South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-08-01
The Rotten Cross.

|
was carpenter, the foreman of a large
establishment, and as such possess ed the
entire confidence of my employer, who, by
the way, had been = schoolmate of mine.
Ooe day be called me into his Office to
look at some rare coins he had just pur-
| chased.
Here, said he, placing in my hand
heavy gold piece, lis one which is worth
more than all the rest put together. 1t is
a great curiosity. l paid GOO for it, and
considered 1t cheap at that. could easily
double my money in selling; and 80 you
see, Harvey, it is really a good invest
ment.'
mo doubt it is said I, though it seems
q large sum to have lie idle
breathed an involuntary sigh as I laid
the coin down on the desk, for e200 would
have seemed fortune to me just then.
Tue severe illness Of my wife, and one
OF my children, and tho death of another
made serious inroads on my purse, and it
had required the exercise of the utmost
economy to keep myself from debt; nav
had been obliged to withdraw from The
bank the small sum, which, beside my sal.
airy, was all possessed of WORLDLY trea.
sures. Thinking of this, laid the coin
down with sigh, and turned away to at
tend to my duties.
The next morning was again summon.
ed into the office, but this time met with
no friendly greeting, as usual.
Harry, said my employer, abruptly.
shat coin We were looking at, has dissp.
peared have made n thorough search.
but it is not to be found. 1t has been car
ried away by some one. You alone saw or
knew Of il, and
He paused and looked significantly into
my face. L finished the sentence for him.
the hot blood dyeing my cheeks aud brow as
| spoke.
u You mean, therefore, that took t-Iv
What else can l think The coin was
here; you alcne saw it. cannot recall
having seen it since it was in your hands.
You are in need of money; you have told
me that yourself. Ii was a great temnt,.
ton, and l forgive you because of our old
friendship, but l cannot retain you in nv
employ. Hero is the salary due YOU
Very we'll, said |, with forced calmness
so be 1t. Since you have 80 poor an opin.
ION OF me after years of faithful service. /
shall not stoop to defend myself
Then took the money he had laid up.
on the desk, aud went out from his pres
ence well-nigh broken hearted man.
But Tor the tender love of nv wife. |
doubt not but that would have buried nv
sorrows In the grave Of suicide.
Supported by that love, however. and
the consciousness of my own innocence |
took fresh courage, and set resclu,ely to
work to find new employer.
But powerful is n breath of SANDER:
turn which way might, ever found that
the story of my dismissal for theft had
preceded me, and my application for en-
ployment uniformly met with refusal.
Time went on; piece by piece, our fur
Diture, and every spare article Of clotbing
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 despair
| could not afford to do so the life or
death OF all L loved on earth depended on
my exertion-and so turning away from
them with heavy heart once more set
out on the weary search for work.
All in vain refusal after refusal met
my entreatics for employment, and was
turning homeward with listloss step, when
passing an immense church was attract
| ed by group of men at its base.
lmpolled by some strange impulse, I ap.
preached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by, look
ing up at the great steeple, which lowered
aloft some go feet above them, while a
gentleman, evidently an architect, was adj
dressing him in earnest language, at the
same time pointing toward the golden
cross at the summit of the spire.
Il tell you, he exclaimed, as drew near,
st must and can he done The cross must
be taken down, or The first heavy gale will
send it down into The street, and lives will
DO lost. Coward is this the way you
back out Of job after engaging to DO itY'
didn't know the spire was so high up
there. DO it yourself if you want il
done "
Il would If we're able, said the aTcbi.
tect. But 60 if you will let it be Nv
honor is pledged to have il done At anv
price-and / can 6ud Drawer man than
you to do it,
The carpenter walked away with n dog
ged, slouchiug step, and the gentleman vas
about to move away also, when l stepped
forward
What is it you want done, sir ? I
asked q am carpenter; perhaps can
DO it,
lie turned eagerly towards me-
i will make it worth your while Take
down that cross and / will pay you a hun
dred dollars. You will have 10 ascend
those ornamental blocks, and tell you
candldly they are not to be Ger aided on
they must be weak aud rotten, for they have