The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-03-21
THE RED-HuT PENNY.

( Everybody IN the village OF Heppinglee
sgrsrd that II was yery kIud .: Squire
Meadows during the winter months when
the roads were bad. toallow the Highway
travellers 10 90 across his grounds. On his
own private road. and out iuto the public
thoroughlarc again On the other side. 10
This siort cut lesssned the travellers jour
ney by d good inilH aud hail. Tor othcr-
wlse he would have log, all around the
park. whlcn he was Low permitted ~ pass
through.
Daring the winter, therefore. the trafi;
along this private road became 80 great,
that sone vi the slllage buys were nsa.thr
habit Of turning All hvlsst penny By open,
ing the gate. at the entrance of the grounds,
tor the carriages and light carts that came
by that way.
One evening Sam and Ben lfor thc;e
were their namesl remained there later
than usual. Ii had been :narket-day ia
the neighborlng town. 80 many carts hac
parsed, aud the children were sill lingering
IN the hope ut some chances Tor penny.
a. tile GftNcFo CT tu7 uldihctsatts hS9 uOt
hitherto proved very generous.
Presently Sam paused ln his jumping
over = snowy stump. and said. beu. ~
you hear anything.
Both boys listened, and IN moment or
two thell pracliccd ears detected the quick
troi Of nurse on the snnwy gfound. be
gate was flung open N an Instant. and y
dugcart passed through. the hurse driven
by . gentleman. whv flung copper ~ the
boys as be went BY.
The snow was deep, aud the penny fell
wiih some force. aud sank into II, SO that
in the wannlng twilight it could nat be
readily seen. However, beth boys we're
down Al once on their hands and knees.
hunting eagerly .or the hicden treasure.
O..ce more the soynd of wheels met THEN
ear. and just As Sam sprang to open Il.
Ben's baud turned over some snow. aud
lighted ou the penny. Acting upon sud
den impulse lie popped il into hls pocket
saying to himself. Sam needu't know
aud then 10. morrow can buy that whistl,
I've hsen wanting SO long The earring,
passed ON lis Nay. but the coacbman gave
the boys nothing. aud Sam returusd to ID,
search.
You've not found it. Lave your sait
he. as Ben still ieignsd to Look for th,
money. @ F sy.3''
No, I'm afraid it's no use looking an!
more replied Ben. it, rather cold. shal
we go?'
An right said Sam. Wen com,
down early in the morning. and look Tor It.
So off went the brothers TO their home.
Puor Ben crept into bed Without sayinl
his prayers that night. Somehow hs jic
not feel rs II he could pray. with that pen
ms. aud the lie he had told about IL. burn
| ing into his coussieuce. Neither could b,
sleep. The money was under bis pillow
aud he felt rs il it was getting hotter, I'll
| il scorched his cheek. Rertlsssly he toss.
ed about. till at last. towards morning. b.
fell into nm unquiet dreamiul slumber.
But even in his dreams the penny seeln
ed 10 scoleh him. Nov he Was racing. .
II for life. down snowy road. anl grea
blg penny axe dagger behind him. A
another time he thought he Was struggling
In river. with leo over his head and pen
ny hung round his neck, dragging him dOs'
10 the bottOta. y.s,.v.-.4
Atlast be woke. the horror Of bis dream
still upon him. lie could bear the string
Of conscience no longer.
Sam, said lie. | want 10 tell go
something. did 6nd that penny aftce al
aud here il Is. aud | am 20 unhappy. ! don
know what 10 do
Then tender. hearted Ssmput his arm
around his hrnther. aud tried To- cosfor
him but seeming that nothing made hII
feel much hetter. nc whispered at last
Come. Ben. let's kneel down here an
tell Col Hlput il, Mother say that's th
only way 70 get right sgnin.' DO the
knelt down together BY Sam's bed. an
lien sobbsd out confession Of his sin. 40,
prayed To he forgiven. Then the boy
went back to their bed and fell asleep.
We are glad TO tell you that Ben d
not lose tender conreiance as as grew olde
nor did he ever forget the misery " VII.
he called the Red.hot penny night. IN
L. X; in the ChiiIs Companion,