Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-07
WORTH OR WEALTH.

dyfied jimcracks. They hang aronnd ;
bag of gold as crows do around carrion.
won't have any such thing, now 20,
| know"
s'Father, you judge Walter too harshly
He is a good man-honest and industrious
| and.-''
Industrious say you? I'd like to know
what he has to show for his Industry
s'He has a superior education, father. ,
"Education! Fiddlesticks Can he live
on his education? Can he make money OIL
| it?''
eyes, he can live ON it. He has already
obtained a good situation as clerk.''
| "And will earn just enough to keep him
in the fine clothes he wears. I know these
fellows. But there is an end Of it. If you
choose him rather than your poor old faith
er you can do SO. I can live alone-l
shan't live long-you can
! "Stop, stop, father. You have no right
to talk SO. You know could not leave
you.'' And Agnes Bremen threw hel
| arms around the old mans neck and kiss
| ed him and left the room. &
cit is curious how these young folks
act, +" muttered the miser to himself after
+! he had seen the child depart
"There have been twenty of the sharks
after that girl-al of them lowering around
her like man-eaters after dead body
DON'T | know what they want? Can't ]
see! Aha Can't [ though? tits my money
And Agnes has never loved one of them
fill this Adams came along-the jackan.
apes! And now she wants to get married
at once. Nonsense!7' 'sl'' s rss"esA *
The old man bowed his head as he spoke
and he saw a drop on the back OF. his hand
1t was a bright drop, and the rays Of the
setting sun were playing on it.
s'She cried when she kissed me,'' he
whispered, wiping the tear from his hard
hand, II don't see what makes her SC
tender hearted. She never took it from
me. But she may have taken it from-''
| The old man stopped, and cloud passed
lover his Wrinkled brow, for there was q
lpang in his heart. He remembered til {
S,CliUlC DCl1iS WIN LOU OllCc DCCu -llS COIll
panion--the mother of his child. He re-
membered how she had become his wife
even when the bloom of manhood had pass
ed from him-hoW she had loved him
nursed him, cared for him, and how she
had taught her child to love and care fol
him too. And he remembered how she
had never complained, even while suffer
ing, and how she had died, with smile
and blessing upon her lips, though the
gold of her husband brought her no com
forts.
Noah Bremen bowed his frosted head
lower, and in his heart he wished he could
forget all but the few fleeting joys of his
wife. But he could not forget that it had
been whispered how his wife might have
lived longer if she had had proper cloth.
ing and medical attention.
ssBut it would have cost so much! ]
saved money!''
Ah-the reflection that would remove
the pang. The other memory was upper.
most.
Noah Bremen was passed the allotted age
of man, being over threescore years and
ten, and all his life had been devoted tC
accommodating money. He had denied
himself every comfort, and his heart had
been almost as hard as the gold he had
boarded. But as his hair became more
white and spare, and the years grew more
heavily upon him, he thought more
reflected more. The sweet smile of his
dead wife was doing it's mission now, an6
| the pure love Of this gentle child was con
tinual remembrance to him that there
were better hearts than his own.
At length the miser rose and passed out
or the room. He would have left the house
| but as he reached the little entry way he
heard voice from the garrett. 1t was hi
child's. He crept up the rickety stairs ant
looked through crack in the door. He
saw Agnes upon her knees. Tears were
rolling down her cheeks and her hand
! were clasped towards Heaven, and SHE
prayed.
ooh, Goo be good to my father, and
make his heart warm and peaceful! Make
me to love him with all tenderness, enable
me to do well and trnly the duty l pledge
to my sainted mother I promised her
would love and care for him always Fathe,
in Heaven, help me! oh help me''
The old man crept down stairs and gu
of doors, and for whole hour walked
alone among the trees. He thought agair
of his wife, again Of his child, then Of hi
gold. And this was not the first time tina
he walked alone there. He did not him
self know how great was the influence hi
child was exerting over him.
Agnes-pure, good, beautiful Agnes
wept long and bitterly in her little garnet
and when she became calm and her cheek
dry she came down and got her supper
But she was not the smiling, happy being
that had fitted about the scantv boart
heretofore.
| A few days after this, as Noah Bremen
approached his cot one morning, he heart
voices from within, He peeped through ;