Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-03-13
AFTER TIN STORM.

| s:Arthur, take this letter to your
mother, and here is your weeks pay.
You have good mother" added Mr..
Powell, looking intently into the 'ad's
face as he took the missive with polite
''Thank you, sir.
The communication to Mrs. Howard
ran thus:
"Dear Madame We are sorry to
return your son Arthur with this, but
repeatedly articles, and occasionally
money have been missed from the store,
| No one but he could have taken them.
1t isyery trying, we assure you, to have
such an issue forced upon us, for we had
supposed him incapable Of any sort Of
dishonesty. Respectfully,
ssR. POWELL & Co"
Mrs. Howard perused the note and
then, without looking up from her
sewing, gently babe her boy remove
and thoroughly dry his overcoat,
whitened by the driving snow She
could not Just then look upon that
young and joyous face. He should not
know a breath of the foul suspicion, but
should go'to his pillow unconscious of
I the stain on his good name. In the
morning she would visit the firm.
While Arthur slept, his mother pass
ed the anxious hours in alternate watch
ings by his bedside and prayers at her
own. The restraint which she had
placed upon herself was now removed.
Toward daylight the storm subsidized,
and the morning dawned on a fair day.
The calm comforted her; aid when
Arthur arose from the breakfast table,
she said cheerfally
2sI am going out this morning, dear
and you must remain at home. Be a
good mother to brother and sister, and
| If any work comes in remember carefully
all the particulars; but first run out and
sweep me clean crossing through the
fresh snow"
Quickley wrapping herself, she pro-
ceeded to the gate. She stood resting
agaihst it and gazed on the pure scene,
-the trees, the hedges, the roofs OF
buildings, every nook and crevice piled
up with the glistcning snow. But
purer than all was her son Arthur-in
her eyes the f:iirest feature of the pic
ture. His clear eye was mot that of d
thief" aid the mothers face beamed
upon him with contiditig love.
At this moment MIR. Powell came
toward mother and son: Mrs. Howard
received him as calmly as she had his
letter, bidding Arthur run over to Mrs
Ames' to Old Johns, and to one OF two
other childless homes, and sweep off
theft paths Mr. Powell was full OF
regrets and apologies for the note sent
on the previous evening. Accidentally
the real culprlt had been discovered,
and Arthur fully cleared. r.
s'Ihe firm wish him back. They
will increase his wages, give him every
opportunity for improvement, in short
they will atone, ii possible tor the cruel
wrong so hastily done"
Mrs. Howard replied, "On one, and
only on one condition can he return.
and that is, that neither he 1or any Of
the clerks in your employ learn one
word of this affair would not have
him suffer the knowledge of this sus-
pscion for worlds. would not have
his self respect injured. ,t4o
s. The hext morning found Arthur in
bis accustomed place, and the pleasure
with which he that evening communic;.-
ted to his mother his delight and as
constituent at a sudden increase of
salary, was without shadow Years
after, the firm proposed receiving
Arthur into it, and in response to his
glad thanks Mr.. Powell placed his hand
on his shoulder and said.
as.No thanks my boy. Thank your
mother. Only on the shining shore can
you knew her worth.