The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-08

wealthy and now offer you but poor
return for the soul wealth you gave to me
in that by-go time"
al took the check" said Winslow, "and
drew the gold; and our house was saved.
And where, at the end of the year," he
added, "do you suppose found my note"
We could not guess.
"In possession" he said, with streaming
eyes, "of my little orphaned grand
daughter Oh, hearts like that mans are
what bring earth and heaven nearer to-
gether."
ALPS Well that Ends Well.
SOME years ago, l knew a lapidary who
gained considerable fortune by great mis-
fortune. An excellent workman, honest as
the day, Montin had but one fault; he was
too fond of good wine, which caused him
to neglect his sometimes for days
together, to the great dissatisfaction of his
employer, who in all other respects valued
and esteemed him highly, both for his
skill aid probity.
One day Montin received from his
master diamond of the finest water to
cut and polish, with strict recommends
tiOns to keep sober until the work was
finished.
81 rely on your activity" said the Jewell
er, on giving him the stone. az must have
it without fail on the 18th instant; and if
you disappoint me this time, it will be the
last you will have from me-"
Montin promised exactitude, asked, as
was usual with him, part of his pay in ad-
vance, and set himself courageously to
work. Under his. skillful3 the diamond
soon began to show forth its beauty; in a
few more hours it would have been
finished, when, unfortunately for Montin's
! resolutions, friend called on him, an old
comrade, who had been long absent from
Paris; what could they do but take glass
together? Arrived at the cabaret, the
time passed quickly away, and Montin
thought no more of his unfinished work
During the morning his employer came
to see how the polishing of. the diamond
proceeded. The concierge assured him
that Montin had only Just gone out, and
would not fail to return directly, as he had
for some DAYS been working steadily and
unremittingly. Only half satisfied, the
| jeweler went away, to return in two
hours, and to find Montin still absent.
Convinced he was at the tavern, the mas
ter charged one of his men to seek him,
and induce him to return to his work
This was done, and Montin, grumbling
between his teeth, quilted his cOmrade,
and assembled to his workshop; but his
head was no longer clear, nor his hand
steady. To add to his trouble, the dia-
mOnd became unfxed; he seized it hastily
to replace it; his trembling fingers gave a
| jerk-and, by strange fatality, the pre-
cious stone flew out of the window!
Sobered in moment by this terrible
accident, Montin continued gazing out of
the easement as if petriied, his pale lips
murmuring the words lost lost lost p
] For more than an hour he remained
motionless, and was only reused from his
lethargy by the entrance of his master
"Is it thus you work, MONTH ?" ex-
claimed he; three times have called for
the diamond, and you spend your time at
the tavern. Give me the stone; l must
have it, finished or unfinished"
Montin looked wildly at him without ut
tering a word.
"What is the matter with your" asked
the jeweler. "Why don't you answer ?
Have you drunk all your senses away?"
The lapidary tried in vain to speak. His
tongue seemed paralyzed At last he rose,
and hiding his face in his hands, muir
INJURED, "It-is-lost"
pened?"
"Out of the window"
"What when?"
"The stone"
swell, well, well; tell me what has oc.
Cured"
"The stone flew out"
1t was now the turn of the master to be-
come silent with establishment: then, f1ri
GUS with rage, he cried,
&c don't believe word of your story
you have sold my diamond to pay for your
dissipation"
This accusation was the coup de grace fol
Montin. He fell fainting at the feet of his
master: and it was not without difficulty
that he was recalled to life; or rather to a
despair which amounted almost to mad
ness. The jcweler, who understood what
was passing in his mind, tried to console
him, and at last succeeded in rendering
him more calm.
at is most unfortunate accident, no
doubt" said he, "but it is not irrepara-
bic"
"You do not, then, believe that 1 sold
your diamond for drink" said Montin,
eagerly.
mo, no, MONTH, you must forget what
| ouAt III ohS hlct VI dugGT, anu
let us try to find remedy for the misfor-
tune. The diamond was worth e2OO; you
must endeavor to repay me half of that
sum out of your wages, which when you
work regularly, amount to e3 or "a a
week. With industry and sobriety you
will soon get out of debt"
"Frorn tiris Time will work steadily
said Montin, with tears in his eyes. "You
shall see, sir, that though l have been
drunkard am not thief"
al believe yOu," replied the ieweler.
II have every confidence in you; YOU are
good workman; l with furnish Won
with plenty of work, and in few wears
you will be right again. Will that suit
your"
ooh yes, sir only tell me once more.
that you do not think l sold the dia,
mond."
al repeat, on my honor, that only said
so in the first moment of anger lam con.
WINGED you are an honest man-in faci
1 prove it by trusting you with more
work"
eyes, sir, that is true, and promise you
will not disappoint you. l will repair
nv fault; the lesson has been severe, but
1t WIN not be without its fruits"
Montin kept his gord-he rose early
and worked individually; the lost stone
was replaced by another, which was pol.
ished as if by enchantnent. Faithful to
his promise, Ihe went nomore to the tavern,
and became a modelof industry. At the
end of the year he bad paid considerable
part of his debt Sixteen months passed
thus, when one finemorning in May, hay
ing finished h woik, he placed himself at
the window, and wtched the boats pass
ing and repassins on the river, which
flowed close to the walls of the house.
, Suddenly his eye vas attracted by some
, thing bright glittring on the extreme
! edge of an old chimney. What was his
surprise to discove his half polished dia-
mond! 1t seemedas if breath would
|, precipitate it into he water beneath; and
vet there it had ben for so many months
suspended betweei heaven and earth!
At this sight hiemotion became almost
( as great as on the lay when he had seen
it disappear out Oithe window he dared
, not remove his eys, fearing to lose sight
of the almost recdered treasure.
| at is-it is myliamond, which has cost
) me so many tears said he; "but how
, shall reach it /! f it were to fall! But