Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-06

No could in the way Of sending him TO school
ind such like, so as he should be fit when Mr..
Baker wanted him. Oh, how we loved that
boy how proudly we watched him grow up,
and what hopes we formed Of him Sam
seemed a stAdy, industrious lad enough, and
for time he certainly gave great satislac.
lion in the counting.bouse. He was then
seventeen, and as handsome a fellow as you
might wish to see, though I'm his father as
says IL. lie was general iavorite 10 the
office, and at last got trusted to collect some
Of the debts due TO the firm. About this \
time there came sudden change in his hab.
its aud appearance which alarmed me and
his mother very much. He got to keeping |
late hours, made some bad acquaintance,
and began to dress extravagantly. IL was
no use our cautioning him, for he seemed
determined to 20 on his own course. But
all the sorrow and disappointment We felt
was as nothing TO the fearful blow that al
most stunned US when, on a chance examina-
ton of the books, il was found Sam had em-
beSzeld his employers money TO a hundred
aud fifty pounds. From the moment of that
terrible discovery your mother dropped and
dropped until she died. What he had done
with the money he would never tell but
the head cashier mr. Robert Wilmot, he
who went soon after to Australia) declared
that more than once he had heard the boy
talk about horse.racing aud it was in this
way we always considered tho money had
gone. As for Sam HIMSELF he stuck to it
hard aud fast that he was not guilty Of any
dishonesty. lie swore that the money he'd
collected had always been paid over to the
cashier but the evidence the other way was
too strong, and our boy was branded as a
thief. Mr.. Wilmot, who was angry at Sans
insinuatious, wanted him sent to prison; but
Mr.. Baker was merciful man, aud did not
bring upon us further disgrace. After this
l felt could no longer remain in Mr.. Ba-
ker's employ and thus went to Loostring
4 Tools. So that Sam might have chance
of getting back his character, Mr.. Baker
gave him letter of introduction to a mer-
chant at Bombay, somewhere in India, who
might DO able to 6nd him employment such
as wouldn't have temptations. Sam eagerly
jumped at the offer, but up to the moment
Of his departure declared himself innocent Of
stealing Mr.. Bakers money. Poor fellow
it was the last we saw Of him. Before the
vessel reached India she met fearful huiri-
cane, and every soul on board her persisted"
Overcome by these painful recollections,
Abel buried his face in his hands and wept
Complete silence reigned in the room for a
few moments, aud then Polly, controlling
with an effort the strong emotions that swept
through her heart, crept to her fathers side
and placed her hand 10 bis.
dear father" she said in broken tones,
"the story of your sorrow makes you dearer
to me than ever"
The old man withdrew his hand from her
embrace, and, when she had kissed the tears
from his cheeks, resumed
"There could be no doubt of your brother 3
guilt and was too sensible of the kindness
of his employers to let them suffer. re-
solved, come what might, that l would do
my best to repay them. For this daily
denied myself; for this narrowed your op-
portunities of education and this, next to
your happiness, my child, is the object ofmy
| life" ...
dear father, and until now you have al
ways led me to believe that the amount paid
half yearly was to discharge debt Of your
own"
"My darling, was it for your interest to
know the truth ? When your brother left
England you were but child. Up to to-
night, it has been my constant endeavor to
hide the real facts Of the case from you.
had hoped to pay of the whole amount be.
fore you got married. Toms proposal to.
night, however, has frightened the secret out
Of me, for could not allow him to marry
you without knowing the truth"
"And now do know it, Mr. Webb" ex.
claimed TON, who had been trying to speak
| for some time, but had been unable to do SO
owing to n strange sc psation as Of marbles
rolling up his throat and a determination Of
water to his eycs--"now do know it, | am
more than ever DESTROYS of making Polly my
wife. l thought Of having the banns put up
next week, and then wo can be married be-
fore another month is over our heads"
But Polly" inquired Abel, sis not that
rather soon ?"
His daughter was at that moment engaged
in attending to the fire, tho brightness o.
which had during the recital of Abel's reve
lation become somewhat dimmed Just af
ter he spoke, a ehcery fame again shot forth
and disclosed happy smile upon Polly
face aud blush upon her check, forming
quite sufficient answer to the question.
"Well, my children" continued the old
man, "do as you will"
Tom Smith sprang from his chair, ant
was wrnging Abel's hands in token Of graft
tude, when the sound Of footsteps ascending
tho stairs caught Abel's ear.
Here, Polly quick with the candle,
he cried there is some one wants u.s. or
has mistaken the floor"
The room had hitherto been illuminated
solely by the fitful CLEAN of the fire, and
Just as Polly had got the candle aligtt thu
door was opened, and in strobe Mr.. Baker
Baker juuior-whom Abel had left but AT
hour and half before.
40, Abel" said Baker, with his broad
ruddy face glowing with excitement, "ln
so glad I've found you at home. I've good
news for you-news that'll make your hear
leap from from your BOSOM"
"What-what is it2" exclaimed Abel
while Polly and her betrothed looked on il
silent Armament.
"Why your boy Sam--he who eight
years ago was thought to be guilty of rob
bling us-is proved to have been innocent"
Abel sank back in his chair, hi
face grew pale, and his hand
cutched the wrists of Tom Smith anC
his daughter, who had rushed to his side.
"How-how do you know this2" h,
gasped.
IAN hour after you left my office, a lette
FROM Australia was deivered-it was writ
ten by magistrate in Melbourne, aud was
TO the effect that our late cashier, Robert
Wimot, having received fatal injury
through being run over in the streets in hi
last moments made deposition before thu
legal authorities that your son was innocent
that he himself had appropriated the money
Of the firm, and in order to conceal his owl
delinquencies was compelled to tx the gull