Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-22
MR.. DAwsON's HOLIDAY.
BY MRS. ANNA c. ADAMS.

open, and Mr.. Dawson-a beaming smile
on his face-entered into the presence of
his family.
Well, my dear" he said, addressing
his wife, al have all the money at last.
and tomorrow our home will once more
be our own"
A general shout followed this exclama-
tion, which, though not unexpected, still
announced the fulfillment of their fondest
hopes, the end of a long and anxious
struggle.
And happy day it will bo," returned
the wife, blithely. "But believe l re-
joice more for your sake than our own"
"To-mOrrow will be the happiest day
of all the glad new year" sang out
Charlie, the eldest son, a lad of thirteen.
"Willt be as happier as merry list
mus ?' put in baby Sue, looking up from
the block house her sister was arranging
for her on the floor.
"Ycs, three. years. old" answered
Charlie. Happier for as, but not for
you. You are too young to understand
anything"
"Did you have any trouble in getting
your money from Lawrence, as you feared
you might ?" asked Mrs. Dawson.
"No, dear. For once fortune has
smiled Lawrence said he was aware it
was an important time with me, and was
very glad he was not obliged to ask fur
ther extension of time. but, instead, was
prepared to take receipt in full This
was better than expected. Now, let us
have something little extra on the
strength of it,"
Certainly. The best the house affords.
Tomorrow you will take for holiday,
will you not?"
Indeed, will. have already ar
ranged for that"
Mr.. Dawson was a fine.looking, some
what elderly gentleman, of much respect
ability, and once owned, upimcumbered,
the nice little home, near the outskirts of
the town, which he now occupied. In
consequence Of succession of misfor-
tunes, he had, five years before, been
obliged to heavily mortgage his little es-
tate; and, in order to redeem it, no and
his family had practiced rigid economy
never before known to them. Now, by
means of what he had thus been enabled
to save from moderate salary, and
money obtained from a debtor, whose
protested note he, as security, had paid,
he was prepared to cancel the mortgage,
the last payment of which would fall due
on the morrow.
The next morning Mr.. Dawson,
ried away from his home to the bust
ness portion of the city, his mind
almost wholly intent on what, to him,
was the great business of the day. Yet
his heart was SO light and happy that he
entertained friendly feeling toward all
mankind, and was not too much abstract
ed in his own thoughts to exchange a
pressure of the hand, bow, or smile,
with every acquaintance whom he encoun-
tered. Indeed, if the truth were told he
surprised several mere passing acquaint-
ances" that morning by an extension of
the hand and a cordial clasp, whom he
had heretofore only noticed By bow. He
was expecting some important letters,
and, in order to call at the post-ofiice, de-
waited somewhat from his more direct
route to the place where his payment was
to be made. This done, he hastened to
the office of Messrs Brown & Co.
"Well, gentlemen" he said, addressing
the two partners who occupied the room,
'I have come prepared to finish up mat
ters with you to-day. l expect, before l
leave, to be again the owner of an unin-
numbered house"
1--WE are very happy, for your sake,
that such is the case, Mr.. Dawson. 1t is
much more pleasant for us to cOngratu-
late you than to be obliged to foreClose. "
''No doubt of it, no doubt of it at all,
gentlemen" answered Mr.. Dawson,
blithelv, at the same time thrusting his
hand into the depths of his coat pocket.
In an instant his countenance changed;
his face grew deadly pale, his lips
blanched, while he yet nervously fumbled
in his pocket At length he drew out
his hand, and, with groan, sank upon
the nearest chair.
=, - w.,
ill Are you faint What is the matter ~
questioned one of the gentlemen, jump
ing up from his papers, and approaching
him, while the other hastened to ofIerhim
a glass of water.
"Oh, my poor wife my poor children
What can | do' It's g0ne-my pocket
book is gOneP
Gone" repeated the gentlemen.
"How Lost p
6 Yes-yes-it must be put it with
my papers in this pocket" indicating the
pocket. "The papers are here, but the
wallet is gone, and it had five thousand
dollars in it, just seventy-five dollars
more than is needed to settle with you.
/ don't see how l could have lost it,"
" Perhaps your pocket was picked, "
suggested one of the gentlemen. " | OBJ
served that the streets were unusually full
this morning"
"No, l think not. never had my
pockets picked even in the night, and |
think it could not be done without my
knowledge, especially in the daytime.
He was q little cOnceited, poor man
mo, have lost it some way, but hO,o l
cannot imagine"
"There is no hole in your pocket ?"
"No."
''Did you have recourse to II any time
between leaving home and reaching
hereg'
"No-let me Think Yes, / believe l
did. Yes, did. went around TO the
post-otfice before coming here, and, just
after leaving there, remember | had oc-
casiOn to use my handkerchief. 1t was in
the same pocket with my papers and
money. | must have drawn out my
pocketb book with it, somehow. How
could have been so thoughtless? Oh,
never shall see my money again We shall
lose our little home. This is too much;
cannot bear it! It's not for myself care,
but for them, you see, and the great tears
relied out from that strong mans eyes,
and rested on his cheeks
''Do not despair. Perhaps you may re.
cover it,"
no, have no hope of that. 1t was
undoubtedly picked up in less than a min
ute"
"But it may have fallen into the hands
of an honest person, you know" con-
tinued the gentleman,
"Why, yes-to be sure-that is posi-
blel Why didn't think of that beforeY'
MIR. Dawson had frightened little.
"But even if should find it," he added,
with returning dependency, II fear il
would not be in time to save nay home,
and no other place would seem TO me
like that"
perhaps 1t may be recovered in time
But you should advertise at once"
4" will do so. Mr. Brown. will yor