The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-04-05
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY APRIL 5, 1872

tain for me, would not quite give way
to the feeling of repentance which was
knocking for admission at my breast.
had half decided to turn away and drive
these better thoughts from my mind,
when / observed something that was
moving in small crib that was placed
at the side and toward the foot of their
bed Its OCCUPANT, a grandchild, whose
parents, they had informed me, were
dead, awakened probably by its grand
father's voice, rose up, looked around,
and settled down upon its knees, and
clasping its little hands as its grand
fathers were clasped, and looking up
ward out through the window at the
moon, whose bright light fell upon its
darling face, began moving its lips as
if trying to repeat the words. Nothing
so like an angel ever met my sight.
The grandfather began the Lords Pray
eI. The little fellow seemed to have
this by heart. lie repeated it word for
word, his tiny, silvery voice sounding
in sweet accord. could not turn away,
nor any longer resist the better emo
tions which l had hitherto kept down.
A rush Of repentant feeling passed
through me with an effect that shook
every fibre. l fell on my knees, and
with the tears streaming from my eyes,
joined in the concluding words of the
prayer.
l need not say l changed my mind
with regard to the money. l passed a
quiet night and rose early, fastened
away toward my journeys end, so as
to give myself the least time or oppOr-
tunity for changing my new formed
resolution. In handing the package to
the agent, / said to him, that as there
was money in it, it might as well be
opened in my presence, to see that all
was correct, &c. He of course discov-
cred the error, and handed me back the
amount that was over, with which l
returned home ard delivered it up safe
to the proper owner in due time.
1t was fortunate for me in every way
that pursued the course had adopted.
1t appeared that the money had been
obtained from the bank after bank
hours, in the presence Of the teller,
from one Of the officers. There was no
loose money on hand of the larger de-
nominations, but there were sheets of
thousands and five hundreds signed by
the president and cashier. Either two
sheets were picked up in mistake for
one, or the wrong batch Of sheets was
selected from-that is, thousands were
selected instead of five hundreds. The
notes were hurriedly clipped, strapped
and endorsed "$5 ,OO0," witlout re-
counting, and so enveloped and handed
over to me. The bank had discovered
the error, and no doubt was entertained
but that the missing money was with
me. Whether l should have had the
face to withstand the imputation, even
with the apparently undisputed con.
dition of the envelope in my favor, is
more than can say, but doubt it.
But the notes, in pursuance of pre-
caution still In use in some banks, were
payable to one of the clerks, and had
not been endorsed by him. / could not,
therefore, have used them, or if so, they
could have been traced back to me.
found, also, that the numbers had been
carefully ascertained of all had taken
with me, and thus another chance OF
detection existed. What an escape!
Upon returning and entering the
counting room l handed the surplus
back TO my senior, with q feeling some
what Of pride, but mixed up with Other
feelings not easily described.
My precaution of having the money
opened by the agent in my presence was
highly commended, and the prObabil
ity of his misappropriatinG the undue
amount-as very little personal know
ledge of him was possessed by the firm
was duly discussed. What was sale
on this point brought bushes to my
cheeks.
In course of time my soi-ior account
ant was taken into the firm. was pu
into his position, and with his salary,
sayod money, finally got into busines
on my own account, and am now, a
you know, rich. l never forgot ny
farmer host and his grandchild; but a
the death Of the farmer took charg
of the boy. He is now my partner, ant
the husband Of my daughter.
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