The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-27

see L must not remain in this house
tonight and, tired as he was, he got up
to leave it, but went no farther than the
door, before he met the two peders, all
cut and bleeding, coming in; for they had
been robbed and almost murdered in the
wood. John was very sorry to see them in
that condition, and advised them not to
lodge in the house, telling them, with a
significant nod, that all was not right there;
but the poor pedlers were so weary and so
bruised, that they would stop where they
were, and diSrcgarded the advice.
Rather than remain in the house, John
retired to the stable, and laid himself down
upon bundle of straw, where he slept
soundly for some time. About the middle
of the night, he heard two persons come
into the stable, and, on listening to their
conversation, discovered that it was the
landlady and man, laying plan how to
murder her husband. In the morning,
John renewed his journey; but, at the
next town he came to, he was told that the
! landlord in the town he had left had been
murdered, and that two pedlers, whose
clothes We're found all covered with blood,
had been taken up for the crime, and were
going to be hanged. John, without men,
tioning to any person what he had over
heard, determined to save the pedlers, if
possible, and so returned, to attend their
trial.
! On going into the court he saw the two
men at the bar; and the young woman and
| the man, whose voices he had heard in
the stable, swearing their innocent lives
away. But the judge allowed him to give
his evidence, and he told every particular
of what had occurred. The man and the
young woman instantly confessed their
guilt; the poor pedlers were at once acquit-
ted; and the Judge ordered large reward
to be paid to John Carson, as, through his
means, the real murderers were brought to
justice.
John now proceeded toward home. fully
convinced of the value of two of the
advices which his master had given him.
On arriving at his cabin, he found his wife
and children rejoicing over purse full of
gold, which the eldest boy had picked up
on the road that morning. Whilst he was
away, they had endured all the miseres
which the wretched families of those who
60 over to seek work in England are ex-
posed to. With precarious food, without
a bed to lie down or, or a roof to shelter
them, they had wandered through the
country, seeking food from door to door of
a starving population, and, when single
potato was bestowed, showering down
blessings and thanks on the giver, not in
the set phrases of the mendicant, but in a
direct from the heart. Those only who
have seen a family of such beggars as l
describe, can fancy the joy with which the
poor woman welcomed her husband back
and told him of the purse full of gold.
"And where did Mick-ma 6oAz-find
it? ?" inquired John Carson.
q" 1t was the young squire, for certain,
who dropped it," said his wife; "for he
rode down the road this morning, and was
leaping his horse in the very gap where
Micky picked it up; but sure John, he has
money enough besides; and never the half
penny have to buy my poor cAilder a bit
to cat this blessed night"
"Never mind that" said John; edo as
l bid you, and take up the purse at once
to the big house, and ask for the young
squire. l have two cakes which l brought
every step of the way with me from Eng
land, and they will do for the children's
supper. l ought surely to remember, as
good right | have, what my master told
me for my twelve months wages, seeing |
never, as yet, found what he said to be
wrong.''
"And what did he say ?" inquired his
wife.
"That honesty is the best policy"
answered John.
"'Tis very well, and It's mighty easy for
them to say SO, that have never been sore
tempted, by distress and famine, to say
otherwise; but your bidding is enough for
me, John"
Straightway she went to the big house,
and inquired for the young squire; but she
was denied the liberty to speak to him.
"You must tell me your business, honest
woman" said servant, with head all
powdered and frizzled like a caulitlower,
and who had on a coat covered with gold
and silver lace, and buttons, and every
thing in the world.
elf you knew but all,' said she, 81
am an honest woman, for I've brought a
purse full of gold to the young master,
that my little boy picked up by the road
side; for surely it is his, as nobody else
could have so much money"
"Let me see it," said the servant
Gay, it's all right. I'll take care of it.
You need not trouble yourself any more
about the matter;' and SO saying, he slap
ped the door in her face. When she re-
turned, her husband produced the two
cakes which his master gave him on part
ing; and, breaking one to divide between
his children, how was he astenished at
finding six golden guineas in it ! and when
he took the other and broke it, he found as
many more. He then remembered the
words of his generous master, desired him
to give one of the cakes to his wife, and
not to eat tho other himself until that
time; and this was the way his master took
to conceal his wages, lest he should have
been robbed, or have lost the money on the
read
The following day, as John was standing
near his cabin door, and turning over in
his own mind what he should do with his
money, the young squire came riding down
the road. John pulled Off his hat,-for he
had not forgot his manners through the
means of his travelling to foreign parts, =
and then made so bold as to inquire if his
honor had got the purse he lost.
"Why, it is true enough, my good fcl
low," said the squire, 81 did lose my purse
yesterday, and l hope you were lucky
enough to find it; for, if that is youl
cabin, you seem to be very poor, and shall
keep it as reward for your honesty"