Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-05-22
Gin 1nteresting gtury,
THE ROTTEN CROSS.

It has been many long day since
then, yet I remember it all, just as
though it had occurred but yesterday.
I was 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.
"Here, !" said he, placing in my hand
heavy gold piece, els one which is
worth more than all the rest put to-
gether. tits a great curiosity. Ipaid
2200 for it, and considered it cheap at
that. Icould easily double my money
in selling; and so you see Harvey, it is
really good investment"
'sNo doubt it isl said I, 'sthough it
seems large sum to have lie idle"
| breathed an involuntary sigh as l
laid the coin down on the desk, for
e200 would have seemed fortune to
me then.
The severe illness of my wife, and
one of my children, and the death of
another made serious inroads on my
purse, and it had required the exercise
of the utmost economy to keep myself
free from debt; nay, I had been oblig-
ed to withdraw from the bank the
small sum, which, besides my salary,
was all I possessed of worldly treas
ures. Thinking Of this, I 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 I
met with no friendly greeting, as usual.
Harvey" said my employer, abrupt
ly, tthat coin we were looking at has
disappeared. [ have made a thorough
search, but it is not to be found. It
has been carried away by 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 I spoke.
sYou mean, therefore, that I took
it-Iw
ssWhat else can think? The coin
was here; you alone saw it. I cannot
recall having seen it since it was in
your hands, You are in need of money;
you told me that yourself It was a
great temptation, and forgive you be-
cause of our old friendship, but I can
not retain you in my employ. Here
is the salary due you.''
every well, ,"said l, with forced calm
ness, $50 be it. Since you have so poor
an opinion of me after years of faith
full service, shall not stoop to defend
myself"
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,
doubt not but that I would have bu-
ried my sorrows in the grave of a sui
eide.
Supported by that love, however, and
Inconsistencies ofmy own innocence,
1 took fresh courage, and set resolute-
ly to work to find anew employer.
But powerful is a breath of slander;
turn which way I might, I ever found
that the story of my dismissal for theft
had preceded me, and my application
for employment uniformly met with a
refusal.
Time went on; piece by piece, our
furniture, and every spare article of
clothing found it's way to the pawn
brokers, until at length even this poor
resource failed us, and my children
cried In vain for food.
Yet | did not sit down in idle des-
pair; I could not afford to do SO; the
life or death of all I loved on earth de-
pended on my exertion-and SO, turn
ing away from them with heavy heart,
/ once more set out on the weary search
for work.
All in vain !! refusal after refusal
met nay entreaties for employment, and
/ was turning homeward with listless
step, when passing an immense church
was attracted by group of men at
its base.
Impelled by some strange impulse,
approached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by,
looking up at the great steeple, which
lowered aloftsome $50 feet aboyethem,
while gentleman, evidently an archi-
tect, was addressing him in earnest
language, and at the same time point
ing toward the golden cross at the sum-
NIT of the spire.