The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-11-26
Cray fhOrntOn's Caestau.s.
BY MARY D. CHELLIs.


woods" when he fancied that be saw
some one gliding steathiiy through
the undsrerush, zS though seeking 20
avoii observation. He stopped and
looked more closely; but now there
was not 50 much as the rustic Of a
leaftO betray the presence of another.
he turned into q narrow foot-path
and at that moment = bow spraug up
from g clump Of bushes.
SIS this you, Cray ?'' he exclaimed.
What on earth are you here for at
this time of day, and what have YOU
got In your bag 81
"Pm going home, and I've get
ehestnnts liz my bag" wzs the reply.
But thought the chestnuts were
all gone"
"fney be. They was most gone
WHEN | began to pick. But Mr. OH
yer said I might have what was left
and so I've been in the woods every
day this week, I've got every one
there was"
"AlI right But what made you
skuik along so ?"
"Becanse-because-I was afraid
somebody'd see me and tell father. II
there should, he'd sell them for rum.
There don't nobody know, only moth
er. You won't tell (; will you, Mr..
Weston ?"
"NOt a word, Cray. You needn't be
afraid of my getting you into trouble.
What have you done with your chest
nuts ?"
Mother hid them somewhere, and,
when Mr.. Walters comes along, she
is going TO buy me some shoes with
them. ha'n't got any shoes.D
$50 that's 1t. Well, you need the
shoes; and, II you don't have quite
enough, tell Walters pll make it up.
He'll trust me, If do get drunk once
IN y while"
30, Mr.. Weston wish you didn't.
You'd be SO good IL you didn't; and
perhaps father'd be good, too, II he
didn't drink rum"
HE ought to with such q boy as
you be. II my Jimmy and his moth
er had lived, I should be different
from what I be now" And as he
said this, Mr.. Weston brushed the
tears frOm his eyes. "YOu WON'T meet
your father to-nIgat He's got some
money to spend before he'n come
home; so hurry along to your mother
and good luck to you 10th"
The speaker was one of those men
who are usually described as "goOd-
hearted, kind aud generous" He had
a true Yankee genius for the Yankee
trade OF tinkering, and wherever he
might go, was reasonably sure OF b.
ing welcomed as the very person
whose presence was most desired. he
might have been rich and yet he
was poor, living Ia 3 bit Of 8 house on
the further edge OF the woods.
After he parted from Cray Thornton
be walked slowly and lrreeolutely
sometimes stopping for moment, as
he thought sadly Of his wasted lifs.
He was never ill.natured or quarrel
some, but he was bis own worst enc
my; 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's father ent0r the mis-
era6.e groggery, which, by compli-
ment, was called the "corner stone.n
He quickened his steps, and rushed In
Just in time to see the bag of e5estnuts
carried by Mr.. Thornton poured into
half bushel measure
"Hold on there ?" he exclaimed.
Them chestnuts are stolen property,
AAAA L O8A RAONG NC oOaC oOAaC
mean things in the way OF drinking,
but never got so bad as to steal chest
nuts from q BOY. Thornton stole them
from Cray. 1 know be did and IL
there amt enough here to see fair
play, it's pity. Cray ha'n't gotta pair
of shoes to his feet, and he picked
them chestnuts one by one, after ev-
cry body else had got through Thorn
ton, you're q brute, II you sell them
for liquor. never abused my boy I;
and, II he'd lived, be shouldn't have
gone barefoot, such weather at this
II you've got human f, lings, you'll
stop drinking and take care Of your
family"
"You'He fine fellow to. preach"
was responded sneeringIy "Pll quit
drinking when you do"
"rake your oath on that ?"
"Yes I'll quit when you do"
fFrhen here goes-I'll never take an
other drop Of liquor while l live. 81
With bis right hand still uplifted,
Mr.. Weston regarded his companion
with q fixed look, until the latter, as
il moved by q sudden impulse, raised
his own hand, Shd repeated the very
HDEOo nANo lEauSCElOCu EJO nclR
me God" Once, and again, was this
adjuration uttered, reverently and sO.-
emnly.
"I will take back Cray . ehestnuts,"
then said the father in husky voice.
Without hesitation or remOnstrance
they were returned to him. The
spectators were awe-struck by what
had occurred and the silence, oppres-
sive though it was, remained unbro-
ken.
Mr.. Thornton left the store, follow
ed closely by his friend. They, too,
were silent. 1t was no time for talk
ing but from that day there was
plenty in two homes where had been
fear and vretchedDess.
Cray ThOrntOn's ehestnuts were like
priceless gems-the ransom Of two
souls from the thrslldom OF 3 drunk
ards appetite Youths Banner.