The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-01-02


gpresents for happy children at heipe|
while his were starving. he suffered
some bitter thoughts Hpon the equaii-
iy of fortunes gifts To- COME TO his
mind. s}tsf1a. .e4sHse
Why should they be so happy and
he miserable ?
There was time, he remembered
it well, when he. too, suffered not.the
christmas eve TO pass without buying
some little gift for Jimmy and Agnes.
How little he dreamed then that they
would ever want bread. ss -
There was one man shorter than
himself warmly clad who passed him
with his hands thrust into the fpock-
cts of his overcoat. lie was doubt
less thinking of the happy circle at
home. nj - sststi
Robert knew him as a rich smer-
chant, whose ample warehouse he had
often passed. lie, had applied 10 this
man ouIy two days befersfor employ
inent aud been refused - iils'As
II was perhaps the thought of the
wide difference between them, so far
as. outward circumstances went, that
led Robert to follow him.
- After a while, the, merchant, Mr..
Grimes, drew hls handkerchief safely
from his pocket. AS he did So he did
not perceive that his pocketbook Games
out with it and fell to the sidewalk.
He did not perceive it, but Robert
did, His heart leaped into his mouth,
and sudden thought entered lhis
mind, He bent quickly down and
picked up the poeketbook. lie rails
ed his eyes Instantly to see if the
movement was s4noticedaiI 1t was n@tl
The merchant .wentlon. unhecdiiigi hiss
loss. az - 4#ssy 9fss1t f4R4
fhis will buy bread for my wife
and children, thought Robert Instant
iy.igstg5,38 ~ a.fg ao S3srsIia 2as -
A vision. of the, com fort which the
money would bring that cheeEless
room lighted mp bis heart for an in
slant but then-for he was not dis
The money was not his, as much as bel
wanted it.fe .,szi asi4 ~ ftass Il
"But cannot see my wife and chill
drens starye," he thought again. "If1
it is wrong TO keep the money, God
will pardon the offence. He willun-
derstapd my motiEe.Yz fsaasl -i3qm.
All this wasfsophistrYs and he knewI
it. In q moment he felt,it to be so.
There were some things worse than
starvation. Itswas his wife who said /
this lust before he. came out CouldI
he meet her gaze when hereturnedI
with food so obtained? IS!
II have lived honest so far" he
thought; II won't turn thief now.0
: 1t was. with an effort he came TO this /
decision. for all the while there was
before his eyes that vision of cheer
less home and he could hear Jim my
vainly asking for food. 1t was with /
an effort that he started forward and !
placed his hand on the merchants
shoulder and extended the hand that
held fhe pocket-book.y a.;fiest
Thank you,T said the merchant.
turning round, 81 hadn't perceived
my loss. ,gl {,atsaeEY, II ii .a8tia ]
y on dropped il when you took out
your hankerchief. 7 gssss.ss,.. e,s-ss s,-..-
"And you saw il and picked it up.
am much obliged to you.n 81 ile1
Y on have reason to be- said Rob-
ert, in low voice. Il came near
keeping it" .f...4ss si4asg3i
"That would have been. dishonest"
said Mr.. Grimes, his tone altering
slightly. at..la,!sss. 9s.i 10 dasaa
'sYes, it would; but it's hard on a /
man to be honest when he is penni- |
less, and his wife and children with
out a crust" a,Issstsaf5sfs - 5.9l1
i'Surely you and your family are |
not in that condition r said the Ter75
- s 81 said Robert 1T tt is only too
rue.' .5s.l.....I - F.,5 7,ss,5., -f.sZs
"And you are out ofswork ~ ao3
"For two months / have vainly /
sought for work. ! applied to you /
.wo days since ..e,s .,f.t l,.Ists5 80
II remember you now. ] thought /
had seen your face. before, .Youf /
till want work. 49, !yfs = -issfirl
Il should feel grateful for it, =
: g 9 A porter feft me yesterday. Wiz i
Tou take his place for $l2 a week ?os |
Thankfully, sir. would for half /
hat. .sl....,s t. Il
'.Then come tomorrow morning,
or rather, as tomorrow will be a hol-
day, the day succeeding. Meantime,
AXE this for your present necessities. y
He drew from his pocket. book a
bank note, and put it into Roberts
land., .,.es.l.s 'e..t.s5aEaI. ~
IFS afty dollars said Robert in
s,I.et.t s.f5,5 9f-5i.l.i .NA =
q know it. The pocketbook con-
aims a thousand dollars But for you
should have lost the whole. il wish |
you a msrry Christmas.' ,gsf.s.i -s'sii5Ii
1t will indeed be q. merry Christi
nas,o said Robert IWitbJ9 emotion.
God bless You sir. Good night. "l9'li'
Jane waited for her husband, in the1
,old and cherries. room, which, for a
ew days longer, she might call her
nome. -,.5. 5s..e, 81 ~. 4tttos'I
"Do You. think father will bring
'ome bread y said little Jimmy, as he
lestled in her. lap. 49, itf''i
II hope SO darling" she said but T
Ter heart nisgave her. She feared it
vas delusiYe hope. NC
An hour passed-there was a step
On the stairs-her husbands. 1t could
lot be. for this was a cheerful, elias
ic step, coming up two, steps at a.
ine. She looked eagerly at the
ioor. e..E,f.e,r ,Ie.,s;..s q -
Yes, it was he. The door opened.E
Robert, radiant with joy,entered with
! basket full of substantial provis-
ons. 5,.-s-.,
"Have you got some bread, father?
Isked Jimmy, hopefully rfel4 Il ll5
Yes, immy,, some bread and meat
rom restaurant, and here's little
ca and sugar. There's little wood
eft Jane.
Let's have bright fire and COM
ortable meal, for, please God, this
hall be q merry Christmas" ,e
'''How. did it happen? j Tell me,
Robert" sss .i3
So Robert told his wife. gefn
The next week they moved to bet
er home. They have never since +
.nown what it is to want. Robert
ound q firm friend in the merchant,
nd has an account in the savings
'ank and reason to remember with
,rateful heart Gods goodness on that
christmas Eve. e95 - dls,9
The father of the boy hose veraci-I
Y is not SO marked as his back, ask 4
d his teacher why it was his son I
idn't have a better acquaintance with L
cures, and was considerably electric
ed when the teacher tenderly observ- ,