The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-07-31
THE ROTTEN CROSS.

was = carpenter, the foreman of large es-
tablishment, and as such possessed the entire
confidence of my employer, 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:
aHere,' said he, placing in my hand heavy
yold piece, ssis one which is worth more than
all the rest put together. 1t is great cuI1osi-
ty. paid 82OO for il, and considered 1t cheap
at that. I could easily double my money IN
selling; and so you see, Harvey, 1t Is really
good investment"
sNo doubt it is" said I, Though it seems
large sum to have lie idle"
breathed an involuntary sigh as laid the
coin down on the desk, for 9200 would nave
seemed fortune to me just then. 50.
THE severe illness of my wife and one OF my
children. and the death of another, made serl-
ous inroads on my purse, and it had required
the exercise of the utmost economy to keep
myself fron debt; nay, had been obliged to
withdraw from the bank the small sum, which,
beside NV salary, was all I possessed of worldly
treasures Thinking of this, laid the coin
down with sigh, and turned away to attend to
my duties. od
into the Office, but this time l met WITH no
friendly greeting, as usual. :, u.,
aHarry." said my employer, abruptly, that
coin we were looking at has disappeared, L
have made thorough search, but it is not to
be found. 1t has been carried away hy some
one. You alone saw or knew of it, and"
He paused and looked significantly into my
face. I finished the sentence for him, the hot
blood diving nv cheeks and brow as spoke:
"You mean to say, therefore, that took it
Up
"What else can I think? The coin was
here: YOU alone saw it. l cannot recall hay-
ing seen it since it was in your hands. You
are in need of money you have told me that
yourself. It was great temptation, and tor
give YOU because of our old friendship, but
cannot retain you in my employ. Here IS the
salary due you."
every WE'LL" said I, with forced calmness,
$50 be it. Since you have SO poor an oPlnio1n,
of me after years of faithful service, snali
not stoop to defend myself"
Then I took the money he had laid upon the
desk. and went out from his presence we'll
nigh broken-hearted man.
But for the tender love of my wife, l 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. tooS
fresh courage, and set resolutely to work to find
n new employer.
But powerful is breath of SANDER; turn
which way might, ever found that the story
of nv dismissal for theft had preceded me, and
my application for employment uniformly met
with refusal.
Time went on; piece by piece our furniture,
and every spare article OF clotnlng louho lts
way to the brokers, until at length even
this poor resource failed us, ana my cniiofsn
cried in vain for food.
Yet 7 did not sit down in idle despair;
could not afford to do so the life or death OF
all loved on earth depended on my exertion
and so turning away from them With a heavy
heart, once more set out on. the weary search
for work.
All in vain! refusal after refusal met my en-
treaties for employment, and l was turning
homeward with listless step, when passing an
immense church was attracted by group Oh
men at its base.
Impelled by some strange impulse, ap-
preached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by, LOOKING
up at the great steeple, which lowered alotV
some 25O feet above them. while gentleman,
eyidentlyAn architect, was addressing him IN
earnest language, at the same time pointing
toward the golden cross at the summit OF the
spire. , ,.
"it must and can be done. The cross must be
taken down, or the first heavy gale will send 1t
down into the street, and lives will be lost.
Coward is this the way you back out OF q job
after engaging to do it 2" -,
81 didn't know the spire was so high up
there. Do it yourself, if you want it doneH.
"I would if Iwere able," said the architect.
seBut 90 if you will let 1t be! My honor IS
pledged to have it done at any price--.and can
lind a brayer man than you to do it"
The carpenter walked away with doggeo,
slouching step, and the gentleman was aoo1t
to move away also, when stepped 1orWaro'
and asked:
aWhat is it YOU want done, sir? I am
carpenter, perhaps can do it."
He turned eagerly towards me.
"I will make it worth your while. Take
down that cross and will pay you hundred
dollars. You will have TO ascend those orna-
mental blocks, and tell you candidly they
are not to be depended OH i; they must be very
weak and rotten, for they have been there Tor
I looked up at the spire; it was square at
the base and tapered to sharp point, while y,
along each angle we're nailed small gllded
blocks of wood. :,
cts a dangerous place to work." 1 said,
sand there will be even more peril in descend
ing than ascending, Suppose L succeed IN
moving the stone, and then"
'1f any accident happens to you, my brave
fellow. the money shall be paid to your fam
lily. promise you that. Give me your ad-
SHere it is" I said, "and as you value your
soul, keep your word with me. My wife and
children are starving, or would not attempt
this work. If die, they can live on the hun
dred dollars for while until my sick wife re-
covers her strength"
CPL make it hundred and ffty! exclalm,
cd the architect "and may God protect you !
steeple, + would ask no man to risk his life
there But come, and keep steady hand and
I followed him into the church, then up into
the spire, until we paused before a narrow
window. This was the point from which |