The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-29
THE OLD POCKET-BOoK.
A New Years story.

THE OLD POCKET.BOOK.
New Years. Story.
It was New Years Eve. Every store
was open, from the grand palace en-
poriums to the narrow stalls where pen
nies were treasures.
Out of the busy throng who wended
their way through the noisy streets,
there was one with whom my reader is
asked to take brisk stroll upon the
New Years Eve in question. He is a
tall man, past fifty, with curling, iron
gray hair, kindly blue eyes, and face
that; having gravity resting upon it
habitually, can light to sunniest bright
ness when kindness or humor stir the
radiant smiles.
Into the jewelers. to select pair of
costly bracelets /; ont again to enter q
neighboring toy-shop, where hfe-size
baby doll, a rocking horse, baby house
and sled were only foundations for the
piles of expensive toys that caught his
eyes {; over to the confectioner's, where
white paper bags multiplied under his
directions into dry goods store, for
an Indian scarf his wife had admired a
day or two before, and where dresses
for the servant girls could be selected
In and out, busy and happy, piling
pockets and arms, Charles Haughton
spent nearly two hours in the heart of
Broadway.
Everywhere he met the most prompt
and deferential attention. Smiling
clerks moved with alacrity to fill his
orders, and courteous cashiers grace
fully accepted his handsome checks.
For his face was well known as that of
prosperous merchant, and his name
was good for over a million dollars.
His pretty, winsome wife was belle in
the most aristocratic circles, and his
children had never had wish ungrati-
fed. His house in Fifth avenue was
well known for its lavish hospitality and
the beauty of every appointment, and
horses were found than those that car
ried Mrs. Haughton from her home and
back again.
Charles Haughton had nearly COM
pIeted his purchases, and was hurrying
from the front of one of the toy stores
he patronized, when his foot struck
something upon the pavement, and
looking down he saw small pocket
book. He lifted it and looked around
him for an owner but there was no
one who seemed to miss such an article.
There was no time to examine it, SO he
thrust it into his breast pocket and
hurried on.
Having completed his arrangements
for the morrow, he went to his library
for quiet smoke before retiring. He
was putting slowly, when he recalled
the pocket-book he had picked up in
the street. Thrusting his hand into his
pocket, he brought it to the light.
It was very shabby affair, the leath-
er worn at the corners, the inside dilap-
idated, and the fastening a piece of
6wine.
"Some poor soul, who could i'll af :
ford it, has lost this the merchant
thought. pityingly; "and on New
Years Eve, too. It is too bad. Let
me see If there is any cine to the
owner"
He took OUT two folded papers, each
containing small sum of money, and
each eloquent of the poverty of the
owner. At the sight of the first Charles
Haughton started and sank into rev.
cry, painful and sweet at the same time.
The paper was grocers bill for four
dollars and eighty three cents, made out
to "Mrs. Edward Hill, " and inside was
five dollar note.
The thought of the man who looked
at it ran something in this wise !:
Mrs. EDWARD Hill Can that be
Matte Hunter-pretty, dark-eyed Mat
tie, who ran away with Ned Hill because
her father would not give his only child
to a man who found too much comfort
in q whisky bottle. Pretty Matte |!
How angry she was with me when I
tried to make her see that Ned was not
the angel or hero she imagined him.
She said was Jealous. Well, perhaps
Was"
And the prosperous city merchant
went back in imagination to the days
when he was country boy, desperately
in love with the minister's daughter,
Matte Hunter. He recalled his bitter
jealousy of the gay city fop,. Edward
Hill, who came to the little village and
fascinated Matte by his fine dress, his
smooth courtesy and airs OF superiority.
He thought of this fathers oppression.
his grief and his death, when holding
Charles Haughton's hand IN his own
he left his forgiveness for the willfu
child. should she ever return. She lef
a-yoid In the honest loving heart thaf
was not filed for many years. Restless
and lonely, Charles had gladly accepted
an offer from an uncle in New York x
enter his counting house, end rising
rapidly, he had finally, as his unclea
death, inherited his fortune and bust
ness, and when past forty had marriet
belle of society, whose love was hi
great happiness, and whose children wer
the idols of their fathers heart.
And now, twenty long years after b.
had last seen her face, MatEie's nam
stirred all these old recoIlections in hi
heart.
at maynot be the same, !" he thought
sit is ! common name.
Then he unfolded the second paper
and here penciled slip, folded over
two-doIlar note, explained the errand c,
New Years Eve that had resulted i
the less Of the pocket-book. For th
pitifuI memorandum ran:
ssBalI for Eddy. 10 GENTS grapes for Mattil
Is cents buehel OF coal, 40 cents; toy II