Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-10-18
THE LAST .SIxPENcE.

vember that Charles Aubrey emerged
from an old shed where he had passed
the1ast part OF the night under q pile
Of sheep skins.
AS young Aubrey stood there now,
his lips were parched, end his limbs
shook as though with the palsy. Ht
mechanically placed his hand in his
pocket and took therefrom a sixpence.
He searched fnrther-felt in ever,
pocket-but ne could find no more;
That single sixrence was the last of his
fortune.
'Ah, Charley, Charley he mnrmur-
Cd to himself, You've run your race,
Where are the friends who have sc
long hung about you? One poor six.
grog to ailay my burning thirst. Oh
would to God 1t would buy me one
true friendi' - - &
He raised his eyes, and beheld ar
old woman with bended back, who
came tottering on slowly and trem
blingly. Her garments were torn and
tattered, and the thin gray hair hung
matted and uncombed. She stopped
when she came to where the youth
stood, and leaned heavily upon heI
stan. - EE - -
Charity, good SIR she uttered In
hoarse, tremulous tones. Give me
whsrewith to purchase single meal,
and I'Ii ask God to bless thee.' )
BY my life, good woman, you are
the very one / have been wishing for.
Here, il is all i bave-it is my last
sixpence! Take it. have only wished
that It could buy me one true friend?'
But what good would come of thai
while you continue TO curse yourself p
The youth Started. hdt he spoke not.
If you would have me for q friend
will you listen to me as friend?
Listen? Yes.' $50 -ssGsE.ga
sThen let this be your vale of life,
said the woman with startling solemn.
ty. Turn now and go up the hill. Go
up, up, until you have reached the
sunshine once more. / knew your
mother. Charles Aubrey and ! remem-
her well how kind she was. Oh, did
she ever think that her well beloved
sOu would sink 90 low .sssssssEF Es 81
Stop, stop,' groaned the unhappy
youth. %, who shall give me the first
lift to regain all I have lost
Il WILL sAss = ~ Il y S@s
You? who are you? You say you
knew my mother. Who are you?'
know that I suffered as deeply as you
ever did. / know what II is to suffer.
ssy can give you the first lift.
mean by that i can show you the way.
Follow my counsel, and you may yet
recover all that you have lost
No, no, not all. 0, there is one
loss can never make up,' and as he
spoke he bowed his head and covered
his face with his hands.
LIST not such feelings be with you
now. First resolve that you will turn
from the evil which has brought you
down. You know what II is as we'll as
/ do. Can you do fhis?'
AYE, had done 1t ere you came up.
Then take the next step. Go and
make O ffle1d OF one who can help
you further. Go to Amos " illiams
and
mo, no, not there. o, not there,
interrupsed Charles.
Go to his store and freely confess to
him all your faults resumed the wo-
man, without seeming to notice the
interruption. Tell him all, and then
ask him to trust you once more
NO, no, / dare not go to him.
But listen. / heard Mr.. Williams
say with his own lips that he would
help You II be could; that he would
give you his hand IL you would only
help yourself
ibid he say that?' uttered Charles,
eagerly.
He did. And now, Charles Aubrey,
be assured that you have not lost eve-
rythiDR. Let people know sthat sou
mean to arise and be q man, and all
whose friendship is worth having will
give you their hands. Go to Amos
Williams firstp
Il will CO. - - ~
Then give me the sixpence.'
Amos Williams stood at the great
desk in his counting room and he was
alone. While he thus stood, casting
up y column of figures upon page Of
one OF the ledgers, the door was open
ed, and Charles Aubrey entered. He
was yet pale and haggard, and locking
as he did two hours ago. The mer-
chant started back with an utterance of
pain and surprise as he recognized in
the miserable form before him the
once happy and beloved youth whom
he had delighted to honor.
sCharleen he uttered, as soon as he
could command his Speech why have
yoa come here?'
Mr.. Williams spoke the youth In a
choking voice. i have come TOTO
tell you that my course of wickedness
b run, and from this moment am-'I
Here he stopped. He hesitated q
moment. and then bis feelings over
came him, and bowing his head he
burst into tears, and sobs, loud and
deep, broke from his lips. The mer-
chant was deeply affected, and With
the warm tears gathering quickly in
his own eyes, he started forward and
placed his hand upon the youths head.
Charles, he uttered, In tremulous