his horse, and helped the old man tc
| remount.
Then all the robbers, as if qditc
ashamed of having thought of harming SC
good man, went up and asked his bless
ing. John Kant gave it with devout
feeling, and then rode on his way, thank
ing God for so strange an escape, and
wondering at the mixture of good anC
evil in the human heart.