Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-05-27

do as she had bid him ? He thought of
his mother, and poor hungry little Flora
watching wistfully for his return. He
could not go back and see them starve.
With sudden feeling of desperation,
he thrust the glittering necklace in his
pocket, and dashed rapidly down the
snowy street.
The gaslights blazed brilliantly in a
fashionable jewelry establishment, and
its bland proprietor looked inquiringly
on little Ross as he approached the gilt
would you like to buy this, SIT :
There was tremor in the boys voice
as he asked the question, and the hand
that held up the emerald necklace shook
visibly. The lapidary took the gems,
examined them closely for a moment,
and then shot sharp glance at the
child.
''See here, sir, he said presently, his
voice stern and commanding, Il want to
know how you came by this?''
The boys clear eyes fell, he blushed
and stammered, evidently embarrassed.
The jeweler put aside the emeralds, and
taking the lads arm, led him into a
small ante-room
You are a thief, sir j! he said
THAT necklace belongs to Mr. Fonten-
ay; he bought it of me not one month
ago. You stole it You are a thief p
The little fellow Strengthened himself,
and his brown eyes blazed.
81 am not thief, SIR he retorted.
81 didn't steal that necklace kind
little girl gave it to me, and | know it
was wrong to take it, but-my mother
and sister are starving"
The jeweler hesitated.
"You don't look like thief" he said,
"but I will send for Mr. Fontenay that
will settle the matter at once"
He dispatched message accordingly
and Ross sat down in one corner, and
sobbed bitterly, as he heard the driving
winds, and thought of his mother and
poor hungry little Flora. In half an
hour Mr.. Fontenay came bringing his
daughter, little Pansie, with him. The
little creature darted in like humming
bird, her cheeks ablaze, her blue eyes
flashing lightning.
''He didn't steal my emeralds,' - she
cried. Il gave 'em to him to sell 'em
and buy bread for his little sister,
Ross rose to his feet, struggling hard
to keep back the tears. He put out his
little brown hand, which Pansie instant
ly clasped in both her chubby palms.
Il am not thief, SIR he said at
last, addressing Mr.. Fontenay; 81 nev-
er stole in my life. I know it was wrong
to take the necklace, but-but-sir, my
little sister is sick, and she is starving"
The merchant drew his hand across
his eyes,
You're manly little fellow" he
said, patting the lads head, "and l dc
not in the least blame you, but we'll
take back Pansie's emeralds, and she
shall give you something more available
Here, Pansie, give this to your little
friend
He put a gold piece into Pansie's
hand, which she rendered to Ross, with
the injunction that he should run straight
home, and buy lots o goodies for hi:
sister; command lie was not slow tt
obey.
81 think we'll not lose sight of the
little fellow" continued Mr. Fontenay
as Ross disappeared in the stormy dark
ness, ''shall we pet? Let's see wha
we can do to help him. He's a promis
ing lad and an honest one, I'm sure
Mr.. Lennox, you're in need of an erranc
boy, why not try him? I wish yol
would.
The jeweler consented, to Pansie'
great delight, and ON the following day
Ross was duly established as errand bo,
in the fashionable establishment
Fifteen years after, one clustering
March morning, a young man sat behinC
the counter Of thriving jewelry estab
lishment in one of the northern cities
He was handsome man, scholar ant
traveller, a man of taste, intellect ant
money, for he was junior partner in tn
firm, which was prosperous one. Blu
despite all his good fortune, Ross Dun
bar was not happy. His mother and lit
tie Flora had gone to their long home
and he was utterly alone, without kit
or kin in the wide world.
Sitting alone that morning, with th
roar of the March winds in his ears, hi
thoughts went back to the days of hi
boyhood-to his mothers humble home
How vivid the past seemed and hoy
dear and sacred, despite its privation
and sorrows. His eyes grew dim, an
his heart swelled. All were gone owe
the wide waters of time and change
A tender smile softened his sad fac
as he recalled that stormy night, whe
he sat sobbing on the steps of MIR. Font
enay's mansion, and little Pansie takin
pity on him, dropped her string of en-
eralds. Darling little Pansie, the re
,oop brapca of har sweet faca &c ba co,