Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-04-12
THE ROTTEN CROSS.

LII mas Deen many long udY 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
a heavy gold piece, is one which is
worth more than all the rest put to-
gether. 1t is great curiosity. paid
G200 for it, and considered it cheap at
that. I could easily double my money
in selling; and SO you see Harvey, it is
really a good investment"
"No doubt it is, said 7, "though it
seems large sum to have lie idle"
breathed an involuntary sigh as /
laid the coin down on the desk, for e200
would have seemed fortune to me just
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 exersise
of the utmost economy to keep myself
free from debt ; nay, 1 had been obliged
to withdraw from the bank the small
sum, which, besides my salary, was all
Ipossessed of worldly treasures. Think
ing of this. I laid the coin down with q
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.
Harry" said my employer, abrupt
ly, that coin we were looking at has
disappeared. have made thorough
search, but it is not to be found. II
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 dying cheeks
and brow as [ spoke.
"You mean, therefore, that I took ii
Up
"What else can I think The coin
was here you alone saw it. I cannot
recall having seen it sinceit was in youl
hands. You are in need of money; you
have told me that yourself. 1t was 9
great temptation, and [ forgive you be.
cause of our old friendship, but can.
not 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 opinion of me after years Of
faithful service, shall not stoop to de-
fend myself"
Then took the money he had laiG
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 | would have buried
my sorrows in the grave of suicide.
Supported by that love, however, anG
the consciousness of my own innocence,
took fresh courage, and set resolutely
to work to find new employer.
But powerful is breath of slander
turn which way might, 1 ever found
that the story of my dismissal for thief
had preceded me, and my application
for employment uniformly met with {
refusal.
Time went on; piece by piece, oul
furniture, and every spare article O.
clothing, found its way to the pawn
brokers, until, at length, even this pool
resource failed us, and my children
cried in vain for food.
Yet did not sit down in idle despair
I could not afford to do so; the life o.
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 fol
work.
All in vain refusal after refusal me
my entreaties for employment, and
was turning homeward with listles,
step, when passing an immense churcl
was attracted by a group cf men at it,
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 aloft some $50 feet above them
while gentleman, evidently an archi
tect, was addressing him in earnes
language and at the same time pointing
toward the golden cross at the SUNNI
of the spire.
81 tell you," he exclaimed, as I drew
near, " it must and can be done. Th,
cross must be taken down, or the frs
heavy gale will send it down into tn,
street, and lives will be lost. Coward
is this the way you back out of a iol
after engaging to do it ?"
81 didn't know the spire was so higl