Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-26
WRONGFULLY ACCUSED.

| was a carpenter, the foreman of a
large establishment, and as such possessed
the entire confidence of my employer
who, by the way, had been an old school
mate OF mine.
One day he called me into his office tc
look at some rare coins he had Just pur
chased
Here" said he. placing in my hand
heavy gold piece, ais one which is worth
more than all the rest put together. 1t il
a great curiosity. | paid $500 for it, anC
consider il cheap at that. / could easily
double my money in selling it; and sc
you see, Harvey, it is a good invest
ment'
q No doubt it u.s." said |, "though il
seems a large sum to have lie idle"
Z Dreathed an involuntary sigh as | laid
fho coin down on the desk, for $500
would have seemed a fortune to me just
then.
The severe illness of my wife and one
of my children, and the death of another,
made serious inroads on my purse, and it
had required the utmost economy to keep
myself free from debt; nay, | had been
Obliged to withdraw from the bank the
small sum which, besides my salary, was
all | possessed Of worldly treasures.
Thinking of this, [ laid the coin down
with sigh, and turned away to attend
my duties.
The next morning [ was again sum-
mOned into the office, but this time l met
with no friendly greeting as usual.
$" Harvey" said my employer, abruptly,
that coin we were looking at has disap-
peared. I have made thorough search,
but it is not to be found 1t has been car
Eied away by some one. You alone saw
or knew of it, and"
He paused and looked significantly
3Eto nv face I finished the sentence for
him, the hot blood dyeing my cheek and
brow as I spoke.
q You mean, therefore, that l took it
Up
t'What else can l think? The coin was
here; you alone 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 1t was a great tempta-
ton, and l forgive you because of our old
friendship, but | cannot retain you in my
employ. Here is the salary due you"
Very WELL" said I, with forced calm
ness, $50 be it. Since you have so poor
an opinion of me after years of faithful
service l shall not stop to defend my
SELF
Then | took the money he had laid
upon the desk, and went out from his
presence a wellnigh brOken-hearted man.
But for the tender love of my wife
doubt not but that l would have buried
my sorrows in the grave ola suicide
Supported by that love, however and
! 5he consciousness of my own innocence,
took fresh courage, and set resolutely to
work to find a new employer.
But powerful is the breath of SANDER
turn which way | might, | ever found
that the story of my dismissal for theft
had preceded me, and my application for
employment uniformly met with a re-
fusal.
Time went on; piece by piece of our
furniture and every spare article of cloth
ing found its way to the pawnbroker's,
until at length even this poor resource
failed US, and my children cried in vain
Cor food.
Yet | did not sit down in idle despair;
Z could not afford to do so; the life or
death of all loved on earth depended on
my eXertions-and so, turning away from
home with a heavy heart, | once more
set out on the weary search for work.
All in vain! Refusal after refusal met
my entreaties for employment, and | was
turning homeward with a listless step
when, passing an immense church, | was
attracted by group of men at its base.
Tmpelled by some strange impulse |
approached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by, look
ing up at the great steeple, which lowered
alOft some $50 feet above them, while a
gentleman, evidently an architect, was
addressing him in earnest language, and
at the same time pointing to the golden
cross at the summit of the spire.
Il tell you," he exclaimed, as | drew
near, : it must and can be done The
cross must be taken down, or the first
heavy gale will send it down into the
street, and lives will be lost Coward is
this the way you back out of job after
engaging to do it?"
g didn't know the spire was so high
up there. Do it yourself if you want ii
done"
:" l would if were able" said the archi-
tect. But 60 if you will, let it be- My
honor is pledged to have it done at any
price-and can find a Drawer man than
you to do it."
The carpenter walked away with a
logged, slouching step, and the gentle
man was about to move away also when
/ stepped forward.
"What is it you want done, sir?"
asked q am a carpenter; perhaps l car
do it,
He turned eagerly toward me.
Il will make it worth your while
Take down that cross and | will pay you
q hundred dollars. You will have tC
ascend those ornamental blocks, and
tell you candidly they are not to be de
pended upon; they must be weak anC
rotten, for they have been there FOL
years"
looked at the spire; 1t was square a
the base and tapered to a sharp point
while along each angle, were nailed small
gilded blocks of wood.
''It's dangerous place to work. said
and there will be even more peril in de
scending than ascending. Suppose / sue
coed in moving the cross, and then"
q If any accident happens to you, my
brave fellow, the money shall be paid t
your family promise. you that Give
4 me your address.
sHere it is" / said, "and as you value
YOUR soul keep your word with me- My
wife and children are starving, or l would
not attempt this work If l die they car
live on the hundred dollars for awhil,
until my sick wife can recover he
strength
"I'll make it a hundred and fifty" ex
claimed the architect; land may Goo
protect youi If I had the skill necessar,
To ascend that steeple Iwould ask no maj
to risk his life there. But come, and keel
q steady hand and eye"
4 followed him into the church, then VI