The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-03-14
WRONGFULLY ACCUSED.


WRONGFULLY ACCUSED.
IT has been many long days since then,
yet remember it ALL just as though it had
occurred yesterday.
was 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 to
look at some rare coins he had just pur-
chased.
"Here," said he. placing in my hand a
heavy gold piece, "is one which is worth
more than all the rest put g together; 1t is
great curiosity. paid $500 for it, and
consider it cheap at that. 1 could easily
double my money in selling it; and so
you see, Harvey, it is good invest
ment."
" No doubtit ISL said l, though it
seems large sum to have lie idle"
breathed an involuntary sigh as laid
the coin down on the desk, for $500
would have seemed fortune to me lust
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, l had been
obliged to withdraw from the bank the
small sum which, besides my salary, was
all l possessed Of worldly treasures.
Thinking of this, I laid the coin down
with sigh, and turned away to attend
my duties.
The next morning I was again sum-
moncd into the office, but this time met
Nh 1Vvr ffrCp
Harvey" said my employer, abruptly,
peared. I have made a 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. I finished the sentence for
him, the hot blood dyeing my cheek and
brow as I spoke.
"You mean, therefore, that i took it
III"
"What else can think? The coin was
here; you alone saw it: l cannot recall
having seen it since it was in your hands,
You are in need of money; you have told
me that yourself It was great tempta-
ton, and l forgive you because of our old
friendship, but cannot retain you in my
employ. Here ia the salary due YOU"
"Very WE'LL" said I, with forced calm
ness, 80 be it. Since you have 50 poor
an opinion of me after years of faithful
service I shall not stop to defend N.Y.
self"
Then I took the money he had laid
upon the desk, and went out from his
presence well-nigh broken hearted man.
But for the tender love of nv wife I
doubt not but that would have buried
my SORROWS in the grave of a suicide.
Supported by that love, however, and
the consciousness of my own innocence,
took fresh courage, and set resolutely to
work to find new employer.
But powerful is the breath of slander;
turn which way might, 1 ever found
that the story of my dismissal for theft
had preceded me, and my application for
employment uniformly met with 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
Yet did not sit down in idle despair :
Gould 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, I 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 listless step
when, passing an immense church, was
attracted by group of men at its base.
lmpeiled by some strange impulse I
approached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by, look.
:o11 Il
alott 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.
tell you," he exclaimed, as I 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?"
l didn't know the spire was so high
sp'thsre. Do it yourself if you want it
DONE"
II would if were able, 4" said the archi.
tect. 80 But 60 if you will, let it be. My
honor Is pledged to have, it done at any
lrlce-end ! can find a Drawer man than
5orIZz,i carpenter walked away with a
uvssos: elouching step, and the gentle.
n"n 4stan,,ad wa" daSoot to move away also iwhen
sM SMnat Is It you want done, sirs" 1
a. dskSI %v9 *m' . carpenter perhaps can
He turned eagerly toward me.
II will make it, North vonr vh;,o
Take down that cross I'D 1 viii pav YOU
a hundred dollars. Vol. will have to to
ascend those ornamental Ilocka. and
tell you candidly they AN hots to. be de.
pended upon; they must be weak and
rotten, for they have be,n there fol
years. .''h'' e. "
LOOKED T. At the 'pi''; it was square a