Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-26
Chr family Cirsle,
WrOngsuliY Accused.

WrOng.uliy Accused.
1t has been long day since then. yet l
it all, just rs though it had &C.
cured but yesterday.
| was Il carpenter, the foreman of a !
lare establishments, and as such possessed
the entire confidence of my employer,
who, by the way, had been a schoolmate
of mine.
One day he called me into his Office to
look at some rare coins he had Just pur
chased.
Here" he said, placing in my hand a
heavy gold piece, - is one that is worth
more than all the rest put together. 1t Is
Il great curiosity. paid two hundred dol
lars for it and considered it cheap ut that.
! could easily double my money in selling
it; and so, you see, Harvey, it is really a
good investment"
. No doubt it is" said l. - though ii
seems large sum to have idle"
| breathed an involuntary sigh us | laid
the coin down on the desk, for two hun
dred dollars would have seemed Il fortune
to me just then.
The severe illness of my wife and one
of my children, and the death of another.
had made sad inroads on my purse, and
it required the utmost economy to keel
myself free from debt; nay, | had been
obliged to Withdraw from the bank the
small sum which, beside my salary. was
all | possessed Of worldly treasures.
Thinking of this, | laid down the coin
with Il sigh, and turned away to attend to
my duties.
The next morning | was again sum
moned into the office bat this time
met with no such friendly greeting a.
usual.
Harvey" said my employer abruptly.
" that coin we were looking ut has disap
peared. | have made u thorough search,
but it is not to be found, 1t has been car
ried away by some one. You alone saw
or knew of it, and"
He paused and looked Significantly into
my face. l finished the sentence for him.
the hot blood dyeing my cheeks and brow
as l spoke.
You mem, therefore, that | took it
-I?"
What else can 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; Won
temptation, and | forgive You because OF
our old friendship, but | cannot retain
YOU in my employ. Here is the salary due
you"
VERY we'll" said |, with forced caim-
ness, SO be it. Since you have so poor
an opinion of me after years of faithful
service, | shall not stop to defend myself.
Then | took the money he had laid upon
the desk. and went from his presence a
well nigh broken-hearted man.
But for the tender love of my wife, |
doubt not but that | would have buried
my sorrows in the grave of Il suicide
| Supported by that love. however. and
the consciousness of my own innocency
| | took fresh courage, and set resoulutee
to find Il new employer.
| Powerful is breath of SANDER: turn
| which way | might, ever found that the
story of my dismissal for the theft had pre-
ceded me, and my applications for en-
/ ployment uniformly met with refusal.
| Time went on; piece by piece of fur
niture, and every spare article of clothing
found Its way To the pawnbrokers until
ut Length. even this poor resource failed US
and my children cried in vain for food
Yet | did not sit down in idle despair:
could not afford to do so; the life OF deatl
of all | loved on earth depended on my cx-
ertion, and so, turning away with Il heavy
heart, l once more set out on the WAY tC
search for work.
All in vain, refusal after refusal met my
entreaties for employment, and ! was turn.
ing homeward with listless step, when
passing an immense church | was attract
ed by II group of men at its base.
Impelled by some strange impulse, | up
preached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by
looking up at the great steeple, which
lowered aloft some two hundred and fifty
feet above them, while a gentleman, evi
IDENTITY an architect, was addressing him in
earnest language, at the same time point.
ing toward the golden cross at the SUNNI,
of the spire.
1" tell you," he exclaimed, as | drew
near, 1T 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 q lob after
you engage to do it?
Il didn't know the spire was so HIGH
up there Do it yourself if you want il
done"
Il would if l were able" said the arcbi-
tect. But go if you will let it be. Nv
honor is pledged to have it down at any
price, and | can find IA Drawer man than
you to do it."
The carpenter walked off with logged
slouching step, and the gentleman was
about to move away also, when | stepped
forward.
What is it you want done?" | ask
ed, 6 am carpenter; perhaps l can do
| it,
He turned eagerly toward me.
''I will make it worth your while. Take
down that cross and / will pay you hun
dred dollars. You will have to ascend bv
these ornamental blocks, and | tell vol,
candidly they are not to be depended on
They must be weak and rotten, for thew
have been there for years.
looked up at the spire; it was square
at the base, and tapering to sharp point,
while among each angle were nailed small.
gilded blocks of wood
g 1t is dangerous place to work." I
said, $ and there will be even more peril
In descending than in ascending Sup
pose succeed in removing the cross. and
then
:" If any accident happens to you, NV
brave fellow, the money shall be paid to
your family. promise you that; give me
your address"
s. Hare ~ ;e - 7 co;.1 sx.,.l