The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-20
THE TRIBUNE.
WRONGFULLY ACCUSED,

It has been long day since then,
jet remember it all just as though it
bad occurred but yesterday.
I was a carpenter, the foreman of
large establishment, and as such, pos
sessed the entire confidence of my en-
ployer, who, by the way, had been
schoolmate of mine
One day he called me into his Office to
see some rare coins that he had just
purchased.
"Here," said he, placing a large gold
com into my hand, sis one worth more
than all the rest put together. It is a
great curiosity, paid 5000 for it, and
consider it cheap at that. could easily
double my money in selling it; and so
you see, Harvey, it is really good in
vestment
''No doubt it is" said I, Though
it seems to be large sum to have lie
idle"
I breathed an involuntary sigh, as I
laid the coin down on the desk, for 5000
would have seemed fortune to me just
then.
The severe illness of my wife and one
of my children, and the death of an
other, made serious inroads on my
purse, and it required the exercise Of
the most rigid economy to keep myself
from debt; nay, had been compelled
to draw from the bank the small sum,
which besides my salary, was all I pos
sessed of worldly treasures. Thinking
of this, laid the ccin down, and with a
sigh quietly turned away to attend to my
duties.
The next morning was again sum-
moned into the Office, but this lime
met with no such friendly greeting as
usual.
Harvey" said my employer, alb
ruptly, ''that coin we were looking at
has disappeared. I have made thor
ough search but it is not to be found.
1t has been carried away by some
one. You alone saw or knew of it,
and"
He paused and looked significantly in
my face. I finished the sentence for
him, the hot blood dying my cheeks and
brow as spoke.
"You mean, therefore, that I took
It'll"
'What else can think? The coin
was here-you alone saw it. I 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 temptation, and I forgive you be-
cause of our old friendship, but can
not retain you in my employ. Here is
the salary due to you"
every WE'LL" said I, with forced
oalmness, $50 be it. Since you have so
poor an opinion of me after years of
faithful service, I shall not stop to de-
fend myself"
Then I took the money which he had
laid upon the desk, and went out form
Ais presence well-nigh broken hearted
man.
But for the tender love of my wife,
I doubt not but that I would lave
buried my sorrows in the grave of
suicide.
Supported by that love, however, and
the consciousness of my own innocence,
took fresh courage, and set resolutely
TO work to find a new employer.
But powerful is breath of Islander.
Turn which way might, I found the
story of my dismissal for theft had pre-
ceded me, and my applications for en-
ployment met with refusals.
Time went on; piece by piece our
furniture and every article of clothing
found its way to the pawnbrokers. until
at length, even this poor resource
failed us, and my children called In vain
for food.
Yet did not sit down in idle dis
pair; could not afford to do so; the
life or death of all L loved on this earth
depended on my exertion-and SO, turn
ing away from them with a heavy heart,
L once more set out on the weary search
for work.
All in vain Refusal after refusal
met my entreaties for employment, and
was returning home with listless
step, when passing an immense church,
I was attracted by group of men at its
base.
Impelled by some sort of strange i'm
pulse, / approached and mingled among
them.
A workman was standing near by
looking up at the great steeple which
lowered aloft some go feet above them,