The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-04-05

having sought home in the wilderness
with his family, and literally earning q
living by the sweat of his brow.
There were but two bed rooms in the
house, both on the same floor, pas.
sage which commenced at the head OF
the stairs dividing them. While the
thoughts which l have related were
passing through my mind, heard vol.
ces in the other bedroom, and quietly
opened my door, which my host had
carefully closed behind him. Standing
out in the passage, 1 could distinguish
mans and woman's voice. AT first,
their language was unintelligible, but
gradually my ear became accustomed
n the duty had endeavorcd to put it
to, ana 1 could distinguish that the bur
den of their talk was their domestic
expenses, and the general current Of
their thoughts was the difficulty of get
ting through with certain undertakings
which they had in contemplation, or
had commenced. 1t was evident that
the man was more hopeful than the wo-
man. My excited Imagination at once
framed the theory that the treasure in
my possession was designed by them
to solve this difficulty, and that the re
luctant man was being urged on by the
less scrupulous or Drawer woman.
A sudden movement of one of them
toward the door caused mo to retreat
into my room. l heard the bolt of their
door moved, and supposing it was but
TO unfasten II, hurried back to my
apartment and caught at the envelope,
intending to hasten it out Of sight In
my eagerness to grasp 1t, it fell with the
wafered side uppermost ard opened!
The waters had been so far dissolved
by the heat and moisture as to split in
two, leaving one.half of each There
were three on the flap and the other
half of each on the body of the cnvel
ope. Meanwhile there was no sight or
sound of an inroad into my room, of
which 1 had seen it was impossible to
faston the door, save by moving some
of the furniture against it. l became
convinced that as yet everything was
safe, and yielding TO q feeling of curl
osity 1 drew the money from the en-
closure and counted it over. There
were ten one thousand dollar bills!
was astOundCd and for time forgot the
fear that SO recently harrassed me. l
looked at the memorandum on the back
of the envelope. 1t was "$5,O0O." The
letter was before me. I read it over.
1t named five thousand as tho sum en-
closed. There was evidently an error,
| counted it over again. Ten thous-
and was the sum before me! Again
and again l counted il. L had been used
to handling large sums of money, and
counted large amounts daily but /
actually found more difficulty in arriv-
ing at the actual amount of the bank
bills before me, than ever before or
since encountered in counting any sum
| howe yer large or however numerous the
notes. Finally, putting chair against
the door, 1 spread the notes out singly
on the little table, in q row, and counted
them with my finger. Then made two
rows of five notes each, and again count
ed them. | finally, though slowly, be-
came satisfied had in my possession
double the amount of money | WAS eX-
pected to deliver TO my employers
agent. Temptation entered my soul.
Five thousand dollars would relieve
me OF all my debts. Here it was within
my grasp. l had but to seal up the let.
ter by e.wetting the wafer, inclOsing
but half the money, and deliver it seal.
ed to the agent, and my trust would be
to all appearances, faithfully discharged
Once the thought occurred that possibly
it might be trap set for me by my EN-
ployers. But their confidence in me
was unbounded, and the suspicion was
dismissed. 1 do not attempt to glaze
over the dishonesty Of what contem
plated; but l had been so increasingly
worried and annoyed by domestic
troubles arising from limited resources
and so prosecuted by creditors, that
almost argued myself into the convic
ton that appropriating the money was
simply authorized self defence. would
pay all my debts, get clear of the WOrlC
once more, insist upon my wife's adopt
ing my views of living, save money
get into business for myself, and finally
pay back the sum.
l left the envelope unfasteued unit
morning, so as to give myself that mucl
more time before finally deciding upO,
an act which all my arguments witt
myself had not made entirelyreconcila
BILE. Arrived at this conclusion, m,
attention again turned to my host AM
his wife. | could hear his voice alon
now. 1t had been sounding along in
somewhat elevated tone for some me
ments. l crept quietly to the partitio
dividing their apartments from tn
passage. The bright Autumn moor
which was on their side of the hous'
shone through their window and tn
spaces between the shrunken planks
the partition and out into the passag
and upon its floors in brilliant hars
light. 1t was easy for me to see VIII;
was passing within the room. Man az
wife were l,neeling at their bedsit
: in prayer. The man with uplifted hea
and closed eyes uttering an earnest su
pication, his wife beside him, and OF
arm passed affectionately through ol
of his, and her head resting against h
shoulder. They were kueeling at Il
= side of the bed opposite to me, and h
, face was plainly visible. Its calm al
] pious expression was a sufficient rebul
to my unjust suspicious. ! began
y listen in time to hear him cry: "Ps
don, o merciful Father, not only
: the sins of Thy humble servant al
/ his hous ohold, but turn the hearts
Il those who have done evil unto hiI
. who have harbored unjust suspicious
u him. Bless such, o Lord, and preser
;, them, in order that they may turn fro
u the error of their ways and seek 4
= path OF righteousness"
r His serious, earnest and manly vol
s. struck o chord in my heart, not only