Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-09-05

money daily; but actually found more
difficulty in arriving at The actual count
Of the ten bank bills before me. than
ever before or since encountered in
counting any however large, or however
numerous the notes Finally, putting q
chair against the door, spread The notes
out singly on the little table, in row.
and counted them with my finger. Then
made two rows OF five notes each, and
| again counted lhem-thcn five rows OF
two each. and counted them. finally,
| though slowly, became satisfied that
! had double the amount OF money vas
expected to deliver to my employers
agent Temptation entered my soul.
Five thousand dollars would Iclievc me
! of all my debts Here il was within my
/ grasp. had but to seal up The envel-
! opc by rc. wcttiug the wafer, incloSing
/ but half the money, aud delivering it
/ sealed TO the agent, and my trust would
! be, to all appearance, faithfully dischaig-
! ed. Once the thought occarIed that pos
| siblv il was n trap set Tor me by my en-.
/ ploycrs But the confidence in me was
unbounded. and the suspicion was iorm-
ed only to be dismissed do not at.
/ tempt 10 glaze over the dishonesty of
what contemplated. But had been SO
! al lao Il
nestle troubles arising from limited ~.
sources. and So prosecuted by creditors
that almost urged myself into the con
viction that approprating the money was
simply authorized self defence would
pay all my debts get clear of the world
once more, insist upon my wiIc's adopt
ing my views OF liting-sayc money
gei into business Tor myaelf-nnd finally
/ pay back the sum.
| concluded to leave the envelope IN.
/ fastened until morning 50 as To give my
/ self rs much moro time before deciding
/ upon an act which all my arguments with
myself had not made entirely reconcia
/ Bile. Arriving ut this conclusion. my M-
tcntion again TUNED to my host and his
wife could hear his voice alone now.
/ 1t had been sounding along in a some
/ what elevated tone for some moments.
/ | crcpt quietly to the partition dividing
! the apartments from the passage The
/ bright autumn moon. which WAS on their
| side ot the house. shonc through their
window and through The space between
out in the passage, aud upon its IlOors in
brilliant bars OF light 1t was easy for
me TO sec what was passing within the
room. Man and wife were knccling at
their bedside in prayer. The man with
/ upliiicd head and closed eyes. ultering
IN earnest SuppicatoD, his wife beside
him, and one arm passed aifecionatcIl
! through one of his. and her head resting
against his shoulder. They were kneel-
ing ut the side ot the bed opposite me-,
and his face WAS plainly visible. It,
/ calm and pious expression ~, Il sn iiici
cnt rcbuke 10 my unjust suspicious 81
/ began 10 listen IN time Ia hear him say
"Pardon o mctciiu Father, not only the
1 sins OF Thy humble servant and his house
! hold, but turn the hearts OF those who
/ have done evil unto him, who have wished
him injury, and who have harborcd suS
| picions oi him. Bless such, . Lold.
and preserve them in order that they may
turn from their ways and seek the ways
of righ teouSness.'
His serious, earnest and manly voice
struck IL chord in my heart, not only in
sympathy with the hone st and tender
suppicalion that was passing from his
lips, but of conlrilon for the wrong
had done him by my suspicious. | in
voluntarily compared him, whatever
Scle his good or bad deeds, at least IN
humble penilent before his God, with the
wretch that had decided but few mo.
ments ago to make OF myself. by the mis-
appropriation of my employers money.
and still haunted, however, by The relief
it could obtain Tor me, would not quite
give way 10 The feeling of repentance
which was knocking for admittance at
my breast had half decided to turn
away and drive these better thoughts
from my mind, when | observed some
thing in Il small crib that was placed be-
side and toward the foot Of their bed. Its
occupant, n grandchld. whose parents
they informed me, were dead, awakened
hy its grandlather's voice, rose up, look
ed around, and settled down upon its
knees, and clasping its little hands rs its
grandfather's were clasped, and looked
upward, out through the window ut The
moon, whose bright light fell upon its
darling face, began moving its lips as II
trying TO repeat the wolds. Nothing SO
like an angel ever met my sight. The
grandfather began the Lords prayer.
The little fellow seemed to have this by
heart He repeated it word Tor word, his
Tiny, silvery voice sounding In sweet ac
cord. could not turn away, nor any
longer resist the botter emotions which |
had hitherto kept down. A rush OF re-
pentant feeling passed through me with
| ~ ~ ,icl oh | la
upon my knees. and with tears streaming
from my eyes, joined in the concluding
words Of the prayer.
Ineed not say that changed my mind
with regard to the money. passed
on;nt ,,inl, nnl rnun narlv hn sln IL In O