The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-05
CRAY THORkIOA's CHESTNUTs.

gliding stealthily through the under
brush as though seeking to avoid obser-
walton. He stopped and looked more
closely: but now there was not so much
as the rustic Of leaf to betrav the
presence Of another. He turned into
narrow foot path. and at that moment a
boy sprang up from behind clump Of
bushes.
''Ts this you, Crayl" he exclaimed.
''What on earth are you here for at
this time of day. and what have you got
in your bag?''
I'm going home, and I've got chest
nuts in my bag was the reply.
But I thought the chestnuts were
all gone.
"They be. They was most gone when
| began to pick. But Mr.. Oliver said |
might have what was left; and so I've
been in the woods every day this week.
I've got every one there was.
"All right. But what made you
skulk along sol;
Because -because-I was afraid
somebody's see me, and tell father. If
they should, he d sell them for rum.
There don't nobody know, only mother.
You won't tell; will you, Mr.. Westons'
''Not word. Cray. You needn't be
afraid of my getting you into trouble.
What have you done with your chest
nutsi"
Mother hid them somewhere, anl,
when Mr.. Waters comes along, she is
going to buy me some shoes with them.
| haven't got any shoes.
$50 that it. Well, you need the
shoes; and, if you don't have quite
enough, tell Waters I'll make it up.
He'll trust me, if | do get drunk once
in awhile.
20, Mr.. Weston! | wish you didn't
You'd be SO good ifyou didn t; and per
haps father'd be good too, if he didn
drink rum
ale ought to, with such boy as you
are. If my Jimmy and his mother had
lived. should have been different from
what be now As he said this, NJ.
Weston brushed the tears from his
eyes. "You wont meet your father
tonight. He's got some money to
spend before he II come home; so hurry
along to your mother, and good luck 20
you both.
The speaker was one Of those men
who arc usually described as good
hearted, kind and generous" He had
a true Yankee genius for the Yankee
trade of tinkerins, and wherever ne
might 60, was reasonably sure Of being
welcomed as tina. very person whose
presence was most desired. He might
| have been rich; and yet ne was poor,
living in bit of "a house on the further
/ edge Of the wood.
After he parted from Cray Thornton
he walked slowly and irrcsolutely; some
times stopping for a moment, as he
thought sadly Of his wasted life. He
was never ill-natured or quarrelsome
and he was his own worst enemy, and
this he knew SO well that he needed
not to be reminded Of the fact.
A week had passed when he saw
Cray Thornton father pass the miser-
able GROCERY which, by compliment
was called the corner store" He
qulckened his steps, and rushed in just
in time to see the bag Of chestnuts car.
ried by Mr.. Thornton poured into q
half-bushel measure.
"Hold on, there!' he exclaimed.
''Them chestnuts are stolen property,
and can prove it. I've done some.
mean things in the way Of drinking,
but | never got so bad as to steal from
a boy. Thornton stole them from
Cray. | know he did; and if there
amt enough here to see fair play it's q
pity. Cray hasn't got pair Of shoes
to his feet, and he picked them chest
nuts one by one, after everybody else
got through. Thornton, you're
brute, if you sell them for liquor. l
never abused my boy: and if he'd lived
he shouldn't have gone barefoot such
weather as this. If you We got human
feelings you'll stop drinking, and take
care of your family.
"You' re a fine fellow to preach. was.
responded sneeringly, III quit drink
ing when you do.
take your oath on that -
Yes I'll quit when you do
''Then, here goes II never taste ar
other drop of liquor while | live. So.
help me, God.
With his right hand still uplifted,
Mr.. Weston regarded his companion
with fixed look, until the latter. asi
moved by sudden impulse, raised his
own hand, and repeated the very words
have transcribed: $50 help me, God
Once, and again. was this adjuration u.
tered. reverently and solernnly.
Il will take back Cray's chestnuts,''
then said the father, in husky voice.
Without hesitation or remonstrance,.
they were returned to him. The spec
tators were awe-struck by what had &C.
CURED, and the silence, oppressive
though it was, remained unbroken.
Mr.. Thornton left the store, followed
close by his friend. They, too, we're
silent. 1t was ne time for talking but
from that day there was plenty in two.
homes where had been fear and wretch
edness.
Cray ThorDton's chestnuts were like
priceless gems-the ransom Of two souls
from the thraldom Of drunkard-s ap-.
pnfita