The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-03-19
BY A VERY OLD MAN.

Most men would hesitate in telling such
story of themselves. But | am con-
vinced that it will afford suggestion Of
mercy toward such as do fall, and some
may be turned away from temptation by
its recital.
had been an under-clerk in 4 large
establishment for many years. Natural
" economical, my savings had attained
to such respectable sum that ventured
upon married life, quite as much as a
refuge from the monotony Of my mex
pensivc style of living, as in obedience to
those yearnings of nature which man
is very foolish or very bad not to heed
in due season. Like most men, how
over, adventures of this kind are not fol-
lowed by the comfort and ease which de-
pend upon money for their possession. In
the course of time came to repent the
undertaking, for l was in debt, my fami.
ly had increased, while my income had
not kept pace with my expenses. My
wife lacked the courage to practice the
self. which would be consequent
upon retrenchment of our expenses. |
was daily annoyed by duns. had bor-
rowed money in every available quar-
ter and a walk in the public streets was
literally denied to me by the fear of en-.
countering some one to whom | was in
debted for my house expenses.
Returning home late one night, jaded
by listless stroll through the town,
found the junior member Of the firm wait
ing for me. The house had received in
teligence after business hours, of a tran
sactIon entered into on their account
which required the immediate transmits
sion to an isolated island town Of severa
thousand dollars, together with certain
papers and statements necessary to con
clude the affair. 1t was too important ;
matter to be intrusted to the delay ant
uncertainty of the mail at the time. Upol
consultation of the members of the firm
had been selected to perform the neces
sary two days journey. l accepted tn
mission with alacrity, for the reason, a
mong others, that it would be such a re
creation as would divert my thoughts 70
timo from the perplexities Of my mis-
erable condition.
With the usual foresight Of the firm
everything necessary for my prompt dc
parture had been prearranged. The need
full papers and accounts, and the indls
pensible money requisite to finish tn
transaction, were placed in my hands
: an envelope addressed to the gentlema
who had acted as agent of the concern
f the matter. A letter of instruction wa
likewise inclosed.
l remember well the brig ght Septem be
: morning on which ] started on horsebac
and alone on my journey, Of which | az
complished hall the first day, arriving {
f farm house, whose occupant unhesita
/, ingly granted my petition for share ft
the night in its humble hospitality.
The weather had grown colder as Il
d evening came on, and by the time | ha
: reached the house | experienced sens
0 BILE chill. had with me flask of
quor, and was furnished at my reques
at bedtime, with a small quantity of HI
n water with which to compound a sort
!, punch, as an antidote to the cold ! a
: : pretended having taken.
/. | had removed the package OF mont
j from my pocket and laid it on the tabl
with a view of putting it under my p
low before going to bed. AS it lay {
the table the address was uppermost; (
the left-hand upper corner was mem
randum, "S5, 900 inclosed." | was stan
ing with my back to the door. Succee
ing few moments Of entire silence,
II heard step behind me, and | almo
e think breath upon my face. TurniI
i suddenly round, l beheld my host, wi
! the hot water | had called for in tum
!, Ter in his hand. He was quite besi
me, and his eyes rested, or fancied tn
rested, on the package upon the table.
e, must confess | was sensibly startled
. this incident. My concern was not {
T. minished by observing that he had l
moved his boots from his feet' and W
standing as he had come up-in his stoc
80 ings. My first impulse and act was
ia Ike the water out Of his hand. Not /
ing quite ready to use it, | put the c
Of ., velope of money on top of it, as the mt
I'd i'd convenient thing to keep it hot. |
not turn the superscription downward,t
cause feared it would betray the 81
" picion, which | now positively entertai
on on Cd of evil intentions on the part of I
k. entertainer, who had quilted the room
noiseessly as he had entered. | lima
-, ined great many ways in which he cou
i sir have become acquainted with the canso
Al. my journey, and came rapidly to the &C
all clusion that my employers funds were
st. IT, danger. That they were actually 20
is came evident before the night had pa
as, ed. | recalled the mans countenaI
uo ,T' wildly to my recollection, and examiu
from memory his features, so as to ma
some estimate Of the character with viii
| had to deal. Physically he was mt
s. s. than my equal When | first alighi
r. at the house it struck me had seen h
lit. before, and after some moments of f
n, ther and profound reflection, distinc
H. H. recalled him to my mind as merch'
icy who had dealt with our firm during !
=, earlier connection with it, and who b
>" failed through the dishonesty Of frier
'h whom he had helped. ] remembered b
as having been spoken of as disgust
nj with trade and having sought home