Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-03-04
After the Storm.

Arthur, take this letter to your mother,
and here is. your weeks pay. You have
good mother," added Mr. Powell, looliny in.
teptly into the lads face as he took the mis-,
sive with polits Thank yon, sir.i
The communication to Mrs. Howard rau
thus:
Dear .Eddnme 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 is very trying. we as
sure you. to have sueh issue forced upon
us. for we hadsupp"sed him incapable of apy
sort of dishonesty. Respectfully,
"R. POwELL & Co"
Mrs Howard perused the note aud then,
without looking up from her sewing, gently
bade her boy remove and thoroughly dry his
orercoat, whitened BY the driving snow
She could not just then look upon thar Young
and joyous face. lie should mt know a
breath of the foul suspicion, but should 90 tn
bis pillow unconscious of the stain on his good
name. In the morning she would visit the
| firm
While Arthur slept. his mother passed the
anxious hours in alternate watchings by his
bedside and prayers at her own The re-
straint which she had placed upon herself
was now removed Toward daylight the
storm subsidized, aud the morning dawned on
fair day The calm c0mforted her. and
when Arthur arose from the breakfast table.
she said chcerfully,
81 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 a clean crossing
through the fresh snow"
Quickly wrapping herself, she proceeded to
the gate. She stood resting against it and
g'Zed on the pure scene-the trees. the
hedges, the roofs of buildings, every nook aud
crevice piled up with the glisteniDg Snow
But purer than all was her son Arthur-iu
her eyes tho fairest feature Of the picture -
His clear eye was mot that Of theft" and
the mothers taco beamed upon him with con.
fding love.
AT this moment Mr. Powell came toward
mother and son. Mrs Howard received him
as calmly as she had his letter, bidding Ar.
thur run over to Mrs Ames'. to Old johns.
and to one or two other childless homes and
sweep off their paths Mr.. Powell was full
of regrets and apologies for the note sent on
the previous evening. Accidentally the real
culprit had been discovered, aud Arthur fully
cleared.
'The firm wish him back They will iu-
crease his wages give him every opportunity
for improvement. in short they will atone. If
possible, for the cruel wrong so hastily done"
Mrs Howard replied. 'On one. and only
on ono condition can he return, and that IL,
that neither he nor anv Of the clerks in vour
employ learn word of this affair. would
not have him suffer the knowledge of this
suspicion FOR worlds. l would not have his
self respect injured
The next morning found Arthur in his nc.
cnst"ned place. and the pleasure with which
he that evening communicated tn his mother
his del'g and astoni-hmcnt at sudden in-
crease Of salary. was without a shadow Years
otrr, the firm nron"sed receiving thur into
", aud in rcsron'e to his glad thanks Mr.
Powell placed his hand on his shoulder aud
said.
"N" thanks my boy Thank vour mother.
Only on the shining shore can you know her
worth"