Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-05-09
Gelettc0 AlisteIlanp.
THE ROTTEN CROSS.

Tt has been many long day since
then, yet remember it all, just as though
it had occurred but yesterday.
was a carpenter, the foreman of a
large establishment, and as such pos
sessed the entire confidence Of my en-
ployer, who, by the way, had been a
schoolmate of mine.
One day he called me into his Office
to look at some rare coins he had just
purchased.
"IIere." said he, placing in my hand
heavy gold piece, sis one which is
worth more than all the rest put together.
1t is a great curiosity, | paid e200 for
it, and considered it cheap at that. |
could easily double my money in selling,
and SO you see, Harvey, it is really a
good investment"
No doubt it is, said I, Though it
seems large sum to have lie idle. .
| breathed an involuntary sigh as l
laid the coin down on the desk, for GOO
would have seemed fortune to me just
then
The severe illness of my wife and one
of my children, and the death of anoth-
or, made serious inroads on my purse,
and it required the exercise of the utmost
economy to keep myself free from debt;
nay, | had been obliged to withdraw
from the bank the small sum which, be-
side my salary, was all | possessed of
worldly treasures. Thinking of this, |
laid the coin down with sigh, and
turned away to attend to my duties.
The next morning | was again sum-
moned into the office, but this time | met
with no friendly greeting, as usual.
Harvey" said my employer, abrupt
ly, "that coin we were looking at has
disappeared / have made a thorough
search, but it is not to be found. 1t has
been carried away by some one. You
alone saw or knew of it, and"
He paused and looked Significantly
into my face. finished the sentence for
him, the hot blood dyeing my checks and
brow as / spoke.
''You mean, therefore, that took it.
~
"What else can | think? The coin
was here you alone saw it, l cannot re-
call having seen it since it was in your
hands You are in need Of money; you
have told me that yourself. 1t was a
great temptation, and ! forgive you be-
cause Of our old friendship, but / cannot
retain you in my employ. Here is the
salary due you"
" Very well F." said ], with forced calm
ness, $50 be it. Since you have so poor
an opinion of me after years of faithful
service, | shall not stoop to defend my
self"
Then I took the money he had laid
upon the desk, and went out from his
presence a well nigh broken-hearted
man.
But for the tender love of my wife, I
doubt not but that | would have buried
my sorrows in the grave Of suicide.
Supported by that love, however, and
the consciousness Of my own innocence,
/ took freshcourage and set resolutely to
work to find new employer.
But powerful is a breath Of SANDER;
turn which way l might, | ever found
that the story of my dismissal for theft
had preceded me, and my application for
employment uniformly met with re-
fusal.
Time went on; piece by piece, our
furniture and every spare article Of cloth
ing found its way to the pawnbroker's,
until at length even this poor resource
failed US, and my chiffren cried in vain
for food
Yet [ did not sit down in idle despair
| could not afford to 90 so the life or
death Of all | loved on earth depended
on my exertion-and so turning away
from them with heavy heart, I once
more set out on the weary search for
work.
All in vain refusal after refusal met
my entreaties for employment, and / was
turning homeward with listless step,
when passing an immense church / was
attracted by group Of men at its base.