The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-10-03
4 .SH1RP TEMPT4ITON.
BY JUDGE CLARK.


OF fortunes bufets'' James Watson
felt he had borne his full share. Why,
then, turn his back upon her favors, if at
last he chose to offer them?
So James Watson asked himself, on
finding that the pocket book he had just
picked up contained handsome sum of
money.
'.But its not mine" he reflected, ''and
the owner may be discovered"
'Don't be fool r' he answered himself,
with the customary rudeness of one get
ting the worst of the argument. 'It's not
your business to look after the owner.
Others have not dealt so justly by you,
that you need put yourself out much on
account of others.''
Bad reasoning, surely, but, if James
Watson yielded to it, it was not without
palliation. The failure of his employer
had lost him his situation, besides a con-
siderable arrearage of wages. The bank
in which he had deposited his savings had
broken, and at last the wolf was at the
door.
He had been out all day seeking employ
ment without finding it. At home he had
left an invalid wife and a child crying for
bread To carry them nothing back but
disappointment, he could not bear to think
Of He had continued his search till hope
had become hopeless, and was moodily
bending his steps hOmeward, when his
eye fell on pocllet-book at his feet, which
he eagerly picked up, and which he found,
70 10 haT
he had ever before possessed.
Having snubbed his conscience into 81
lence, James Watson hastened to seek the
humble home he had a moment before
shrunk from entering.
"Dot any supper for Charley, papa?"
were the first words that greeted him.
''Charley shall have nice supper to-
night he er.sl, CstkfrS up the Child
and kissing him.
tIook here, Mary ~ he exclaimed, dis
playing his treasure before the astonished
eyes of his wife.
'Where did you get it ?' she asked, her
pale face growing paler, and her voice
trembling.
"Found it,
"Oh /! the pretty money!" cried the
child, clapping his hands-''but, papa, Is
so hungry"
The father caught up one of the bank
notes, and was fastening out, when his
wife's thin hand was laid upon his arm.
''Be our wants what they may" she
said, gently but firmly, 'we must not touch
a cent of that money. 1t is not ours, and
you see there are papers which may lead
to the discovery of the owner"
ga plague on the papers ~ he answered.
''we're not bound to read them and it's
easy putting it out of their power to tell
tales"
He was in the act of fiinging them into
the fire, when his wife caught his arm.
'Listen to me, James =" she said, look
ing appealingly into his face. ''Trial and
privation I am ready to bear with you to
the end to lose faith in your honor l could
not bear; it would kill me more cruelty
than WANT
Conscience had found an abler advocate
this time than in the discussion with him
self.
L Ut IL Dy, WARY, He Sdiu, CiOSiHS W.
pocket-book and handing it to his wife.
''You are right. God help us y
ssBe assured he viii, James l feel it
now more than ever"
"But dat nice supper, papa" little Char
lev reminded, 'swhen will it tome ?''
The poor father sunk into chair ana
covered his face.
"Charley shall have supper presently,
said his mother. "Here, James, " she add
ed stake this-it will supply our present
wants, and let us commit tomorrow to
Gods mercy
"What, Mary your wedding ring No.
no -