Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-16

him sheer away, hundred feet or more
before it let him drop A dozen yard
beyond a lamp-post would have caugh
him. and ended there the story of oul
comrades life.
A multitude of anxious people hast
ened to the fallen man, fearing to fine
him dead. Twas not so bad as that
He had received broken limb, and sus
tanned some painful bruises, but no fata
injury. Kind, sympathizing ones laid
hold and bore him tenderly away whittier
he requested.
A solitary, friendless little being stood
shivering with cold on the curbstone at
the corner of the street. He watched
the throng of richly, warmly clad hui
manity go hurrying by, and wished such
wishes as a starving, freezing outcast
will. He witnessed the scene Just de-
scribed, and curiosity, and perhaps SYM
pathy, led him with the gathering crowd.
Crossing the street in the direction
pursued by the fleeing team, his gaze
alighted on crimson object on the trod-
den snow. twas large pocket-book-
such as business men commonly carry
notes and other commercial papers in
bound in bright crimson morocco.
The poor boy was so excited and be-
wildered by the suddenness of this dis
covery, with all the attendant possibili-
ties in the possession of such piece of
property, that his brain fairly whirled
with the conflict of contending thoughts
His little hands trembled so violently
under this sudden agitation, that he
scarcely dared to trust them to hold the
precious object.
Thrusting it hastily into his BOSOM he
ran to a gashght few rods down the
silent cross street, where, taking advan-
tage of the diverted attention of the
passers, he drew forth the book to ex-
anime it. 1t contained, with other pa
pers, thick fold of bank notes.-the lad
had sufficient knowledge of money to
discover that at a glance. There were
besides several broad gold pieces-not
coin, but heavy and valuable medals Of
some description.
While he was making this hasty in
spection, trembling the while from head
to foot, heavy footsteps were heard ap-
preaching along the pavement. Sandy
for the lad was none other than the
cobblers son-quickly replaced the book
in his bosom, and fed without pausing
to survey the person of the intruder
The latter evidently perceived the
cause of this rapid movement, and at
once started in pursuit, shouting to the
boy to halt. But Sandy only ran the
faster. He crossed the street, dived into
a dark alley, whence he emerged, around
the first corner of the block, right in the
midst of the crowd that surrounded the
injured man, before the latter had been
removed
There he was no longer in danger of
discovery by his pursuer. However, he
had nobly mastered the strong tempta-
tion that loudly urged him to retain the
pocket-book, and had fully resolved to
return it to the victim of the recent acci-
dent Mr.. Fox, to whom he was certain it |
With the precious object in his hand
he crowded his way to the side of the in
jured man, who was being borne away
and was in the very act of delivering it to |
him, when burly police officer seized |
him roughly by the shoulder and showed
him violently aside, ordering him harshly |
to clear out from there. This violent
caused the pocket-book to
drop from his grasp and fall among the
feet of the crowd. One of the spectators,
against whom he was pushed by the Off
Ger, thrust the unfortunate little fellow
nngrily with his knee, which threw him
heavily back upon the ground.
Bruised and terrified by this inhuman
treatment, his sole care and anxiety was
yet for the lost pocket-book. As good
fortune willed it, he easily found the
treasure, and hastily secreted it on his
person. Then, without daring to venture
near again, he followed along behind the
men who bore Mr.. Fox to his lodging
place, near at hand. He noted well the
place, that he might return to it on the
morrow, as he was firmly decided to Do,
% deliver the property he had found.
1t was late when Sandy again ascended
he creaking stairs which led to the
vretched apartment which was digniied
With the name of home. The place was
lark, and cold, and silent as the grave.
His father had not yet returned, though
le came in few minutes later. He
brought with him few broken fragments
# bread and a cold potato, which he had
obtained somewhere as a char
ty offering.
This coarse food he gave to his son, |
,ut the halfstarved little fellow would (
lot partake of it until assured by his /
ather that he had eaten and was not ,
ungry. And perhaps he had put into
is own mouth Just so much ofthe scanty !
upply as would partially redeem this 1
tatement from the imputatiOn Of false '
.ood.
After this the two EMBODIED themselves
loosely in the thread-bare covering Of '
heir miserable bed, TO pass the cold win l
er night in what degree Of comfort they {
night. But Sandy at least could not '
leep. His fevered imagination was con-
inually busy with a review Of the events '
( the evening. He had said nothing to s
is father Of his having found thepocket- 9
Ook. He wished 10 spare the poor man I
be trying temptation with which be 8
lorld have to contend in order to pre- |
erve the spotless honesty that had char I
cterized his whole life II
The pocket-bo0k, with its supposed {
line Of wealth, still remained secreted q