Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-01-11

turn his back upon her favofs, If n last she
chose to offer them
So James Watson asked himself, on finding
that the pocket book he had jnst picked up,
contained hsudsoms sum of money.
"But it's uetsmine.p he reflected 1fsahd the |.
owner may be discovered y
Don't be. a fool r. be answered himself,
with the customary rudeness of one gettingthe
worst of the argument. ais mot your bnsi-
ness TO look after tho oRner. Others have
not dealt 80 Justly by you, that you need put
yourself out much on account Of otheTs''
Bad reasoning. surely. but. if James Wat
SON yielded to it. il was not without palliation.
The failure of his employer had lost him his
situation, besides considerable arrearags of
wages The bank in which he had deposited
his savings had broken, and At last the wolf
was at the door. @ ,s.f
= Hs had been out all day seeking employ
msnt without finding it. AT homo ho had
left an invalid wife aud a child CRYING for
bread, To carry them nothing back but dis
appointment, he could not bear to think Of !
lie had continued his search till hopo had
becope hopeless, and was modify bending
his stepa homOward, whom his eve fell on
Pocket>book ut his feet, which he eagerly
picked mp, aud which he fonnd, on inspec-
tiop, to contain a sum larger than he had
ever before possessed
Having snubbed his conscience into silence,
James Watson hpstened to seek the humble
homo he had moment before shrunk from
entering.
dot any supper for Charley, pspa?" were
the 6rst words that greeted him.
Charley shallhsre nice supper tonight"
he answered, taking up lhe child and kissing
him.
"I.OOk here, Mary r he exclaimed, dis.
playing his treasure before the astonisbed
eyes of his wife rareT RI
'swhere did you get it 2" she asked her
paiO faoo growing paler, and her voice
trembling. cH
"Round it." ....sla trsf--.-
"Tben tits not yours, James" ~
"Ohl the pretty money II cried the child,
clsPPing his hauds-''but, papa, Is so
hungry"
The father caught mp ono of the bank
notes, aud was Fastening out, when his wife's
thin hand was laid upon his arm.
"Be our wants what they may" sho said,
gently bat firmly, "ws npst not touch cent
Of that money. It is not ours, and you see
thsre are papers which may lead to the dis
coyery of tbe owDsr."
"a plague On the. papers!p he answered;
"we're rot bound TO read them aud dsit's easy
He was iD the act Of aihging them into
the FIRE, when his vile caught his arm.
Listen TO me, James" she said, looking
appeEingly into his facc Trial aud priEa,
tion | am ready to bear with you to the end;
to lose faith in your honorI could nor bear
1t woutdskill me more cruelty than want"
Conscience bad found an abler advocate
this time shan in tho discussion which james
Weston had lately carried on single handed
with himself
"Putit by, Mary he said closing the
pocket-book and handing it to his wife,
You are right. God help us !"
BE assured be will, james, feel it DOw
moro than ever"
"But dat nicO supper papa" little Charley
reminded, when viii it tome 2"
The poor father sank into a; chair and
covered his face: - - - .
Charley shall have supper presently" said
his mother. Here, Jsmes." she added,
''tako this--it will supply our present wants.
and let Us commit tomorrow to Gods mercy"
What, Mary +! your wedding ring No,
'sFor his sake" sho said, pointing TO the
child Who-was climbing his fathers knee to
renew his appeal.
Without answering, James took the ring
and went out. In 3 short time he returned,
and Charley soon sat down to a supper in
which the goodness Of his appetite made
amends for the plainncss Of the fare.
Next morning james Watson took the
pocket-book to place it in trusty bands till the
proprietor could be found The papers it
contained were sealed packet and zome loose
memorauds which gave no -clew to the owner
The gentleman in whose hands James placed
It commended his honesty, and promised 10
advertise cautiously for the loser Of the
property.
While james vas absent on this errsnd, an
elderly gentleman called.
docs james Watson live here ~ he in
quired.
"Tba. is my husbands namo," Many an,
swered.
"Is he at home7" asked tho gcntIepau.
'sHe has gone out on some business ssid
Mary. little hesitstingiy, for she had n mis-
giving that the gentleman s visit. might relate
To otbe-lost pocket book, aud that H- it etill
remained in her hhsbapdis possession, he
might, in some way, he compromised.
Sorry. said the old gentleman 81 wished J
TO see him particularly. I'm n lawyer, you
see, he added. abruptly.
Mary was al in atrembls She vas snrs
now twas tbe pocket hook he had come about.
u Bat stay, aid IL Old genilenab, jasBp-