American citizen., 1872-02-03
VOL. XXII.

pt''le az lllN OLA lCutC W 6tC IL II WIS L
good one, for didn't often get many OF
that sort, as you may be sure, and popped
1t into my pocket to be safe; but Just as
lifted my broom to give another sweep al
spirit or two of mud, what should sec
at my feet but shining bracelet, all gold
and cOlOred stones In moment | re
membered I'd seen such one onthe young
lady's wrist the minute before, and as
stopped to pick it up, | felt sure she must
have dropped ii when she pulled her hand
out of her pocket to give me the sixpence.
1t was very handsome and heavy, but |
daren't stop to look at it, lest somebody
should see me and take it from me, or call
the police, so | turned round quick to see
if any one was noticing, and as | found
they weren't, | wrapped it up in some
paper and put it in my coat pocket, along
with the siXpence. Then lifted up my
broom and began to walk away leisurely,
wondering what l should do with the
bracelet"
"Of course" put in Ben, "you meant
to give it back to the owner ?"
His companion shook his head and
looked sorrowful as he replied, Don't
start away from me, Ben, and think
you're with a thief, if tell you did not,
for that is the fact. Remember what |
was, though don't want to excuse myself
by reminding yOu-a poor shOeless and
stockingless lad, dressed in rags, with
sick mother at home dependent on the
ha'pence he earned for everything |
had just found treasure, as | thought,
that would buy my mother a doctor and
some good food, and me some clothes and
schooling. l didn't want to spend the
money wrong All wanted was what |
thought | ought to have, if | was ever to
get on in the world and help mother. I
remembered with a sort Of JOY that | did
not know where the young lady lived, or
what was her name, and | was willing to
think | could never find her. She had
given me siXpence, and had looked very
pretty and very good, and ! didn't wish |
her to lose her bracelet, but then if | had |
not found il, some one else would, and |
why shouldn't 1 have the benefit? 1t |
didn't seem at all like stealing to take .
what had found, when l didn't know
the owner. So | made my way to a shop
| knew, where | thought they would tell
me the value of the bracelet, and perhaps
buy it of me, and entering very boldly,
asked to see the proprietor.
''IIe looked at me and he looked at the
bracelet and after some rubbing and tap
ping at it he told me it wasn't worth
above Won shilling
Il didn't believe him, and said, Never
mind then, won't sell it. Give it me
back
'But the old fellow didn't want to part
with it, and after while offered me two,
three, four, five shllings and at last six,
but he vowed he wouldn't give penny
more. | felt sure he was cheating me, so
| asked for it back again once more
Then he turned angry, and called me
a young thief, who had stolen the bracelet
and said that if didn't let him have it
quickly for six shillings he would call in
the police. But he didn't frighten me
that way, though | felt a guilty some
thing about me that | had never felt be
fore, and was half ready to cry at being |
called thief. | had to endure a storm
of abuse from the old rogue, and to stand
firm under his fire about the police, that {
dare say, after all, he'd have been more {
frightened to see than should; and when |
the bracelet was once more in my posses l
sion, ran home like some wild animal {
escaped from the snare. How calm and '
quiet all seemed in our poor little attic {
when | reached it, The morning sun v
was shining through the smoky panes in '
the roof, upon the foot of mothers bed
where she lay, her face little flushed e
with surprise at seeing me home again so c
soon.
"'Wel, Bob?' she said, inquiringly, q
md waited for me to explain.
81 pulled out the glittering bracelet, | -.
old her my story, and then exclaimed II
against the roguery Of old Isaac, who "
would only offer me six shillings for so -.
valuable a prize. a Sa
"My mother sat up in bed and looked y
1t me with earnest and sorrowful eyes. =, y,
She had many wrinkles in her thin with
,red face and she had dim eyes, and gray
lars, very few of them, bless her and
very thin upor her forehead, and she
lidn't look at all like the beautiful young
ady in the street, any more than the old 81
muslin cap she wore when she was well, Il
he yellow handkerchief and patched cot q
on gown, looked at all like the splendid il
white lace veil, and silk mantle, and q
l0unced woOlen dress of the other; but "
hough her eyes were not full of happy ii
owe, but of sorrow, and her mouth had CT
tremble in it, more like tears than o
miles, looked as earnestly as | had done Ol
It the lady, and listened, when she spoke bl
With all my ears. ii
"'But Bob she said, gently and sadly IS
the bracelet isn't yours to SELF la
But mother | replied, 4 didn't steal 81
t. There it lay on the ground, and the pl
ldy was gone, and | couldn't find her at
OW if | was TO seek all London over, and III
1e want-you want-so many things. III
m sure the lady would not mind us hav- to
lg it, if she knew.
Perhaps so, Bob; but she doesn't az
now, and it isn't yours sa
"'What must do, then, mother ? hl
Give it back to her. al
80 But | don't know where she lives v'
60 You must find out 81
Il was going to ask, how can l. when "
he stopped me short by saying: nc
"' You tell me a gentleman left the III
lg to his business You must 90 back, as
nd look out this afternoon at every pass re
rby, till you see him-he may come that OF
Tay homeland then you may ask him m
here the young lady lives, that you may ha
aturn her bracelet W
How clear and easy the way of duty IN
aemed to be when my mother showed it. m
wondered | did not see it before But &C
ou see, Ben, hadn't wished to see it. | vi
'as very much disappointed that might Sc
OF keep the bracelet for myself, but of
curse | couldn't disobey mother loved er
er so well that | couldn't think of doing sh
nat, for she had been a dear good mother AZ
} me. ell
" To make long story short, did see IL
ne gentleman again, that night. He r
,oked very much surprised when asked a. a.
he could tell me where the young lady vi vi
we'd who had white lace veil, so | told 70
i'm why asked, and he called me good ~ ~
onest lad. ah
4" am the lady's husband he said; So
but you will like 20 give her the bracelet a
so come along with me, aud you u. ~
lall see her "
$50 | went with him. But when she m,
lanked me- and put a half-sovereign in e.,
" hand and praised my honesty, laid N
le ten shilling piece back upon the table, ter
nd told her ] was not honest, and did he
ot deserve farthing. IN
" 'NJt honest" she said, in surprise. 4 W,